2dc/sc/slpst/ chain 1 - why my sister thinks my husband is a sex trafficker.

[Fandangodiggers]

NC but penis beaker, Mexican house thief, screaming in the Sistine etc etc.

My sister lives alone and started an online relationship with an American man during covid. He moved to the U.K. in 2022. They live together, apparently entirely platonically. We’ll call him ‘Ken’. Ken has had to spend the last few months back in America (something to do with his visa) so we’ve been inviting my sister round for coffees and dinner a couple of times a month.

My sister and Ken originally bonded over their shared political views. Both are from the very far left, and together their views have gotten more and more extreme. Unfortunately, both have become fans of conspiracy theories.

Last night my sister came over unannounced and wanted to speak to me alone. She seemed concerned so we went for a coffee. It transpires that my sister believes that she has uncovered a child sex trafficking ring being run from the golf club where my husband is a member, and she believes my husband is the main organiser.

This kind of madness is fairly on brand for my sister but this was well beyond her normal batshittery. Her key piece of evidence was a notebook she had stolen from my house the last time she was there that contains a ‘secret code’ she has managed to decipher. 2dc = 2 dead children, 1sc = 1 sexy child etc etc. in this book she’s found an entire inventory my husband is keeping and by her and Ken’s reckoning, thousands of children have passed through this golf club.

I write crochet patterns as a hobby. Granted, she probably isn’t aware of this.

It has to be the end of my relationship with my sister at this point (obviously) but I’m so desperately sad to lose her this way. I was hoping with Ken away, we would be able to bring her back into the fold and stop her decent into conspiracy theory madness but I honestly think she’s too far gone.

Just on the off chance, has anyone ever managed to successfully salvage someone from extreme radicalisation like this or do I need to follow my instincts on this one and let her go? I’m resigned to losing her but if there’s a chance to salvage her I’d like to try.

FYI I have of course told DH, he thinks it’s hilarious so no harm done there but I have told him to alert the golf course staff in case she tries to burn the place down or something.

The blurring and crossover between lefty green types and rightwing conspiracy bullshit is a big thing now.

This article goes into some of it as does this excellent George Monbiot piece in this weekend's Guardian.

I was going to add that its not so much extreme left as extreme right that are conspiracy theorists...and evangelical Christians. And Trump's supporters...but its spreading here. More than one right-wing Tory or Reform candidate is quoting them...very worrying.

If she really believed it, surely she'd go straight to the police?

Many mental health diagnosed disorders have episodes of manic behaviour.
Person is not tripping 24/7, bcs at that point that person would be put in a hospital care.
Schizophrenia for one seriously overlaps with delusions OP is describing and is more likely to be present among women.

I lived next to woman who had it, she was on and of from hospitals as she was able to function well between episodes and was not suspected to be agressive. But she also suffered from serious terrors due to her own illusions and inability to find her proper care and medication.

OP, do try to gather evidence and referr her to GP, if MH issues she is unable to do so for herself.

you say not diagnosed are you sure or just what she told you-souns like a mental health illness

maybe you can go with her bak to the doctor with her

Suppose you did not crochet and make notes about your patterns I wonder what she would have used as "proof" instead? It has made me look around my own home and think what on earth I have written down that could possibly be interpreted as code for anything. I guess that if someone's mind is working on the conspiracy trajectory then they will find something that supports their theories and beliefs I guess in my home it would be the known only to me abbreviations I use on the rare occasions I bother to write on my paper calendar or maybe my shopping list pad which hangs on the fridge.

I would have joined a new golf club after the bloke was arrested.

Your sister needs help, clearly. But how did she jump from ‘book of codes’ to child rapists sex trafficking out of the golf club? Did she explain why she thinks that’s happening?

Never mind, should have RTFT

No, left... apparently.

@Fandangodiggers Isn't QAnon right leaning rather than the far left you say your sister is?

We are not qualified to judge.
Schizophrenia would not see her happy to have found out her BIL is a sex trafficer. She would be terrifed and horrified.

Haven’t read all the comments, but just want to say this is made up… there’s not such stitch as single crochet in UK crocheting.

She isn't very well. This sounds like paranoia. My own DS used to think her food was being poisoned, by myself and all of our family. She used to close the curtains and say the police were watching her. She has been on antipsychotics for the past 20 years and lives a normal life, has a job, is married and owns a home. Psychosis like this is treatable and can be managed. My DS started to realise what was happening to her before it got too serious. It's a problem in their brain, it's really sad. With the right medication my DS is totally fine, she's never had kids as that would mean stopping the meds as they aren't safe in pregnancy. She doesn't them anyway as it's a risk to her and any children she did have.

Or.....if you RTWT you would see that the OP has said that she uses her own shorthand for standard stitches as she finds it easier in her notes.

But hey, embrace your own conspiracy theory and enjoy the irony.

😂😂

Do you only read UK crochet patterns?

It's unbelievable, sure, but not for that reason!

"she's part of the folk music scene"
Say no more.

Drugs can bring out paranoid delusions in people already prone to them. Been through this with my sister who smoked a lot of weed. It's especially dangerous in teens who's brains have not fully developed. I think she's really unwell OP.

Definitely, long term weed smoking does lead to paranoia. It's not a harmless spliff, it's very dangerous.

Yes if she tells the wrong ppl you and your DH could face some serious blowback from your community, and also further afield via the internet. Remember the ‘paediatrician’ who got accused of being a ‘paedophile’?! Also teachers who are targeted for discussing ‘off limit’ subjects and ppl stoke other un-balanced ppl over the internet to sort them out.

I would take this very seriously OP as it could potentially put yourself and your family at risk, reputation-wise if not your physical safety.

She needs help. Her behaviour has escalated and is very concerning.

*Can lead to paranoia
*Can be dangerous

She’s psychotic.

That sounds blunt and an insult but it’s not. I have been psychotic. I have been sectioned. Theres a period between reality and full blown psychosis where you have a choice. Unless you have been psychotic please don’t comment mental health isn’t a choice blah blah. There is a moment. Sometimes a split second sometimes longer where it is. You might think something, or think you see something and then either chase into it, or think hmm. And move on.

She’s chasing. The fact she stole the notebook means she’s been looking.

I would recommend getting help. That’s not going to be easy. She’s going to think that the ‘help’ is further proof she’s finally found the real conspiracy. And that panic might make her spiral further into a full full blown psychosis where she really isn’t functional.

But imo it’s essential. Even mild psychosis repeatedly rewire the brain and that’s when you get to the schizophrenic point where you don’t have enough reality grounding to be able to recognise those ‘choice’ moments.

Goodluck

Yeah?

@Fandangodiggers hey. I’d like you to prove your credentials

lol. (Sorry for your shittery btw)

Haven’t read all the comments, but just want to say this is made up… there’s not such stitch as single crochet in UK crocheting.

🙄 So it's not the crazy conspiracy tale you find unconvincing, it's the idea that someone in the UK might use US crochet terminology (which is far more common in online patterns, tutorials and videos)? Hilarious!

Cannabis use is proven to be associated with paranoia, especially when taken in adolescence as it changes the structure of the brain. There are academic papers on it, but I would also recommend a book called Henry’s Demons about a journalist’s son who became schizophrenic due to cannabis use.