Paranoid MIL

[PigWhisperer]

Any advice please?

My MIL has been suffering with paranoia for some years. She believes people spy on her through cameras In her tv/smoke detectors. She has moved a number of times to escape them, but of course each time “they” follow her.

It’s got worse recently and now she believes that the men are breaking into her house and tasering her. She is so upset.

She will not seek help of any kind. She does not believe she is unwell. Anyone who suggests she is unwell is part of the conspiracy.

We are all trying to be sympathetic, or gently suggest trips to the GP under the guise of “something to help you sleep” rather than the paranoia, but there is no way she is going.

My understanding is that short of being sympathetic there is little that can be done. It’s just so heartbreaking so see her in such distress. Any ideas? It’s only going to get worse isn’t it? Are we being too passive? Should we be forcing her to see the GP?

Is she quite elderly? I am wondering if it might be Lewy Body dementia as that causes paranoia and hallucinations. She really needs to see a GP if you can persuade her to go.

I totally sympathise with this. We had similar with an elderly relative in our family. You can’t force her to see her GP. What you could do is consider contacting the GP, explaining your concerns..the GP can’t discuss this with you (only really listen) but they may ask MIL to come in for a ‘routine’ appointment with the information you have in mind. If she were invited maybe you could attend with her. It’s difficult though, you have my sympathy.

Contact her GP & let them know what's going on. Hopefully they will try & reach out to her. Had a similar scenario a while back. The GP went over & above. Eventually persuading them to start medication which literally changed their life. It's worth a try. The person has to engage for MH services & this doesn't seem likely for you at the moment.

Does she visit anyone? (am being advised by a professional)

If, for instance, she talks to a neighbour and shows herself as paranoid, this puts her in the position of being vulnerable and at risk e.g if the neighbour is unscrupulous and takes advantage . Being at risk in this way can be sectionable.

MH services can only be accessed through the GP (unless already under MH care eg has a Community Pychiatric Nurse), so GP is first port of call.

Thank you everyone, I appreciate your replies. Either myself or my husband will call the GP and try and explain. The thing is she is a firm minded woman who doesn’t think there is anything wrong with her!

@TheSparklyPussycat, no she doesn’t go anywhere or visit anyone. She is in a sheltered flat but believes everyone else is too frail and elderly to talk to! Plus Covid of course, she is vulnerable.

My first thought was Lewy Body disease too @Apolloanddaphne

My grandmother had it, she didn't have classic the dementia forgetfulness, instead she truly believed my grandfather was an alien doppelganger. To the point of attacking him. She had been very sound minded her whole life, just suddenly enormously paranoid.

Forgot to add this from my friend.

If her behaviour gets so bad that she or others are clearly at risk from harm you can call the police to deal with it.

Thank you @TheSparklyPussycat and everyone who has replied. We will definitely try the GP. Bracing ourselves for a long journey.

My Nan had psychosis like this due to dementia.
She was sectioned after 18 months of suffering as she became a risk to herself & others then covertly medicated in the EMI unit & began to recover. Sadly she then died suddenly of pneumonia.

Before she was sectioned I had to phone the doctor several times to tell him over the phone what was happening but he couldn't share information about her health due to confidentiality.
I finally got him to visit on some pretext that she had cellulitis. It became clear to him that she was unwell & he referred her to a psychiatrist who also visited, he just turned up at her flat, we never told her he was coming.

She was finally sectioned when she started wandering outside alone at night without footwear in the winter & threatening suicide & refusing meds.
It was very traumatic for us all.

I think you definitely need to contact the gp ASAP then keep pressing the issue as they may not listen straight away.

@Terralee

I’m really sorry about your Nan.

Thanks it was 2017, time has gone quickly.