Friend in psychosis

Hello @Stillhuman The hospital is the only place I can think of. He needs to be on medication or have his current medication (if he’s on any) adjusted. There nothing you can do for him in his current state. He won’t be happy about it but I’d call emergency services to come transfer him to the hospital.

I had to kick him out this morning before I started work. I figure he is so messed up he might not come back again. He’s been camping out in a tent around town.

Can lead a horse to water, can’t make them drink.

Absolutely. And you cannot commit him, either.

From my own experience: I have a friend who now lives in Wisconsin, but in the 1990s we lived in the same city, when she was OK. She is now clearly suffering from paranoid schizophrenia. Her family, living in the same city where she and I lived in the 1990s, realizes that she is ill, but cannot get through to her. She has these ideas of how ill-meaning agencies interfere with her body through cell phones, cell towers, and what not. In addition to paranoid schizophrenia, she has severe arthritis and her limbs are emaciated, but she won't get healthcare for what is obviously arthritis because in her mind if is all interference with her body by ill-meaning outside agencies. I said to her brother that I would try to convince her to take medication, because, after all, I take it, too (most antipsychotics are used in both schizophrenia and bipolar). I thought that she would be open to suggestions from me, unlike suggestions from her family members, because I am coming from the vantage point of a fellow sufferer, of sorts, except with a different illness. Was I wrong! She is distrustful of doctors, distrustful of medications, and she believes that people who, in essence, are trying to help her, all try to harm her. So the very nature of the psychotic illness, paranoia, precludes getting help. Her boyfriend tolerates her and, as her brother told me, still "feeds her." She sometimes talks sense when she remembers something from long past or when she talks about her gardening. Other than that, no sense at all, and she writes extremely long Facebook posts with conspiracy theories and clearly nobody ever reads those posts, but she writes them anyway.

This is still better than this guy you were trying to help, because she is not camping out, but that is only because there is this boyfriend who takes pity on her. Without his help, I do not know what she would be doing now. She has not worked in decades.

The sad part is that the disorder is treatable, that antipsychotics can be very effective, that she could get her life back, could get rid of paranoia, accept medical help, get care for arthritis, etc. But the disorder itself prevents it. The disorder itself makes her her own worst enemy.

That’s very unfortunate. Unfortunately without medication and doctor care he won’t get better. The best would be for him to take himself to a hospital. Not only to get medical help but also get social worker to discuss further steps with him and likely to provide resources. But if he won’t go it, there’s nothing you can do

It’s very kind of you to let him stay in your house for a night

He showed up last night and I let him in to get some things. He expected to stay and expected me to drink with him. I declined and told him he can’t live with me. He offered to help financially.

He said he had been raped at his old apartment. He then went into the most schizophrenic sounding delusion involving sex. He made some other sexual remark after he piggy backed into the building after having a smoke.

I lost it on him and just said I will involve the police if he acts out or causes trouble. I demanded he get help. I was just freaked out by his behaviour. He left for another smoke and didn’t come back for 3 hours. And then started buzzing my door at 12:30 am after I went back to bed.

I didn’t let him in. I didn’t answer. I’ve given up.

Oooohhhh my!!!! @Stillhuman That's terrifying!!! Please be careful. I agree, don't let him in anymore. He could be the sweetest person in his right mind but no telling what a person experiencing psychosis could/would do because they are not in reality. Let him move on.

I agree: please be very careful.

I saw him yesterday to give back his things. I told him again I think something is wrong with his mental health. He said yeah I know my life is ****ed. I told him he doesn’t seem like the same person. We were in a public place so I brought him to a tree I like to sit under. He seemed to relax but then tried to demand I stay with him. He asked if he could come to my place, and I said no.

He tried to get me to stay, and I said I had to go. I just wasn’t comfortable. He tried to walk off again and told me to stay until he comes back. I said no and left.

He’s not the same person right now.

You are doing all the right things not bending yo his demands.

@Stillhuman,

Not saying it is that kind of case, but just a warning that people who need treatment and do not get it can be very dangerous.

People who consume a lot of alcohol can develop psychosis. It was wise of you not to drink with him. Do not take him in because some people in a psychotic episode can become very dangerous.

Honestly the sexual undertones of his delusions are a warning enough.

He seems to switch back to normal then delusional so it’s hard to tell if he is psychotic or on meth.

I told him I am not qualified to help him.