We are dealing with an individual on our crew, a relatively new guy, who is exhibiting some disturbing behavior.

This person has started confronting coworkers (females in particular), who he claims are talking shit about him while he works. He also claims that the same group of female patrons show up each night to talk negatively about him. I spoke with one of the women he confronted (a long time employee). She said she dealt with him calmly and rationally, but was clearly like WTF.

According to our PM, he sits during productions and gets increasingly agitated, repeatedly asking "can you hear them talking about me." The other night he asked if we could have people ejected, as he was hearing people speak negatively about him whom he wanted to have removed from the premises.

Last night I couldn't help but take note of how upset he was as we were wrapping up, so I asked him what was going on. His response was strange and unsettling. He kept pointing in the direction of the patio and saying "it's them, they show up every night just to talk shit about me." I tried to get specific details from him, like exactly who he was referring to and what were they saying. He pointed again to the patio, and said that "they" chatter constantly about how his work sucks and they hope he gets fired. There were people out there, but it was almost beside the point.

It really got weird when he asked me if there was a comm system he could wear which would tune out everyone but us (the production crew). That isn't strange per se; it's the reason why he feels like he needs it. I asked him if he wore earplugs, and the response was yes, but they do not help.

To make matters worse, it is obvious to him that there are those who do not believe him, and who think that he is hearing things. I tried to reassure him, but to no avail. The apparent doubt has become just as upsetting to him as these supposed voices of criticism.

This is a very diminutive, soft-spoken dude who even before now seemed to exhibit some debilitating insecurities. You can't understand him half the time because he won't speak up. To be honest, his job performance is poor, and he is in over his head. We've all seen that before, though. This is something very different and clearly more severe.

Early signs of dementia?

To answer your question, yes, I have been around someone who was truly paranoid. It was my wife, at the time. Paranoia is indicative of any one of the numerous psychiatric illnesses out there.

Get rid of him ASAP. Otherwise, you are setting your company/co-workers up for some real shit.

Why are you asking OP? Why do you keep asking me questions? Do you have it in for me?

Just for the record it is not paranoia if they are really out to get you!

Liberals

you talking to me?!?

This sounds like the premise to a bad movie.

Why do you post this here?

Schizo

Have fun!

My official diagnosis too!  Auditory hallucinations caused by Schizophrenia.

I feel for the guy, and want to know how to deal with him without further upsetting him. It may be impossible, I know.

My uncle was always extremely paranoid about the feds being after him. Like sitting up all night thinking they were watching him. We all assumed he was crazy. When he was diagnosed with cancer and had less than a month to go he started telling me stories. He had been playing the NFA game with no stamps. So then i figured they probably were watching him. Never would have guessed he had a good reason to be that way.

He needs a doctor and some medicine.  Does he trust you?  Does he have an emergency contact?

I predict one of three things will happen:

1.  He gets some treatment and goes on with life.

2.  He disappears one day; or,

3.  He does something that results in his arrest.

Early stages of schizophrenia, he is only going to get worse.

You cannot "deal" with someone who is truly paranoid. You are NOT a professional. He needs medical help. Period.

Been there, done that.

Get rid of him. Then you will prove him to be correct . A cycle that you can not win OP. but you should be afraid

Schizo. You cant help him. You need to act to protect yourself and your coworkers.

Bring him into your office, and ask him if it's okay to call his wife/brother/mom/dad.  If it's okay with him, call that person on speaker phone and the three of you discuss his concern about those people talking about him.  Then when the conversation allows it, ask the person on the other end if there's anything they can do to help him.  Be general about what you mean, hopefully the person on the other end will get your meaning.

I don't know.  That's how I'd try to handle it.

1-800-HR professional

That seems like a good approach.

Yes, we had a guy at work with similar issues. He didn't hear "voices" like you describe, but he thought everybody was talking about him and out to get him. It became a huge distraction. He is no longer employed there.

No.....

Why?

What did you hear?

Yes, two people immediately come to mind.

This he needs help

Ooooooohhhhhh yeah

Of course, it is part of my job to deal with them...

Yes, but then we found out there really were investigators following him.

I deal with a lot of schizophrenics, it'seems sad overall but at face value very funny some of the stuff they believe.

Whisper shit over the Clearcom that will fuck with him.  Let the others wearing know what you are doing.  I've always said live TV would be more fun if you could pump in Clearcom audio over a channel.

Seriously though, his behavior needs to be reported to HR immediately. Shoot for counseling first. Get this guy help, not just get rid of him.

Shirley Manson thinks she is.

The closest I've seen is the super religious guy that chased the Mormons doing mission work yelling that they were preaching false idols.

Never had to work with anyone that was actually hearing voices though.

How old is this individual? Is he married? Does he have family you can reach through a provided emergency number?

His symptoms sound like schizophrenia.

Contact one or more of his family members immediately. Some family members may be in denial about his condition, so you may need to call more than one, but he needs professional help right fucking now.

Be calm and non-confrontational around him until you find someone willing to see him through treatment. Remember, he can't distinguish what is real and what is not. Make no mistake, he is a danger to himself and others so be careful.

Good luck.

Why, what have you heard?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schizophrenia

The things you have mentioned are entirely consistent with someone being mentally unwell.

Being unwell doesn't automatically make someone dangerous, in the same way that being angry with someone doesn't automatically mean you're going to punch them... but you have to be aware that it increases the chances.

You're not going to be able to give him the help he needs. It would be great to be able to have a chat with someone about your concerns, someone who can get him help... but is there anyone you can talk to about him? If you can, is that going to open up some other can of worms that is going to cause tremendous amounts of shit for you or your company?

He's fucked at this stage and he's going to get more fucked before he gets so fucked that he can get treated against his will.

As un-Christian as it might sound, you need to look after you and yours first. Time for Mr.Schizo to find work elsewhere, before he gets all stabby with a screwdriver.

Yeah and LAPD blew him away in a phone booth, after he wigged out and started shooting at 'da choppa.'  Roids and coke might do that to you.

RIP Freddy.

Chris

OP, He doesn't exist. You are really in a mental institution and dreaming him and ARFCom up. Do you really think there is a website named after an evil gun?? I bet you think Trump beat Killary too. The whispers are the doctors trying to get you to snap out of it.

Schizophrenia or drug induced psychosis would be my first two guesses.

Disorganized thinking/behavior negatively impacting his job performance is another red flag for either, but schizophrenia in particular.

Could be persecutory delusions too, which is characteristic of paranoid schizophrenia.

Socially, has be become suddenly withdrawn, avoiding eye contact, speaking in monotone, etc?

Yes.  It got so bad he ended up blowing his brains out.  He was a great person before he went crazy.  I miss having him around.

I knew one guy.  But then he was abducted by guys in a black van... so now, not sure

Sure, when I worked with the homeless I met a lot of them.

that dude is going to kill someone

I met one guy who went off on the Templars and their doppelgängers.

Nope

I avoid crazy people as best I can

I have been accused of being part of grand conspiracies before.  I'm talking God level conspiracies.  Shit that involves angles and shit.  

There are people that are crazy delusional and paranoid out there.  Best to avoid them, as they truly believe in their delusions.

I work with one.  She's a pain in everyone's ass.

nm I dont want to offend anyone.

dudes ripe for a rampage.  feels ostracized, paranoid, delusional.

Sounds like an uncle of mine.

He had schizophrenia.

My family is full of alcoholic potheads, they get pretty fucking squirrely around 40 years old