My younger sister (26F) has a friend (25F) who is spreading horrible lies about her and I (32M) don’t know what I can do to help.

So, my sister has a newish friend that she’s been hanging around with quite often these past six months. They met at a mental health group thing a year or so back. My sister suffers from anxiety and has also had some episodes of psychosis. The friend has mentioned a history of trauma that includes extremely abusive parental and romantic relationships.

My sister also tried to set me up with the friend. The friend and I started chatting on insta, but she ghosted me after I tried to arrange a date. She later got in touch and apologised. The ghosting kinda killed things for me, but I accepted the apology and continued being friendly. I was still chatting to her now and again, but just pally.

Last weekend, I met up with my sister and her friend for the first time. Those two had spent the whole weekend together and were still a bit hungover from the night before. I was just meeting them to check out a local event and get a hot chocolate afterwards. The friend was shy, but seemed nice in person.

Yesterday, my sister got in touch to say that her friend had accused her of calling her psychotic, before abruptly blocking her. My sister has no memory of this. She said if that was said, it would have been nothing but a joke. My sister was noticeably upset by the whole ordeal.

Today it got worse. The friend has been sharing lies about my sister on her stories and in messages to all their shared contacts. Even to me.

At first I thought my sister must have said something unintentionally hurtful that set her off. But the story this girl has concocted is just so unbelievable and nasty, I don’t think anyone could have done anything to deserve this.

Lies include: my sister going psychotic again; allegations of abuse and saying the most horrible things to the friend; my sister’s boyfriend threatening the friend with violence… i.e., things that would make you seem like the most horrible person and turn other people against you.

I don’t want to get involved, but I’m worried about my sister’s mental health. I’m even concerned for the friend’s mental health. As I’m finding it hard to believe someone can be this needlessly spiteful, surely the friend cannot be in a good place either?

TL;DR - Sister’s friend spreading harmful lies about my vulnerable sister. What can be done in this type situation?

Submitted October 07, 2021 at 06:48PM by DeadCrumble https://ift.tt/3mSnRCr