Older Brother finally agreed to see a psychologist but he has conditions

[J0sh]

Older brother is 33 and is a strong silent type, he is natural intellect and has a thirst for knowledge. I have always believed he has been somewhat depressed for essentially his entire adulthood. I have noticed major changes over the last 7 years in which he started his family and now has three young daughters. I wont go much into his story but he is incredibly intelligent and a wonderful man, he came to me over a year ago telling me everyone has high and low days high and low happiness etc but he never has happy days. That he is ready to end his life and start a fresh. He is the sort of person who refuses to use anyone for help let it be tradespeople for his house or a doctor for a injury, he researches what the problem is and how to fix and it does exactly that. Around 5 years ago he got into drugs and psychedelics and brought it to me, we dabbled in it over 12 months or so picking mushrooms, and buying acid because he believed what he read that it would free his mind remove his inner monologue etc but to be honest I think he was just very interested in it and the prospect of understanding what life is and why we have to play. One day he was sold something an incredibly dangerous drug. He overdosed on it and it is still to this day the most scary thing that has ever happened to me to have to witness it ( and we took the same amount!). Anyways he has never been the same and to give some insights into some of the pain he is in he tells me that certain content or things in his day to day can trigger that memory of over dosing and that he has had to run full pelt down the side of the highway to keep it from taking him over again is one example.

Whenever we drink together I bring all conversations back to making him see a psychologist even if only to humor me, as of course he does not believe a psychologist has any clue how to fix him. Finally I have gotten an agreement that he will see one but on the condition that the psychologist has taken psychedelics before.... can anyone recommend someone? Maybe someone knows someone who has had a drug and substance problem and turned their life around? Just looking for recommendations

Thanks alot Josh

[Croix]

Dear Josh~

Welcome here to the Forum. I think your brother is lucky to have someone who cares enough to try to get him to seek help. You are both facing a difficult problem and one that does not have easy answers.

I guess the fact your older brother has recognized there is a problem wiht delusions and has agreed to seek help is a plus, though the fact he wishes to decide the best way might not be.

The lifestyle that placed your brother in his current condition needs a specialist approach to overcome, as do the after-effects. I have the feeling he may be right, simply seeking out a psychologist might not be the best way. It could be -apart from anything else - a matter of medication which a psychologist cannot provide - or very experienced therapy.

Can I suggest that if you can you get your brother to talk to a help line such as ours on 1300 22 4636 or look on the web to find suitable services, perhaps starting with

https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/drug-and-alcohol-rehabilitation

Trying to persuade someone to seek medical help can be very difficult, you sounded on your own in this, are there others in his life who might also be able to help persuade him?

Please let us know how you get on

Croix