Confronting Someone About their Mental Illness
 

I will keep affirming that this person can at some point come to grips with the reality that they have developed a particularly complex and rare disorder and it has affected their entire lives. I am trying to explain face on so maybe they will get it someday.

I do care very much about them. But this denial thing is extremely self and OTHER-destructive of theirs. I could have ended up a victim in a dangerous way if I didn't keep working on distancing myself from them frequently.:confused: :icon_frown:

Would it be better to talk with a guardian, parent or relative?

I am sorry to hear about your experiences with this person.

Only a qualified mental health practitioner can make the diagnosis of a Mental Illness, despite how that person is behaving and they know this too.

If this person has already been diagnosed as such, only those who have received training in the mental health care field have the necessary skillset to work with such afflicted individuals.

I don't know what it is like in other countries except for Australia, but in Australia, we have a group called ARAFMI - Association of Relatives And Friends of the Mentally Ill.

Perhaps there are similar resources in your country?

However, as Miss H has stated, it is best to approach the primary caregivers of your friend to see if you can offer assistance.

They may tell you that the most caring and compassionate thing you can do for them is just walk away, but include them in your prayers nonetheless.

Could you describe this more? How do you mean a victim?

Caregivers
 

He is 53, he has no caregivers.
But I am concerned he will end up committed in the US as a patient Soon. I don't know what's best for him. I am sad and confused and wish he wasn't so sick.

Hi sweetie, I am so sorry for that pain.
Watching someone sink and being helpless to make a difference.

I have no advice, I have a close friend that due to childhood trauma that was never delt with has developed coping mechanism that likely are diagnosable as a disorder. Pain does that.

I did once encourage him to get help successfully, unfortunately at the time he wasn't ready so lied to the therapist. Regardless an attempt was made.

I believe partially why he saught help was because I had similar trauma and had gotten counselling about a decade earlier. Talked about how it saved my life which it did. Unfortunatley all therapist are not created equal. I had one that was like Budda/Jesus energy. Loving accepting non-judgemental, and just so able to help walk someone through their pain.

Anyways it's been 3 years since he tried last to talk to a professional and just last week I suggested now might be another good opportunity because things had changed and he would not need to hide anything. He didn't speak to me for a week but once we got intouch again I explained the suggestion was brought forward because he himself had wondered why he did destructive things. He suddenly let his guard down again knowing he wasn't being criticized.

He said "he is not ready" but that isn't a no. So maybe in future he will try again.

Perhaps instead of saying someone is mentally ill because quite honestly every human is a bit mentally ill, it might be better to phrase things in a way of helping them learn to cope with life in a new way.

Mind you if they are completely delusional that likely wont help and all I can suggest is prayer. It has worked for me in the past.

I will send one up for your friend this afternoon. ALSO if you are going to speak with them about it I highly suggest praying for help so you say the right thing. We don't always know what that is so no harm asking for help.

I Would have to agree with shivani on this mental illness is a grey area. if you are not qualified to deal with them.
is he not under his doctor? they should have people around them who can deal
with anyone suffering from mental illness, who can give them support etc.


Namaste

I asked them to consider going to a Dr. and being evaluated for a certain disorder they seem to be exhibiting. But it's so rare and confusing and has such a terrible confusing stigma, they cannot even consider it.
Just like they seem unable to consider the fact that I may be a real psychic either. *Lots of denial.
It's just painful to move on, right now, there's no one to move on to, or consider. I'm in a very strange location, a state I only plan to be in a for a few more days. (It went badly when I came to the state-frequent sexual harassment).

it is one of the most difficult to accept your illness with someone. You never know what will happen when you say about these type of complex issues. SO BE CAREFUL

He and I really are not speaking anymore. I detach and let him go.