[cadia]

i really need some advice on a family situation. In January my mom was sent to a mental hospital in Kentucky. My aunt signed a petition of imcompetency. She was taken to the local hospital by the police for a mental health evaluation, saw a judge and they sent her to the state hospital for up to 60 days. She was there for 2 weeks. Refused any medication and any belief that she needed to be there. Her social worker was not very helpful in returning my calls but did inform me that they though she was either bipolar or paranoid schizo.

They just let her out one day. She was homeless and i let her come home with me. She has been here for almost 5 months and it is to the point that I see something is very wrong with her.

I CANNOT bring myself to go to the probate court and sign an affidavit and have them come pick her up again. i feel sick to my stomach . She does have a job and i dont want her to lose it. She has no place to go and will be sleeping in her car. I feel the right thing to do is go to court.

She is very dissassociated with reality. She talks to herself at 4am about needing to go to the FBI and how someone is "using her identity." She retreats to the bedroom when anyone comes to my house. She makes these off the wall associations when she hears somebodys name, like she knows them and they have done her wrong. She tells me i am being brainwashed by all the people in Ohio. She goes on mini spending sprees at the $ store buying stuff she doesnt need.

I have no experience with mental illness. I need some sound valid advice on what you would do if this was your mom.

she wakes up at 4am and is t

[grizmom]

((((cadia)))) This is hard because she is holding down a job and if she doesn't seem to be a danger to herself or others the hospital might not keep her for long. Unfortunately people who are not in danger of harming anyone generally aren't forced to be med-compliant, at least in my experience. I had a very similar situation, only it was my roommate and not a family member. I did try to get social services involved but my roommate was not considered to be a danger to herself or others so they didn't take any action.

I guess in the end it is going to be up to you how to handle this. It's not fair for you at all. I know how scary and frustrating it is to be in a situation like this. I wish you the best, and I'm sorry if I wasn't any help. Take care of yourself too!

[Eloise42]

My gut reaction is that she may be bipolar but there is probably some other stuff going on. If this is what you are living and dealing with it might help you to see a therapist. They can help you figure out what is best for you and how to cope and because they are in the business they might know about alternative resources in your area.

[VickiesPath]

Whether or not she is bipolar or schizophrenic, she is definitely paranoid (psychotic) because she is hearing and thinking things that are not real. I'm not sure how she is still holding down her job. This will only get worse if she doesn't get help. Does she believe anything is wrong with her? Is there any way you can reason with her and make her realize that she needs medication? If you could possibly talk her into a voluntary admission until she can be properly medicated, that would be the best route to go. You said yourself that you feel that the right way to go would be to go to court and request a forced committment. I believe that you may be right. The longer you wait, the sicker she may become. Even if she loses her job, she will be much healthier with medication and could find another position in a healthier condition.

I wish you luck and success in helping your mother. I know this is very hard for you. Hang in there.

[cadia]

im having the psychiatric mobile crisis come to my home today to try to talk to my mom into getting treatment. it was really hard to come to this decision but she lost her job yesterday. and i feel like she is unable to fulfill her basic needs. she has never been violent or threatening but i think she will flip out when they come talk to her. if they decide she needs help, they will call the police and come pick her up immediately. this is really hard but so necessary. i hope im making the right decision.

[VickiesPath]

Originally Posted by cadia

im having the psychiatric mobile crisis come to my home today to try to talk to my mom into getting treatment. it was really hard to come to this decision but she lost her job yesterday. and i feel like she is unable to fulfill her basic needs. she has never been violent or threatening but i think she will flip out when they come talk to her. if they decide she needs help, they will call the police and come pick her up immediately. this is really hard but so necessary. i hope im making the right decision.

Time will tell how it all turns out but you are doing what you believe will be of the most help to her in the long run and that is all anyone would expect a loving daughter to do for her mother. I for one stand behind you and support you in your decision, which I know is very, very hard for you. Best of luck.

[cadia]

i had to go to court yesterday to tell a judge why i thought my mom was a danger to herself. The Dr that evaluated her said she has a schizo-affective disorder with visual and auditory hallucinations and delusions with psychosis. The fact that she doesn't believe that anythiNG is wrong with her does not help. She is refusing meds and they said it will probably have to be court ordered. I am glad that they committed her for the time being but i am worried that she will just get let out again and this cycle will start over. Thanks for the replies and i'll be posting in the schizo forum from now on <3

[Lisa Michelle]

Oh, bless you for helping your mum. It can't have been easy to do all of this, but it is truly what's best for her, however scary.
I hope your mum improves in the hospital and they can help her x