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Edited: 4/8/2010 2:07 PM by
Strained Relationship With Brother
My Brother has always been my role model throughout my life, but ever since three years ago, when we went on a missionary trip to a foreign country and he had a panic attack due to malaria medicine also the entire trip was difficult and involved reckless abuse of RX medicines (gabapentin, codeine syrup, and others) he has been entirely different. He desperately believes he contracted a mysterious sickness, or sometimes calls it a "bug in his head", its centered on his head and he claims to have excruciating pain on a regular basis. I can't imagine he'd lie over something like this, but I feel he creates the pain himself or something more reasonable. he's been to countless doctors and specialists and had all the tests run, which showed only follicalitis, which is nothing. He also touches and picks at his head and face way too much. He links this trouble in his head somehow to his creation of seemingly wild extensive theories, illogical philosophical leaps, and essentially some crazy stuff. He's writing a book which involves a lot of incomprehensible stuff. I know I should be supporting him in whatever he does as his brother, but it kills me inside seeing him be so illogical and his personality change so drastically from the guy I grew up with, I've tried to reason with him on every level, even repeatedly disproving some of his arguments with facts and reason, but he's blind to it all.
He's not going to see a psychiatrist or anything of that nature because he believes himself to be at a higher mental level than the rest of us. I don't know what I can do and our relationship is getting increasingly strained.
Edited: 4/8/2010 2:07 PM by
It is very difficult to watch someone you care about and love, struggle with issues in their lives.  It is uncertain whether you can do something to help him.  It may be out of the realm of your capabilities.  In fact it may take professional intervention such as he is refusing.

Have you ever seen the Russell Crowe movie Beautiful Mind?  Watch it if you have not.  It depicts how real this pain or "bug" can be in his mind.

The touching and picking of his head and face have medical labels for disorders with those characteristics.  Look those up and share your findings with him.

As you have found it does very little good to argue with him or deny that what he feels is reality, is actually fiction.  So, arguing is not productive.  When considering your communication with him, only choose to do things and say things that have the potential to be productive.

Prayer may be your best line of action to help your brother recover from this mental struggle he is having.
Stay in touch and let us know how you are doing and whether there is anything we can do to help.

Pat, Counselor
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