Very worried about my brother - *updated 30th May...*

JoJoB

I'd second the communes idea - tipi valley in Wales is full of folk living in tents since the 70s. They're not mad, just like living very basically and in nature. Was going to do it myself once and would still like to at some point. Like Sparky says, I wouldn't focus on this and the fact he doesn't want to lead a "normal" life as symptomatic of mental illness - most people I know with high paid jobs and nice cars are depressed. And if he was kitchen Portering I'm not suprised he doesn't set much store by getting back into work - KPing is a nightmare job!

It's the other stuff you mention that all sounds worrying and it does sound like he needs to be treated gently and protected. It may be something mental health services can do something about, or it may be that he needs to have more like-minded souls around him in a place he fits in a bit more (communes/tipi valley etc). Our mad world ain't an easy place to live in if you are a gentle person who thinks a lot differently to the mainstream.

lolababy

He sounds depressed and with that paranoia can set in. He really needs someone from a mental health team to visit him. One way of doing this would be via the police. If they think that he a mental health issues after talking to him they can refer him.
If it turns out that he is just eccentric then at least you can look into other options such as the camp sites ect.

freakyogre

Thank you for all the replies, apologies I haven't been able to reply to them all.

It's all kind of escalated again as of yesterday. Since my last post nothing really changed and I hadn't seen him much.

I spoke to him yesterday as was planning a day out today, he seemed fine, briefly mentioned the 'situation' again, but didn't go into detail.
Later I spoke to my dad and he mentioned my brother had called him (i'm not going to go into major detail, but I am the only one who really speaks to my dad a lot, I know my brother does on the odd occasion though). He didn't say anything else though, so I assumed all was ok.
Even later last night I was talking to my sister online when she suddenly said he had just phoned in a right state saying something had happened and was asking to go round to hers. She phoned me and told me what he had said and while we were on the phone he arrived. I spoke to him for a very short time and he was really panicky. It was agreed he could stay at my sisters last night, but leave this morning and i'd drive over and pick him. He sounded really thankful and said he'd tell me everything in the morning. I left them to it.

I phoned my dad straight away and said that brother had just gone to my sisters in a complete state. I said that I didn't want to know what they had discussed earlier as brother wanted to explain it to me in the morning. He said that my brother had told him that he could hear voices in his head and also that he had no money. Over however long this has all been going on for I think we have all 'loaned' my brother money knowing we won't see it again (not an issue at all, i'd rather he had money, but we know it's not a loan). Not much else was said about it, but I said we were really worried and he was staying with us for a couple of nights.

My sister phoned me early this morning after dropping him off (they both thought it was safer for him to leave early because of the group following him). Anyway, apparently when he got to my sisters he kept bursting into tears and not making a lot of sense. He said that he had phoned our dad, but he couldn't go and pick him up (whether this is true, I don't know) and tha if my sister hadn't have answered her phone when she did, he would have thrown himself off a cliff (he was actually at a place where he could have done this).This is when the next bit of his story comes in...

He now is saying that he has psychic powers and can tell when people are having negative thoughts about him and this is the reason they are now after him. He said that he went to the police about this yesterday, but they wouldn't/couldn't do anything.
The previous story of the girl seems to have been forgotten now (at least it seems to have been when he is telling us about the group).
The reason he was so upset is because he could hear them 'plotting' to torture and kill him. Apparently when he got to my sisters he insisted she closed the blinds straight away incase they followed him. She quite rightly said that if they are that much of a risk, then she would take him to the police there and then to sort it out.
He also said that someone he has made friends with made him a cup of tea yesterday when he was worked up, but he had drugged it. My brother apparently ran out of where they were. Now it turns out that the person my brother has befriended is also friends with my sisters husband (it's a small town!) When he spoke to the man he just said he had made my brother a drink and he just got up and ran away. There is no reason to believe this man would do this!

After talking to my sister this morning I said to her that I now believe he is making this all up and that he seriously isn't right, but we just don't know what to do about it.

Roll on today. I told him i'd pick him up early and he could stay at mine tonight and i'd drop him back tomorrow as we've got plans at my sisters.
I picked him up at 8am today and asked if he was ok (didn't mention my earlier call with my sister as wanted to see what he said). He had calmed down a lot and just said to me about the psychic powers, but seemed ok in himself.

We went off, got some bits for a picnic and went and had a walk. Did some other bits throughout the day and he seemed fine. At one point he asked me to think of negative things so he could test his powers, but it didn't work...

When we got back here I mentioned that my laptop was running really slow and was planning on formatting it. He's quite good with computers so had a look, but was flicking around changing things and disabling things. I was ok with this, but asked him just to let me know what he was changing so as I knew. He then did something and even right clicking took a while, I just mentioned that it wasn't usually THAT slow and he snapped and said "Oh, well it must be something i've done". I said that wasn't what I meant, but possibly something he had disabled may be needed.
He kept sighing and saying this wasn't good, this really wasn't good (the speed...or lack of).

