[beach2016]

Hi everyone. I will try to be short with this story but I am looking for any guidance you are willing to give. Thanks in advance.

My best friend (female) got divorced after 25 years of marriage 2 years ago. She has 2 adult children and her marriage ending was no surprise....separated many times before. She has completely gone off the deep end. She has ended life long friendships and isolated her family, is irrational and at times delusional with her kids, ex-husband, family and friends. She has made some very poor choices that I never saw coming like dating and living with a child sex offender. Her moods change constantly. Sometimes for days she seems like her old self and then she changes to this person that seems like a delusional lunatic. I am worried for her and her children. Her children and others have expressed their concerns to me as well and I have tried to talk to her and have asked her to see a therapist but all it does is cause an explosive argument. I don't know what to do but I feel like she has a legitimate psychological disorder (no idea what) and I am afraid to do nothing.

[Skeezyks]

Hello beach2016: I see this is your first post here on PC. So... welcome to PsychCentral... from the Skeezyks! I hope you find the time you spend here to be of benefit.

I'm afraid the reality is there's just not much you can do here. Your friend is obviously an adult... & an older adult at that. She has the right to make her own decisions... including bad ones. Plus she has two adult children. So if there were a possibility of her being a danger to herself or others there are family members who could attempt to take action to have her involuntarily committed to a psychiatric facility. From what you wrote, it doesn't sound as though this is the case, though.

From my perspective, the best you can do is to continue to be a friend to the best of your ability & let your friend know that you're there for her if-&-when she needs someone to listen or to help in some way. But, in addition, be sure to take care of yourself too. No good will result from you being dragged down along with your friend. I wish you well...

Unfortunately there is nothing you can do

[amandalouise]

Originally Posted by beach2016

Hi everyone. I will try to be short with this story but I am looking for any guidance you are willing to give. Thanks in advance.

My best friend (female) got divorced after 25 years of marriage 2 years ago. She has 2 adult children and her marriage ending was no surprise....separated many times before. She has completely gone off the deep end. She has ended life long friendships and isolated her family, is irrational and at times delusional with her kids, ex-husband, family and friends. She has made some very poor choices that I never saw coming like dating and living with a child sex offender. Her moods change constantly. Sometimes for days she seems like her old self and then she changes to this person that seems like a delusional lunatic. I am worried for her and her children. Her children and others have expressed their concerns to me as well and I have tried to talk to her and have asked her to see a therapist but all it does is cause an explosive argument. I don't know what to do but I feel like she has a legitimate psychological disorder (no idea what) and I am afraid to do nothing.

here in America people can date marry and divorce who ever they want to even if that person has been convicted of a crime of any kind.

if the children are minors and you fear for their safety and well being you contact the child abuse hot line, social services child protective services or the police. they will investigate to see if the children are in danger or not and whether this person is a child sex offender, if so the children will be removed from the home and placed in foster care while children services investigates all avenues of relatives that are stable and financially able to take full care of the children. if not the children will be made wards of the court and placed up for adoption with someone outside the family, most likely someone who does not have any contact with this friend and the possible sex offender.

the only other thing you can do is decide whether you want to remain a part of this persons life or not, you cant control her, whether she goes to therapy (if that is needed) all you can control in this is you and your own decisions on whether you remain this persons friend or not.