What, if anything, is going on here? None of it seems right to me. What do I say and how do i help my loved one navigate this?
- if specific neighbours don't wave or smile, she says it because the other neighbours have all been gossiping about her to that person
- she says energex are out to get her because one of the neighbours worked for them. Energex often don't enter to take a meter reading because there is a beware of vicious dog sign on the gate. She has called and complained multiple times, but believes it keeps happening because they are all friends with this neighbour
- she says certain neighbours are out to get her or are spying on her. When neighbours open certain blinds or windows she says it's because they are watching her and listening to her.
- she sometimes sits in the garden by the fence at night, sometimes for hours, listening to the neighbours
- she has stolen and opened mail not addressed to her
- she says others are stealing and opening her mail
- she says the neighbours water tank is illegal because it floods her yard when it rains, and they did it on purpose. Her house is downhill from these neighbours. She has fought tooth and nail to have something done about it but keeps getting told its legal and to get better drainage on her property. She hasn't done anything about drainage, but keeps complaining and accusing the neighbours more than a decade later
- every place she has worked at she says she is being bullied
- her most recent workplace of 10 years is in a department at a hospital. She says her bully there has turned the whole department against her and everything they do is to get at her.
- her bully at this workplace made a formal complaint about her because she was dismissive and non compliant with requests from management to deal with it informally. She was given an envelope with the paperwork in it by the acting hospital manager.
- her recently new acting unit manager gave her an envelope with a certificate and badge in it and congratulated her for *reason*, she says she took it from him and walked out without saying a word because she thinks he has been gossiping with staff (about aforementioned situation)
- any new forms, or changes to forms or policies and procedures, or changes within the department or hospital, she says it's because they are trying to mess with her or gaslight her or get her to quit
- she thinks they are trying to make her quit by doing all these things to her. She says she will never quit because she doesn't want to give them the satisfaction. She is of retirement age, is very well off, and works full time
- she photocopies and/or keeps personal and private information of patients and staff
- she says her bully and others have accessed her medical files and has gone to great extent of calling anyone she can about putting a block on her file and other family members medical and mental health files
- her grandchild has serious medical and mental health issues. She blames her bully of being involved just to get at her because they are neighbours with the other grandparents
- she accuses and blames the other parent, grandparents, and their neighbour/her bully for everything.
- when she knows her child is going to visit her grandchild, she will tell them to get all the information she can out of them about the other parent, family, and neighbour and report back. Her child has told her on several occasions that they're not going to do that because it makes them feel uncomfortable and affects their mental health. She did the same thing when her children were young and visiting their dad
- when her child tries to confide in them or seek their help regarding the grandchild, she will turn the whole thing into blaming her bully and the other family and wanting revenge. Her child has to remind her that it won't help her grandchild and the energy needs to be redirected
There is so much more to this. There's also more to every instance I gave but tried to narrow it down to give a broad look without the reader having to read forever. I'm happy to clarify, expand, explain, give more info or instances. Please help
4 Replies
That’s extreme paranoia, which is not a condition but a symptom of something else. As usual, only they can seek the help they need. I would encourage it.
If you know who her GP is, make an appt for you to see them. Tell them you're worried about her and share what you have here. They can't tell you anything about her but you can give them all your information for them to check out themselves.
The only question you should have for them at the end is 'how can I support her without feeding the paranoia?'.
I'd be surprised if she got to this age as an undiagnosed schizophrenic but it's possible. Also dementia. But obviously there's other potential causes so best leave that side of the things to the professionals.
That’s definitely some signs of mental health issues of some kind.
I’d be reporting her for copying and accessing medical records that she shouldn’t be. It’s illegal.
Sounds like paranoid schizophrenia