isolation and gaslighting

[x__]

I was recently investigated by police, I discovered it was illegal and I made a complaint.

Since then I've been forced to isolate due to extreme bullying, harassment, and psychological abuse, and gaslighted that it's all in my head.

The only reasonable inference is that this is how the police illegally target someone they deem to be a problem, and everyone seems to be ok with going along with it.

This is causing me extreme anxiety.

[white knight]

Hi, welcome

This is a very hard post to reply to as details are few and if I replied that indicated some level of support for the police I could be seen as working against you.

So lets talk about anxiety, after all thats the core issue here on a mental health forum. 

Unlike most mental health disorders, anxiety is curable in some patients but it isnt a simple result to achieve. Changes in many aspects of your life need to take place.

The best thing I can do is ask you to read one page, the first page of the following post. 

https://forums.beyondblue.org.au/t5/anxiety/anxiety-how-l-eliminated-it/td-p/183873

Worry is also a factor-

https://forums.beyondblue.org.au/t5/anxiety/worry-worry-worry/td-p/87808 

Reply anytime

TonyWK

[x__]

Details you say.

Let's give it a go.

At work, I was provoked, so I retaliated in a fairly harmless way but it was blown out of proportion and referred to police.  Police searched my home, and my brother attempted to elicit information.  I didn't give it, so he coerced me into hospital claiming I was "paranoid".

In hospital I was continually antagonised and I realised it was a trap.  I asked to leave, and of course they wouldn't allow me to.  My brother fed me a crazy story to try to feed the "paranoia" but I didn't buy it.  I was released after 6 days.

My brother then played hot and cold, alternately being kind and friendly, and berating me for any minor transgression.  I just played it cool for as long as possible, until it became abundantly clear that there really were coordinated mind games going on.

I was coerced into hospital for a second time by a psychiatrist ("you are very unwell and if you don't go voluntarily I will have you arrested") and scheduled, despite my indicating that I would admit myself voluntarily.  Again, I was consistently ignored by the clinicians and gaslighted and held for over three weeks.

Upon release, I immediately arranged to remove myself from all psychiatric services.

I was on a worker's comp claim and through that I was parachuted into what seemed like a dream job.  But the work environment was clearly being used as another delivery mechanism for the mind games.  I'm now on medical leave while I try to figure out what to do.

Meanwhile, the mind games have escalated elsewhere, notably with my family (who have now cut me off because I wouldn't play along with them), my neighbours, and especially in multiple online spaces.

At this point I'm now unable to interact with anyone at all without fear of further mind games and provocation.

I have evidence for much of the mind games and bullying I've experienced, and taken together shows such a consistent pattern that any reasonable observer must allow that it is a stretch to explain with mere coincidence and bad luck.

The only rational explanation is that police are using civilians, including mental health professionals, to target me with a campaign of intense psychological abuse.  I have tried to make complaints about this, but they have all been closed without investigation, and the experience continues without abatement.

I now try to hide at home, but there's been a marked increase in noise by neighbours in recent weeks.

My family have also taken a plainly vexatious AVO, and my lawyers after acting very unprofessionally, refusing to follow my instructions, and over-charging, then quit my case.

Someone in the police community has evidently decided that I am a mortal enemy and is corruptly making it their mission to make my life as miserable as possible.

[Guest_9989]

I'm really sorry you're dealing with this. It sounds incredibly tough. Being investigated and then facing bullying and harassment must be overwhelming.

It's important to reach out for support. Talking to a trusted friend, a counselor, or a legal advocate can help. Document everything that's happening and consider reporting it to an authority or support organization that can assist you. Remember, you're not alone, and it's okay to ask for help.

[x__]

thank you for your words of support guest

I am reaching out for support, over and over, but each time it is demonstrated that genuine support is always withheld, either explicitly or implicitly

I have documented everything and reported to authorities, but the authorities do nothing and the situation worsens

my legal assistance is consistently compromised (and quite blatantly so)

I know it's ok to ask for help, and I keep doing that, and it continues to be denied

the effect is to ensure I feel totally isolated, so "you are not alone" becomes an effective lie

if you're drowning and everyone who can assist instead stands by to cheer it on, who is culpable?

[white knight]

Hi x_

Thankyou so much for the details I requested. That is a signal to me that you are willing to commit for the sake of support and understanding, something you have had lacking in this latest saga.

It is a difficult topic to address for us as we predominately deal with the mental health side of things from a view of our lived experience. So lets see what we can suggest.

