[Resident Bipolar]

I don't think he has bipolar, but I'm bipolar and I don't know where else I'd post this aside from the bipolar forum.

However I really do think he's experiencing psychosis. He thinks that there are "puppets" of which are controlled by someone out to go get him and hurt him (to which extent and why or how I do not know).

His ex best mate Tim (not his real name, using it for confidentiality), my friend tells me, is just an empty shell. One of the most powerful "puppets" because it got close to him and he got too close to have been real.

I've spent hours trying to convince him I'm real and not one of the "puppets". He also says he won't get help because that's what they want..they want him to think they're real so they can hurt him. Once again how he thinks they're going to hurt him I'm not sure.

I asked him to promise me he'd never hurt himself. And he said he wouldn't because that's what he thinks they want. He thinks that the puppets can't do it, so "it"/"they" want to use the puppets to push him to hurt himself instead.

Now. Because he's said he's not going to hurt himself I can't think of what to do. I doubt they'd section him because he said he won't hurt himself, and they can't medicate because he's refusing to get help himself. I really don't know what to do....and the issue with me speaking to him about it is that it's starting to trigger my paranoia, and I'm going back to my "beliefs".

Any help? I really don't know what to do. I'm tiptoeing around him because if I say the wrong thing he will think I'm one of the puppets and therefore controlled by "them"/"it".

[Trippin2.0]

Wow, that's a tough 1 RB. Could you maybe ask your friend how he tells the puppets apart from real people? That way you could use his own 'logic' to point out more real people, and then hopefully reassure him that way.
.
Not sure of this helps, I've never been in your shoes. Please take care of yourself, yes you want to be a good friend, but you want to look after yourself too

[Resident Bipolar]

Originally Posted by Trippin2.0

Wow, that's a tough 1 RB. Could you maybe ask your friend how he tells the puppets apart from real people? That way you could use his own 'logic' to point out more real people, and then hopefully reassure him that way.
.
Not sure of this helps, I've never been in your shoes. Please take care of yourself, yes you want to be a good friend, but you want to look after yourself too

"Tim" tells me that actually, my friend tried committing suicide in his bathroom, but wouldn't talk about it and stopped talking to "Tim" about everything when he "found out" that "Tim" was a "puppet". So he's tried harming himself in the past.

I've tried convincing him its all in his head...but as opposed to how he was with "Tim", he believes I'm not a puppet but that I'm wrong about it all being in his head.

RB.

[Trippin2.0]

Then in light of this, I really think he should get to a hospital, before he attempts to harm himself or others. I know he won't go willingly, and I don't advise you taking him. Could you involve someone else? Like a family member of his? It really is in his best interest, you can't babysit him indefinitly, that won't benefit either of you.

Well defiantly sounds like psychosis. I'm sorry RB. I wish I had some fantastic advice, but I don't. You need take care of yourself first and foremost, I know you know that.

As what can be done for your friend, I have no idea, he really needs help, but how? How long as he been having this for? Is there any breaks in his thinking, does he come back to reality even for small snippets of time? Agree with Trippin, he needs help right away, family, any other services or agencies?

I have had a lot of psychosis. One thing that helps me is when someone distracts me, does a puzzle with me or something like that. Puzzles seem to help calm me down, I dont need to think too hard while doing it, but have to concentrate enough that it takes my attention away from the delusions. The only difference tho is that I have insight into my illness and your friend doesn't seem to. Calms me enough that i can be talked too. I don't know really how you can help them see it either. Except for trying to provide proof or something like that. Like you said it's tricky, you don't want him to think you are also a puppet.

Maybe you should post this in the schizophrenia forum too, they might have some better ideas or help. I hope you can find some help for your friend. Hopefully you will get some good advice.

[~Christina]

I have no real good advice just sending ((((((HUGS))))))

Keep yourself safe first and for most <3

[BuggsBunny]

Okay, from what I remember, it's useless to convince a psychotic that their thinking is wrong. They are so entrenched in their beliefs that you have to get inside their head and work with them from that angle. For you, this is NOT a safe thing to do. You have already identified that this is triggering your own false beliefs, so I agree with those who said to watch out for yourself. I'm going to add FIRST. Because if you go off the wall, you won't be any good to your friend. So take care of yourself first.

Next, this guy needs to get a professional evaluation. Someone is going to have to get him to a psych unit for an eval on a 72 hour hold. What family does he have? Any connections to social services? As psychotic as this, he can't be working, can he? If he has some social service connection, that's who you tell. Your county health department might have someone who can give advice, altho it will probably be several phone calls and a day or two in the getting.

I wish I had something more definitive for you. Hang in there!

Wow, RB ! Sorry that I'm really at a loss for ideas. I'm wondering some of the same stuff, like how long has this been happening and is he in and out of reality or just out.... Any family? Are there others who know what is going on? (Besides "Tim" of course, at least till he was shut out.) Is this someone you've known for awhile? Or not really? I can't keep from wondering where his family is in all this...

Be very sure to remember to watch out for yourself, RB, ok? Triggering paranoia would not be good at all.

(Edited to add agreement with Buggs on this really not being something safe for you to do yourself. So it really comes down to figuring out how to get him professional help...)

Oh RB, just wanted to add two things. The schizophrenia and psychosis forum is a lot slower than this forum.

Second, something that is very often overlooked here, and elsewhere is that psychosis can be caused by physical illness. Brain tumors, Epilepsy, MS, Lupus,
Nutritional deficiency, infectious syndroms, Metabolyic disorders.... This is just a few. Another important reason for him to have medical care.

[Merlin]

Some states/provinces allow someone to be committed, even if they aren't an immediate danger, if they've been a danger in the past and are likely to become a danger in the future if untreated. In any case, this is not something that you can, or should, cope with on your own. "Tim" seems to be a support to you, but, like one of the above supporter said, it may be time to reach out to reach out to your friend's family. I would also recommend contacting a professional to ask what you can do for your friend and for yourself.

[Nixi]

I notice ur in the uk. I presume this guy has a CPN? Can you contact his CPN? Even if you don't know the name of his CPN you can ring the office where he lives and speak to the duty worker. Give his name and explain what's been going on and that he's harmed himself in the past. They will take it from there! They will arrange to see him and make an assessment. That way it stops you from becoming overly envolved and endangerinng you and your beliefs. Phone them in the morning as there should be a duty officer available to talk to!!!

Good luck hun and let us know how you get on- I know it's difficult know but your friend will appreciate it when he comes out of his psychosis!! Hugs xx