Sally18New Contributor
Help with teen that has delusions that we are persecuting her
Hello everyone,
I'm reaching out to this supportive community during a challenging time for my family. We're navigating a complex situation with our teenage daughter, who we believe is experiencing psychosis, characterised by persecutory delusions. She believes that we, her family, are persecuting her, which has led to significant distress and conflict.
We've noticed changes in her behaviour and mental state, including expressing fears of being harmed by us, which is far from the truth. She's also been involved in concerning online activities, posting content related to suicidal ideation and has shown violent tendencies in her writings. Her school performance is suffering, and her relationship with her siblings is strained, especially with her sister who feels ignored and neglected.
The school's involvement has been a double-edged sword, with a school counsellor whose methods have raised concerns about professionalism and effectiveness. Despite these challenges, we've sought to limit her access to social media to mitigate negative influences, but our efforts seem insufficient against the magnitude of her distress. The issue we have, is that people are believing her stories and advising her of how to get away from us, consequently her mental state is now (we think) well and truly in psychosis. We have an appointment for a psychiatric assessment but it isn't for months and she is refusing to come home, engaging the government to protect her from us. It's horrific!
Here's where I seek your guidance and shared experiences:
- How have you navigated similar situations where a teenager refuses help or doesn't recognise their need for psychiatric support?
- What strategies have you found effective in communicating with and supporting a teenager experiencing psychosis?
- Can anyone recommend approaches for engaging a teenager in psychiatric care when they are resistant?
- How do you balance the mental health needs of one child with the well-being of the entire family?
- Any advice on dealing with schools and ensuring a supportive environment for a teenager dealing with these challenges?
Our ultimate goal is to ensure our daughter's safety and well-being, while also considering the impact on our family as a whole. Any insights, resources, or personal stories you can share would be incredibly valuable to us during this difficult time.
