Psychosis, Mental Breakdown?? What is this?

[WorriedandStressed2026]

Hello everyone,

I need some advice please. I’ve name changed so it’s not outing.

My brother 40 years old, no previous mental health history - high flying career, very intelligent and always advising us on matters, has since last week suddenly changed!

He started by saying to me in confidence that he has suddenly figured out that his best friends (since his 20s and who he regularly socialises with) are out to get him. He has since blocked all of them. He says They have hacked his devices and they are listening into his conversations. He is very paranoid.

He says he can’t sleep. He can’t eat. He doesn’t go out anywhere incase “they” are tracking him.

He’s left his work.

We don’t know how to approach this. I called 111 and sought advice but they said he needs to be in the room. He doesn’t think he has a problem and that everything is real.

I’ve advised him to go GP. But he thinks he doesn’t need to. He just wants justice for being hacked. Today he was saying the Russians are involved as he checked the IP address and it was a Russian location.

I am so desperate to help him, I am worried what this means for him. Does anyone have any idea how I can access help please?

Thank you.

Please convince him that he needs to tell the police about what he thinks is happening.Go with him and encourage, remind him what he thinks.
Sudden onset psychosis without any history, can turn extremely quicky into something quite dangerous. You have to consider your parents, and their safety, as well as his own. Voluntary sectioning is preferable, but official sectioning is vital in many dangerous situations. The police will quickly liaise with the necessary authorities.
He may also be experiencing some acute infection.

This is a fearful situation for you. Have courage. X

Update: I was with him all day today and came home around half an hour ago as he fell asleep on the sofa.

I called the early intervention mental health team as was recommended here and spoke to an admin who then put the call through to a mental health nurse. I explained everything and I was told they can’t help as he needs to consent. They also said that I could call the FRS team - I asked what that is and it is basically 111 option 2. I said I tried them last week and was told that he needed to be in the room with me, but I can’t call anyone in his presence because he thinks he is perfectly fine!

She said that usually they help if people are violent and aggressive or there is fear of harm to themselves. I said he has recently made a will - when he’s never thought of making one before - so obviously that could be a sign that he thinks something is going to happen to him. Or he might harm himself?!

Anyway - they weren’t much help. I think they are limited in what they can do anyway. She advised to get him to talk and to get him to his GP. I said I have tried that and he doesn’t want to go to his GP.

I also said to him when he was talking about the hacking again that he needs to go to the police but he said he’s going to pay a cyber investigator to check his phone and provide evidence that his phone has been hacked.

I tried telling him gently about going to the GP to get his bloods checked to see why he can’t sleep and he said he’s got an appointment next Friday.

In the mean time - I’m not sure what else we can do apart from just be around him and call The police or ambulance if things escalate.

We have a family member who is in the Police - and he has asked me to contact her and ask her about how to get a prosecution for hacking cases.

I am meant to be seeing her tomorrow but I will tell him that she said he needs to report to the police himself.

I have told him he needs to go to the police and tell them but he says he needs to but doesn’t actually go through with it?

Today he said “I haven’t conjured this up in my mind, it’s happened” regarding the conspiracy about his friends etc.

I’m going to see him tomorrow and then just be firm with him. I’ve told my parents not to let him be alone and keep an eye on him and to call me if things change. I live 10mins away by car so can go. Glad it’s the weekend so don’t have to worry about work.

This is my worry. What if things escalate suddenly ☹️

Op I mean this kindly, but things are escalating. He’s in psychosis. You absolutely must get him help, not 111, but police or emergency services, time is crucial and you’re running out, can you get him to hospital? If not ambulance or police. Previous poster who said that waiting and watching is dangerous for him and those close to him is right.

If things escalate, you or your parents call 999 as needed. Don’t hesitate if you think he’s a risk to himself or anyone else.

You will need a hospital rather than GP to do proper suite of bloods.

It could be antibody related. In which case he needs treatment. It’s not common but it should be ruled out.

https://www.science.org/content/article/inflamed-brain-can-trigger-psychosis-search-patients-might-cured

He won’t go to the hospital. Or even his GP.

I can’t physically take him as he thinks he’s fine.

I have called 111 and they said they can’t help as they need his consent. I have called the area intervention team and they said they can’t help as they need his consent.

If I call 999 - what do I say to them? I need an ambulance? But for what??! As he’s just lying down on the sofa.

The police can’t section him if he’s in his house.

He needs to be picked up actively psychotic in public.

All I can say is I know what I would do to make this happen. I can’t write that on here. Have a think OP

I don’t get it. Should I make him angry or something?

My poor brother … he’s never been involved with the police in his life. He doesn’t drink, do drugs or anything like that. I feel so awful.