All seemed well til later on tonight. We were watching a film and all of a sudden he let out a huge sigh and turned to me and said "Can you ring (sister) now please". I asked why and he said he thought she was in trouble as he thought he'd just heard her say she was scared. I said I would phone her if he wanted, but knew she was out tonight for a family meal, so 1) didn't want to disturb her and 2) was sure she was ok if they were all out. He calmed down a bit and seemed to accept it.

When the film had finished the music came on and he asked me if he could use my laptop to get the music off the DVD. I said no as didn't want any programs being installed due to the problems with it (I really only use this for internet and my PC for other stuff). Out of the blue he turned and said something like "Oh don't worry, i'll be gone in 48 hours anyway, music will no use to me".

I snapped and I chucked my laptop at him and said "Fine, have it, do what you want" and walked off to do the washing up. He then got defensive and said don't worry about it and didn't seem to realise why I had snapped. I asked him what he meant by his comment and he said he wouldn't be around (as in dead) in 48 hours. I asked him how a song made such a difference and he said music was the only thing he enjoyed.
He said that I didn't realise the situation he was in and this group were still plotting to torture and kill him, but now because of his psychic powers. I got more and more wound up at this point and said to him again that if this group are really after him, to get the hell away from where he is, he has no reason to stay there. Usual excuses; they'll follow him. I asked him if that meant they had followed him to where I live (20 miles away) and he said no, only when he walks. I said, "Then move far away from them, wherever you want". His response? He can't as has no money and needs to get a job (seems to ignore the fact he can look for a job ANYWHERE).
He once again got onto "Why should I leave?" "I want to know why they do it/why they think how they do" etcetc.

I then said to him that I was going to be honest now (possibly not a good idea) and said that I now believed that this group didn't exist and that it is all in his head. He started laughing and said "Oh if only that were true, it would solve everything" followed by "So let me guess, you want me to go and see a doctor?". I told him that yes, I thought this was the best idea.
He said that this wouldn't explain the voices he heard and I just replied and said "Well it may if you have schizophrenia or something". He said that if he was still alive in x days, then he would go and see someone and seemed to expect me to be happy with this. I then told him I had spoken to my sister before even seeing him this morning and she had told me everything he had told her, but I hadn't said anything before then as wanted to hear what he had to say.

I said to him that he was putting myself and my sister in a really difficult position by saying this kind of thing to us as we will feel responsible if anything happens (not worded as such but basically said we were worried sick, same as before). After going back and forth with the same old argument for a bit I just gave up (plus it was getting a bit heated and I really didn't want my neighbours hearing)

I finished tidying up and asked him if wanted to go to sleep now and he said yes. I was just putting some stuff away and he suddenly called through "You wish (brother) would go now". I walked out and said "What?" He asked "That's what you were just thinking" I said that no, honestly I wasn't and was actually setting my alarm at the time! He seemed a bit put out that the 'voices' were wrong.

I am now worried that after I have said these things to him that he may just walk out of here in the night? There's not a lot I can do except sit and watch him all night which just isn't possible.

Sorry for yet another long (and all over the place) post, but once again I am worried, frustrated and just so confused as to what we do, what we believe and how we go about trying to figure out what the heck is going on.

Thank you so much again for any advice.

grey_lady

Please contact your GP or your local mental health services team as soon as you can for professional advice and support as soon as you possibly can.

It really sounds like schizophrenia to me, but you need the nurses and doctors who specialise in this to get involved, the cliff thing is worrying he could be in danger of hurting himself (or others). If it is schizophrenia or a similar thing, then you cant 'figure it out' so to speak, if there's a chemical inbalance for instance then medication would help.

Please get some professional help - NHS direct are there 24/7 on 0845 4647.

creased-leach

You need to call on your local mental health team, urgently. Your brother is showing signs on a major mental health issue such as schizophrenia or Bipolar disorder. He needs to be assessed urgently- it really is beyond that which you can help him with now.

Having to take that step for someone you're close to is dreadful- but you'll be doing it for the right reasons.

Good luck. XX

looby75

phone NHS direct and read your post to them, your brother really needs to be assessed asap

skintchick

Did he used to take drugs? This sounds like it could also be drug-induced psychosis (I know cos a friend has it right now and it is all very similar).

he definitely needs proper help.

Emmzi

if he is a danger to himself you may want to consider sectioning. which he will resent you for now but if treatment works could be the best thing for him.

BitterAndTwisted

I think in his own way he does realise he needs help, hence the talk about nice comfy sofa, people threatening him. He does sound like that he's in some kind of crisis and that could be why he's not afraid to talk about the voices and the mind-reading thing..

Please contact NHS Direct right away.

JoolzS

He needs sectioning - speak to your local GP and/or police as soon as you can - for his sake.

I have a mild mental health issue and would have hated anyone interfering at the beginning - but his is way beyond the beginning (from your description).

He needs help and your family is untrained to provide it. You have done your best and now it seems time for someone who can do better to take over.

He has a great addition to the doctors and/meds - he has a loving family.

Julie