For me, paranoia doesn't have anything to do with appearance. But rather my thoughts and my mental existence.

I believe that being rightfully convinced the truth by someone can help you be reassured that what ever you're being paranoid about is either true or false and your mom didn't do that. She got it wrong and enforced her negative views on yourself, which made it worse and contributes to the paranoia even further.

I do believe that it can be a self esteem issue, but for schizophrenia and psychosis, you can believe that you are god and on top of the world but still be paranoid as hell. Obviously because you posted here, I would think you have symptoms of psychosis or social anxiety I don't really know.

I'm confused maybe she is right because my second paragraph applies to someone who has psychotic symptoms and I don't think that paranoia is an illness by itself but can be caused by depression, anxiety, cocaine, confusion, psychosis..

I mean.. If she is correct that you have self esteem issues, denying that fact would contribute to feeling bad about yourself because you wouldn't believe what she said instead of accepting it and going on the right path of helping yourself in that way. (if that is the truth).