Addressing a hidden workplace risk: The TI Experience

3 min read5 days ago

You may have heard the recent news about a Chinese crypto entrepreneur who burned thousands of ETH just to send a message — driven by persecutory delusions.

This incident was not only tragic but entirely preventable. The condition that led to it is more common than many realize. Millions worldwide suffer from similar experiences, often unnoticed until a crisis unfolds. The consequences can be deeply personal but also extend to workplaces, impacting colleagues, finances, and security.

Understanding the TI Experience

The Targeted Individual (TI) experience is a unique cognitive phenomenon where a person becomes convinced they are the victim of a coordinated persecution campaign. It often begins subtly — small coincidences take on personal significance, leading to a growing belief that external forces are manipulating their lives. Over time, these perceptions form a self-reinforcing narrative, making the experiencer increasingly distressed and isolated. Many high-functioning professionals, especially in tech and IT, are particularly vulnerable to this pattern of thinking.

A more detailed breakdown of the TI experience can be found in this analysis: Memo 03 — TI Experience.

Why Should This Concern You?

TIs rarely recognize or disclose their condition until it reaches a breaking point. This means that someone in your company — perhaps even a key employee in finance, security, or management — could already be struggling with these thoughts in silence. Without intervention, their distorted perception of reality can lead to financial mistakes, security risks, and interpersonal conflicts.

The greatest risk is lack of awareness — both for the individual and those around them. When neither the TI nor their colleagues understand what is happening, the situation often escalates unnecessarily, leading to misunderstandings, rash decisions, or even legal and financial consequences.

There Is a Solution

At OTIR (Objective Targeted Individual Research), we focus on mitigating harm and raising awareness about this issue, which affects an estimated 1 in 50 people.

Our advisory team consists of individuals who have successfully recovered from TI experiences. We understand this phenomenon firsthand and provide practical strategies to:
✔ Prevent crises before they escalate
✔ Minimize risks to individuals and businesses
✔ Equip people with the knowledge to support affected colleagues

What We Offer:

We conduct seminars on:
🔹 Understanding the TI Experience — How to recognize it in yourself or others
🔹 Practical Solutions — What to do if it happens and how to respond effectively
🔹 Helping Others — How to support a colleague experiencing TI symptoms

We also provide direct guidance for those currently struggling with TI experiences, helping them regain stability and control.

Why Awareness Matters:

Prevention is key. Ignorance breeds fear, suspicion, and stigma. Knowledge empowers people to respond effectively rather than react with misunderstanding.
Your team has likely encountered this already. Some employees may be dealing with these thoughts in silence, afraid to speak out due to stigma. Our seminars offer them a path to recovery rather than suppression.
Risk management for businesses. Understanding this phenomenon helps leadership make informed decisions rather than responding with prejudice, misinformation, or neglect.

Our Approach:

✅ Empathy-Based Guidance: We approach experiencers with understanding, having lived through it ourselves.
✅ Reality-Driven Support: We help TIs distinguish between real threats and cognitive distortions, guiding them back to stability.
✅ Emotional Mastery Training: We provide tools for self-regulation, helping experiencers regain control.
✅ Mentorship Program: We match TIs with recovered individuals who provide psychological support and accountability.
✅ Crisis Prevention: We identify warning signs early and intervene before harm occurs.

We believe that by spreading awareness, we can protect both individuals and businesses. TIs often make impulsive, life-altering decisions — ones they later regret. Recognizing and addressing this condition can prevent crises and help individuals recover, returning stronger than ever.

If you’d like to schedule a seminar on this critical issue for your organization, we’d be happy to discuss how we can help.

Sincerely,
Archibald Ludendorf
Founder, OTIR