PandahCasual Contributor
How to initiate a discussion with a partner about delusions
I have had a relationship of over a year with my current partner. I have just figured out that she has been having paranoid delusions recently. She genuinely believes in events/allegations that did not happen. The allegations are plausible/realistic but not rational.
I have been responding poorly believing she was lying and spreading made up stories about me so I have unfortunately responded in every way that a partner shouldn't. I have accused her of lying, laughed at the irrational nature of her allegations and tried to explain to her how her lies were obsurb and irrational. I had no idea she actually believed and felt these things, until today. We have had many arguments resulting directly and indirectly from this and ultimately she left a few days ago, before I figured this out.
I care for her and want to try and work through this with her, and ideally get her professional help but I really don't know where to start.
How do you try and tell someone that what they are suffering from delusions? I don't think I would believe it if someone told me that something I knew to be true didn't happen.
She has been in a bad relationship previously and gaslighting is one of the things I have been alleged to be doing so she is already on guard and likely to interpret any suggestion of delusions as manipulation.
Is it possible to have a rational conversation about having delusions directly or do I need to approach this some other way?