Religious psychosis

Hi @HappyEmu

Thank you for sharing, I appreciate you reaching out to the community.

I made a slight edit to your post (to remain within Community Guidelines)-popping the link in here as they can be easy to miss on here. https://saneforums.org/articles/community-guidelines

It can be really challenging when you are worried about a family member. It's great that you are looking into resources and exploring what you can do to support them.

Each state's mental health system works differently, but families and carers can share concerns or feedback directly with the hospital or mental health services. There are often additional pathways families and carers can contact to support this process, including a consumer advocate or liason officer.

We have some information and resources, guides that may be helpful -

https://www.sane.org/information-and-resources/facts-and-guides/psychosis#factsheet

https://www.sane.org/information-and-resources/facts-and-guides/families-friends-carers

For specific resources this can be accessed by contacting your states mental health carer service. Carer Gateway-https://www.carergateway.gov.au/ for additional guidance, tailored information, referral to carer wellbeing and peer services, carer and family advocates.

You’ve kinda answered it yourself. Unfortunately mental health unit staff are all overworked and they just don’t have the resources to provide that kind of support and care. They medicate you, feed you and keep you safe. A private facility may be slightly different where you will attend groups, but they aren’t going to be targeted at the kind of help your friend needs. That’s something that once they are safe and well enough, to get therapy in the outside- and that’s if they are willing to admit there is problem.

good on you for being supportive though

@HappyEmu religious psychosis is very common. When I was in hospital we had someone who used to walk down the street waving a cutlass converting people. He got lots of converts but wound up being apprehended by police and put in hospital! Its very distressing for both family and onlookers. When I was in hospital all they did was heavily medicate him. He ended up taking his life. He was a nice young man but he suffered greatly because of psychosis.

I think now that I am 56 and explored a lot of religious faiths all I can say is to provide tolerance and just allow him to be no matter how disagreeable his actions are to people. He's found faith, his beliefs may be extreme but you will only end up alienating him by providing direction. All you can do is just be an onlooker and not try to control an outcome.

He may have friends in his place of worship but it sounds like the religious institution to which he belongs is very prescriptive and cult-like in terms of who is admissable. Thats the way they operate. They cut off friendships and family because they are not religious practitioners themselves and indulge in practices that the church deems not part of their doctrine.

Dont try and change him dont criticise unless you want to drive your family further apart. Just be there and dont try and sway him. These places of worship will offer him lots of support though in terms of fellowship so he will have people to mingle with and offer companionship. His former friends may not have been genuine anyway and walked away due to his psychosis. I understand its hard for a parent to watch but you cant put an old head on young shoulders.

There is a classic book called Stages of Faith which is a psychological analysis of faith - its not religious based but talks about the development of faith in people and how it grows into a mature faith, one of universalising compassion and love. It takes years to arrive at that point. Its not a book about religious psychosis but provides insight into the maturity of faith by a psychologist. He is stuck in a developmental stage with his faith and all you can do is just allow him to grow and mature as disagreeable as his actions are to you. Given the right conditions he will take the correct steps and move into the direction of universalising love and compassion as he grows older. Just be patient i realise you dont like it but its just a part of who he is becoming as a person.

@wonderingalice1 this will take a long time to "fix" long term medication and therapy with a psychiatrist and psychologist.... years. but in saying that the most important thing is support from friends and family no matter how hard it gets is vital imho and dont forget to look after yourself for the inevitable highs and lows the future will bring.

Love your name @HappyEmu

Sadly I have witnessed it a lot, and do not agree with the medication only approach.

I am not going to justify the issue being about overworked staff. There are many models of mental health care delivery that are not overpriced like the hospital systems ... private or public...they could save money and do better therapuetic interventions in community, group relational settings. Thats why we had Royal Commission. Hmmm.

Being there. Being true to yourself and your own beliefs. Holding some space openly. Self care is important. Yes, it may take time.

Good Luck.