Have you had a friend with serious mental health issues?

[Anonymous]

A close friend has been exhibiting concerning behavior over the last few months. She's been in and out of the hospital for mental health reasons and pushed her family away awhile ago and thinks theyre following her. She's pushing me away as well and thinks I'm out to ger her now too. Not sure what to do in this situation

[Oliverlogan263]

Ah man, that's really heavy. Mental health issues can be so challenging, especially for the person going through it. Props to you for sticking by your friend through all that.

When a friend starts pushing you away like that because of their illness, it's easy to take personally. But you gotta remember it ain't really about you - their brain is just not well right now.

The best you can do is let them know you care, but also maintain your own boundaries. Like tell them you're always there if they need support, but you can't be around if they're threatening self-harm or whatever. Gotta keep yourself safe too.

Maybe connect with their family again too, see if you can all be on the same page about helping from a distance. And encourage your friend to keep following their treatment plan as much as possible.

All you can do is show love from a place of calmness and not feed into their paranoid thoughts about you. Time and professional help are what they need most. You're already being such a good friend just by sticking by their side through this tough time. They're lucky to have you.

[jamesgoldman]

Yeah, one of my former associates is in a psychiatric hospital for dismembering his girlfriend during a psychotic episode

[HateyouxD]

I would suggest an intervention. Leaving her alone will be the worst decision. Letting her know you're always there will be best. I think being patient as she's having delusions or hallucinations it's the worst. I'm glad my family forgave me and my friend. I love them way too much to ever do that shit again

[Anonymous]

leave her be... seriously. it's what she wants. being bothered about getting better or her depression is very exhausting and we just want to be left alone.

[Asker]

Even if she's a danger to herself?

[serious]

No. Never