[amalasingh]

Hi,

My dad used to lend money to people after his retirement. After 4 successful years, he had huge financial losses and went to the state of near bankruptcy. He had an ally when he was doing this business. That guy appears to be milking him money by promising him a big fortune if he gives him small amount. Now after that loss, for nearly 4 years he has been telling that
that guy would give him a big fortune in 20 days. But he has been saying this for 4 years. This looks like he is in hallucination and related to Schizophrenia. He does not believe us saying that guy is a cheat. He is still giving that cheating person money every time he gets some money. Please explain his condition and let me know how to resolve.

Thanks in advance

[ickydog2006]

I don't know. It doesn't really sound like schizophrenia to me, but I honestly have no idea. There are a lot of people who choose not to believe what's right there in front of them, and there probably is very little you can do to change that. Does he realize that he keeps saying twenty days over and over again with the number never changing. You might be able to get him to mark a date on a calendar and put a special dot at the end of 20 days. See if he'll agree to mark off every day on the calendar and at the end of it, not to give anymore money to the man until he is paid back.

[fishsandwich]

It sounds like optimism?? It's not delusional to think people will repay you money you lend them, even when their past behaviour has been questionable. People do stupid and dangerous things without it necessarily being a mental illness.

Ickydog's suggestion is a good one, though.