My boyfriend is paranoid.

[neuro4]

We only dated since March, but I think he's paranoid, and he has turned on me. We have broken up because of it. But I am very concerned about him, and feel responsible to deal with his problem, at least to the extent it has caused our breakup.

[Jennifer]

I know you know what paranoid means but can you explain it to me and what would you like to try to do to help him?

[neuro4]

I'd like to get him professionally diagnosed and treated. As an example of his paranoia, he believes the government is watching people through their cable boxes. He offered proof, and I wouldn't listen, it was too technical. Another example, I got a parking ticket with a boot on my car the first time I parked in his neighborhood, and he threw a screaming fit, saying repeatedly that it was a scam of the city government, and that the parking signs had been changed since I had parked. I followed up on this with the city parking department, even getting a letter from them about the parking regulations at that location, including when they were established, and he still wouldn't believe he was wrong. Another example, and this is what broke us up, his niece, whose mother, his sister, just died, has gone to live in the physical custody of relatives who are not members of his immediate family, and he believes this is wrong, and it means he has lost his niece, and that I was involved in bringing this about.

[Jennifer]

I know this is hard to hear but one of the hardest things that we have to do is watch someone we care about be sick, know that we can help and do nothing. From what I'm hearing he doesn't believe he has a problem therefore he would not be open to getting help. In order to reduce his thoughts he would have to be on medication and seek professional therapy. If you are considered the "bad person" he will not listen to you anyways and he will only seek help when he is ready.