Helping your adult sister

[Sarah4000]

Hi everyone

I've come here as I don't know how to help my sister.

Thanks in advancefor reading.

My sister has struggled with mental illness the last 20 years but this last year she has become much worse. I don't know if she sees a mental health provider as she is very hard to communicate with and doesn't welcome mental health treatment. In recent times she has hallucinated, thought she was possessed, thought someone was going to kill her and now hears things. This is all very real in her mind. She has also put herself in what I believe to be very dangerous situations. She is unable to manage herself or her finances and isn't really open or of a sound enough mind to get help.

I generally only hear from her when she needs money or is in a crisis.

I love her and want her to live a happy, content life but I really don't know how to help her. I've helped her the last 20 years and always been there but I don't know that I've really improved her situation.

Any advice is really appreciated as I'm lost.

Thank you

[geoff]

Hello Sarah, welcome to the forums, but from your thread, it does concern us because she needs help.

Have you seen or spoken to her recently today and know where she is?

When you say 'she is very hard to communicate with' can please tell us whether she won't talk to you, or you can't understand what she is actually saying, it would just help us a little more.

Best wishes.

Geoff.

[Sarah4000]

Hi Geoff

Thanks for your post.

She contacted me yesterday wanting money and for me to visit (I think mainly to give her momey). She went to a library and contacted me through their internet.

She has no means of comminication. She gave away her phone and laptop. We gave her anotherphone but maybe she gave that away too.

At the moment she doesn't think anything is wrong with her state of mind. She doesn't show she wants to help herself but she does want us (my mum n i) to step in when she needs money or help. We have always done this but she hasn't mproved and has now gotten worse.

Hope this clarifies a bit.

Thank you

[inkhart]

Hi Sarah,

I'm sad to hear about your sister, it sounds stressful and I can imagine it feels a bit thankless. A tough spot to be in with a family member. When you talk to her in person, how does she seem emotionally? How does she look?

How are you feeling in all this? Your mental wellbeing is important too. As a carer, I find it easy to internalise problems that are outside of my control.. This can be tiring when it goes on for a long time.

Isaac