Having psychosis does not mean he will be sectioned.
You are in a difficult position as he’s not engaging with you in terms of medical assistance.

So sorry you are going through this OP. Are there any symptoms he’s experiencing that he might agree he needs help managing such as lack of sleep, changes in appetite or subjective feelings of stress? He really must see a doctor as there are a lot of potential medical causes of psychosis such as infections or autoimmune or neurological problems and many others.

Don’t do this (make him angry). As above, just because he’s psychotic doesn’t mean he’ll be sectioned, he needs to present significant risk to himself or others first (hence my suggestion of calling 999 if those risks become apparent).

I’m sorry you’re in such a difficult position - I can only imagine how hard it must be to see this going on and be so helpless.

And the person who posted up thread saying he can’t be sectioned in his own house is incorrect - he can, it’s just more difficult as it requires a magistrate’s warrant to enter the premises (by force if necessary).

I pray he’s not sectioned. I hope he gets better before things get worse. But I don’t know how to get him help. I would take out a loan or borrow money if it meant I could help him. He’s never needed our help and has always been the one we go to if we need help/advice.

I might call Harley Street doctors and see if they can advise. A friend suggested this and said maybe they can do an online mental health evaluation/assessment on him. I have spoken to him about counselling so can lie and say it’s a counselling appointment online.

Will see if they’re open tomorrow and give them a call.

Yes, he’s experiencing lack of sleep, lack of appetite, feeling dizzy, he keeps checking his blood pressure and I said to him we can go A&E and I will take him. He said went to A&E a couple of weeks ago when he fell and all his bloods came back normal.

I said but you’re not well - let’s go again and tell them you’re not sleeping. He said he’s fine and didn’t engage much with me.

Also - thanks everyone who has posted with support, empathy and advice. It’s really helpful. Thank you 🤧

It’s very difficult. I’ve been sectioned for psychosis but I was under the CMHT and my psychiatrist ordered a mental health act assessment.
Can you play to his sympathetic side? Maybe say your parents are really worried and would he come to A and E with you as they are so stressed and it would ease their minds?

I don’t think anyone can do an assessment on him, Harley Street or otherwise, online. He needs to present face to face. This will get worse unfortunately @WorriedandStressed2026 . If there is any way you can coax him to A&E, as pp suggests do so. It’s horrible for you.

I will try. I tried really hard today.

I can try again tomorrow.

I feel like maybe I should just say to him, you’re having a mental breakdown. You need to get help quick before you get sectioned. Maybe this will work or maybe he will lash out. I don’t know….

It’s worth a try. If he kicks off you can call 999.

He won’t let anyone go with him, even if he does go. He will most likely mask everything and just get his blood pressure checked.

I’ve told him he needs to go for the lack of sleep, and explain to the GP everything that’s happened with his friends hacking his device and collaborating with his ex-wife.

I’ve called his GP and told the receptionist everything but she said she can’t discuss anything with me. I told her I don’t want her to discuss anything but to inform his GP that he’s going through this.

Oh god it’s so hard and frustrating. I can only tell you what happened to us, we went to A&E, he masked, chatted to triage nurse, obs were fine, but because iI had called ahead and we went after 111 told us to, they had been forewarned of MH concerns. They said he needed to stay a little while, waiting for bloods etc. And sure enough the mask slipped and he started self harming. It was heartbreaking, but the start of treatment and ultimately his recovery.

Thank you for this. I will go to his GP surgery and speak to the Receptionist face to face. Maybe if the Doctor calls him in has a chat with him, he can open up to him? I will still try the A&E route tomorrow when I see him.

Honestly - these services really need to change. Isn’t preventative measures better than using the Police and Ambulance resources?

I feel like he needs something to be able to sleep it off. He’s not sleeping properly at all.

It’s difficult for him to sleep as he’s in a manic phase. You are doing brilliantly in a really hard situation. Your brother is having pretty typical paranoid delusions and it seems he’s not having any hallucinations. He’s paranoid and manic. His brain is in overdrive. If he eats anything, it would be great if it was carbs. Bread, pasta, potatoes… sedating foods. No caffeine. Your lemon balm tea is perfect.
if possible, use words like ‘ useful’ and ‘ day-to-day’ and ‘helpful’…. ie “ let’s get back to thoughts that are useful for the day to day” and ‘ let’s find a useful practical approach to this’.
De- escalate the overheated brain by bringing the focus right down into the known and familiar at all times.
Im hoping you can get him to the GP for insomnia, and if the GP is prewarned then they may be able to unmask him. Maybe he’ll go to the Police Station to report his ideas, and that will be a good step too.

No I am not saying make him angry. As I said I can’t really write this here. It is partly unethical but if you have tried crisis team I really don’t have any other ideas.