Scary Sitch

New here and have a pretty scary situation.

Girlfriends brother has extreme delusions and paranoia. He believes people have been following him for 10 years. They can hear him through his phone, TV, radio, etc.

To make matters worse, he is a drug user (cocaine, marijuana, crystal meth). While using, he is aggressively defensive. If you don't believe him you are part of the conspiracy. He maintains his story whether high or sober.

So, what do we do to help him?

Sad to say that, unless he actively seeks help himself, or is causing great risk to his physical well being (aka SI), there is little you can do. Perhaps geting his family to all sit down and plan an intervention to sway him to seek help is your best bet.

Of course you're right.

So, what can we do in the meantime?

He went to GF's home last night while her 16 year old son was home alone. He was drunk and high yelling and screaming. Wanted to know where GF's BIL was because he thinks he's involved in the conspiracy.

GF, parents, sister and BIL all rushed to the house and he left. I called him and asked him to meet me. For some reason, I'm the only one he would take a call from.

We met and he was clearly agitated as well as drunk and high. My goal was to diffuse the situation by showing sympathy. As well, I encouraged to think about what he should to about his predicament. He came to the conclusion that he should hire a PI which I encouraged. My thinking was that if he followed through in constructive ways, rather than destructive ways, maybe he'll come to his senses while leaving his family members alone.

Should I continue to encourage this? Should I tell him he is wrong?

What about interventions? What about consulting a psychiatrist or a rehab facility?

I'm too new to post links but there is a Dr Phil episode that covers this very topic. He got the man to admit that a disorder could be just as plausible as a conspiracy, thus, he was able to get him to seek help. Our situation is different in that bro isn't seeking help from anyone let alone Dr Phil.

I think that sitting down with his family and organizing an intervention is a great idea. Have every family member, and yourself, and anyone else that cares enough about him to want him to seek help, write a letter to him about how they really feel, and how the are hurt by his behavior, alcoholism, and about how much they care about him and want him to get help and to get better. Then, organize a time and place where you know he'll go without too much fuss, his house maybe, and gather in a room with him, and read the letters out loud to him.

I've seen this done before on that TV show, Intervention, but don't know exactly how effective it is. I'm betting he'll either react one of two ways. He'll either say you're all out to get him and part of the "conspiracy", or just maybe, he'll realize that he needs help, as he's hurting the ones he loves as he is now.

I don't know if there is any chance you'd wind up on Dr. Phil, but taking a page from his book and trying to convince him that a disorder is as plausible as a conspiracy may be a good second choice. Though I'd give him some time and space between attempts, as to not overwhelm him and further delude him into thinking your out to get him.

Thanks for reply.

There was a family meeting yesterday (without him) to try and formulate a game plan.

We'll see where it leads.

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