Briefly- I'm retired now but my working life included the AirForce, Prison officer, ranger, security, investigations and whole heap of other jobs in between. I've worked with colleagues in all these areas. In the prison service I had more fears from other prison officers than I did with the inmates, that is a reflection of the mistrust in a profession that you depended on trust for you ultimate safety. In ranger work I was betrayed by a group of councillors that favoured a politician and ultimately cost me my job but I hold my head high. So I know the feeling of when authorities display unlawful or immoral judgements. So what did I do? It wasnt ideal to continue in my life with the high level of moral stance that cost me my job and my mental health, I had to change purely because one cannot expect society to change its spots. Society is imperfect but its a democracy a flawed system that is better than the alternative- communism.

So in order to survive in life and work, I had to become more grey than my - black and white thinking. My therapist once said "8 billion people of various shades of grey and you are black and white"!!  So the change began.

In your case a move away for a year or two will see things settle down. Have you considered that? Temp accommodation like a caravan park? Change legal firms, mental health professionals - get second opinions etc. Then if you have similar issues you know that its you that has to change and you can go about that. There's usually two sides to every story, so if there is so many people that are against you, there could be a little truth to how they come to their conclusions, this self assessment is for your own good and its an honest way to face whatever flaws you do have so you can improve yourself and hold your head high.

Collusion between mental health authorities and police is doubtful because regulations stipulate confidentiality so by eliminating some intrusive thoughts like that one you can focus on what you can prove to be true. I had this issue, it was I thought impossible to not fantasise about the "possibles" when I had no evidence to support my theories. Eg I put all bosses in the same bag with my ranger issues but met one boss in the street that told me he never supported what they did to me and was indeed proud of my stance. It blew me away.

I asked a friend once how he avoided drama in his life. He was placid and stable compared to me. He said "life isnt perfect, I allow imperfections to happen, as long as I dont fall through the cracks and stay in the background I survive better". It proved that some of us fall through cracks because we react more quickly or we get targeted because we draw attention to ourselves because we want to right a wrong. That way of thinking isnt wrong but will not serve us well...   

Eg  I was told to open my boot by a policewoman once. I knew it was illegal as I hadnt broken a law. I said "I know what you are asking is illegal but officer- I will open it to prove to you I havent got stolen property". I opened it, she searched.. I said "I hope you find the culprit". I left.  No drama, no complaint, and she learned that the public sometimes know their rights. If I complained I might be targeted. So being grey helps us survive better.

I hope that helps. Reply anytime.

TonyWK

[x__]

Collusion between mental health authorities and police is doubtful because regulations stipulate confidentiality

what you are saying is people don't break the law because the law doesn't allow them to

do you see the problem with that line of reasoning?

on the other hand, it is common to use "mental health" to discredit someone making allegations of corrupt conduct

mental health services are wide open to abuse because mental health patients are automatically discredited by simply being mental health patients ("you can't win" I was told, literally, by a doctor)

I know what I've experienced, I have supporting evidence, and I have sound reasoning capacity.  my conclusion is solid and it will take a lot more than rhetorical tricks to refute

[white knight]

"Doubtful" doesn't mean it doesn't happen. It does mean it's unlikely. However if a law has been breached or there's suspicion its been breached then thats another story and collusion is likely. Mental health workers can face discipline action against then if caught. If you have documentary evidence then by all means use it if you feel wronged

When we reply to a member we are not going to satisfy with every opinion. Overall we try to help so is there any aspects of my reply you found beneficial? I do acknowledge your difficulties and have faced injustice myself on several occasions. So I hope we can resolve some issues to do with mental health and not lose this opportunity with legal matters that is out of our scope. What do you think?

TonyWK 

[x__]

In your case a move away for a year or two will see things settle down.

you seem very confident about this

why should I have to move out of my own home?

[white knight]

Hi x

Thanks for replying, it takes courage to do so especially when the solutions we present to our members dont seem justified.

What I've learned over 90 jobs, 15 professions and mental illness I didnt know I had (mania, aspergers, depression anxiety dysthymia) is that life even in a democracy isnt perfect and injustices happen all the time. In such cases to suffer an injustice is better than remaining in the location where the problem is ongoing. So, it might be better to weigh up the benefits of moving for a while, allow things to settle, try a new location to see if problems evaporate, then reconsider. This suggestion is yours to consider not mine or anyone elses, you have the power to leave or remain and like all suggestion we make here we support you for your decision and understand why you wouldnt do it. Do you understand that concept.?

 I think the key question for me is "how can I help you?".  I'm very aware how authorities can operate out of their scope of power to the point whereby we are alone battling seemingly everyone. Often that injustice results in a no win conclusion and that produces frustration. 

Do you have any ideas as to how to correct the injustice? 

You do have genuine support here as I stand by my record of 11 years and around 20,000 posts but it might not be the type of support you are seeking. We often dont know this until a few posts in, when we realise we as an individual cant help you, so we can recommend another community champion with a different approach? Would you like that?

Thanks for your time

TonyWK