[tsrc78]

I asked a question kinda like this a while ago, but from a different perspective. I thought previous IP stays I had were involuntary, but I realized they really were voluntary admissions. I was however presented this as the only option, so I was confused about it. After I saw a new psychiatrist 2 weeks ago, I was such a basket case, the psychiatrist asked if I felt I needed to be admitted for IP. If I gave any indication I might need it, they would have sent me to the psych hospital immediately. But just because I was an emotional wreck in a mixed episode, they (the psychiatrist and the supervisor) couldn’t force me to go.

But what instances cause you to get involuntary IP? I want to be completely honest with my psychiatrist tomorrow, but after some incidents that happened with me today, I don’t want to be forced to go to the hospital. I didn’t get into any legal trouble, but I did things that were a danger to me and could have been a danger to others, fortunately nothing happened. I have been in crisis all day, and periodically over the past few weeks, but went over the edge today. I am ok at the moment, just don’t know how long that will last.

If I didn’t get arrested though, no police were involved, can they put me into involuntary IP?

[HALLIEBETH87]

I overdosed. I was on hold in the hospital til they transferred me
To ip.

[tsrc78]

I’m so sorry about that. . I didn’t OD, but took about 6x my normal dose of a med. Not to OD, but just put me to sleep for awhile. I left my home about 9:30 this morning, without telling anyone, sat around in parking lots just crying and writing horrible things in my journal. Never responded to my husband’s many calls, only texted my mom to pick up our girls from school. I debated how much of my meds to take. I thought 6 pills would just help me calm down. But I didn’t want to sleep in a car running with the AC on, and it was too hot to just stay in the car indefinitely, so I texted my husband I was coming home. I was gone about 4 hours. The meds had started to kick in, and I know I shouldn’t have been on the road, but I made it home. Slept for only about 3 hours, what a bunch of crap. Talking with my husband helped a little, but as soon as some minor stress kicks in, I don’t feel confident enough about myself to say this won’t happen again. Each time I’m gone away longer, and this is the first time I took meds with me.

I’m just worried about what they will do if I say all of this tomorrow. I want to be honest, since my crisis reactions appear to be getting worse. I’m pretty sure they can’t make me do IP though. And I don’t want to have my benzo taken away. I just wish it had more effect than 3 hours. It’s a lot to consider. I’m feeling a little calm, but still on edge.

[Pookyl]

I’ve never been an involuntary patient. It’s been threatened. I’m not sure I understand why you’re so afraid/reluctant to go IP ??
You’re at risk of harming yourself and others.
For the sake of your family and even the strangers you come across please consider IP.

[amicus_curiae]

Laws vary from state to state but all, I think, allow MDs to have you involuntarily held for at least 72 hours.

You use the term ‘psych hospital?’ These days you’re more likely to find psych floors or wards in standard hospitals.

[tsrc78]

Originally Posted by Pookyl

I’ve never been an involuntary patient. It’s been threatened. I’m not sure I understand why you’re so afraid/reluctant to go IP ??
You’re at risk of harming yourself and others.
For the sake of your family and even the strangers you come across please consider IP.

Thank you, it doesn’t make sense to me either. Just 3 weeks ago, my husband was on the road taking me to Duke Hospital, an hour and a half away, because I was having a breakdown and wouldn’t dare get the crappy care from the hospital here. We got a flat tire on the way and needed to get a new tire, but never made it there. I considered agreeing to IP the first time the psychiatrist suggested it, about 15 minutes into the session. I just didn’t want to deal with the hassle.

But I have been really depressed since last week my SSDI had been denied and now I am applying for a hearing. Getting that money, and hopefully benefits for my 2 kids and husband was going to be the break we needed to catch up on bills, move to a city where I could get more competent psychiatric care, and afford to go to therapy regularly. I resent my husband for never having steady work over the years, although I know he tried, I don’t think he realized how much of a crisis it was going to me by carrying the entire financial burden of our family on my back. Now with my illness the way it is, I can barely take care of myself, let alone be the only financial for an entire family. It’s too much stress. At first the hospital was going to be my escape, to put me in a safe environment to keep me from abandoning my family. I think Insurance will only pay for a week though, not enough time. But over the past couple of weeks I’ve had more of a desire to escape. Even today, I just wanted to sit somewhere in my car, with my phone off and not existing in reality. I took 3 more Klonopin tonight, I know that’s not good!

I think it’s that I feel guilt. Guilt that not getting approved for SSDI yet dashed all my hopes and dreams and plans, and sent my emotions in a tailspin. But how absolutely horrible would it look to get hospitalized after a denial letter - no matter how bad my mental state is, I don’t want to look like I planned it! That would look so bad at the hearing. I feel like a failure for not being able to handle minor stresses. That is depressing. I’ve also never been one to take more meds than prescribed, I may still take another one. Because I just don’t want to feel anything, at all.

Sigh. I guess I have not made a good case against going IP. . If I leave, my husband will take the lazy way out and let my mom take care of the girls while I’m away, and I can’t take the bad influence and favoritism from her. I just don’t feel as much at crisis level right now, but that may be because I feel a bit out of it from the Klonopin. Oh well.

Ive been involuntary once (maybe twice?). From my understanding its for when you clearly need to be hospitalized from the normal stuff (mania, suicidality, eating disorders, psychosis, etc) but refuse to go voluntarily.

[wildflowerchild25]

I’ve been threatened with involuntary numerous times and involuntary once, maybe twice. It’s much easier to go voluntary. If you comply, you have a better chance of being able to sign yourself out AMA if you so choose, as well as getting out in a shorter amount of time. And you don’t have to deal with any scary court dates. I had to stand In front of a judge and I was a mess.

[katydid777]

I have had to go both ways, and if you go on your own, you may be able to get back out after they get you stable. If they make you go, you have to follow everything they plan for you, and they will decide when you can get out. The main reasons for them to make you go is , is there a chance of you hurting your self, or others, and do you have a plan. If it was me, I would go on my own. I was made to go one time, and was in for over a month, and when I was released, I had to go to a day program, mon - fri from about 7am to 4 pm, and it was for 6 weeks. Please witch ever way you go, please get the help!!!!!!!

[Moreta]

I've been involuntary once and that was just because I was transferred to the psych hospital by a cop in a cop car. Also just FYI in the great state of NC it takes like 18 months to get a hearing for SSDI, and then you have to wait another 3 months till the court date. I had my hearing in November and still haven't heard the ruling yet, 3 months out. It's super lame.

[franz kafka]

I've had an involuntary psych eval but not hospitalization. I was presenting with significant suicidality and only got out of involuntary IP by lying during the eval.

I've been exactly where you are before... taking extra benzos to come down a bit during a mixed episode. The end result was voluntary IP (if you consider my therapist threatening to call the cops on me if I didn't go voluntarily...).

Whatever you decide to do, I hope you stay safe.

[Cornucopia]

I was manic, psychotic and mixed. I was not able to understand why they admitted me in the psych ward, at all- I believed they had all gone crazy, everyone but me…
Yeah, I assume I was a tiny bit out of this world

I think it is better to go voluntary than wait until you are admitted involuntary. Usually you have more ‘benefits’ voluntary, like personal belongings and stuff.

(They only kept me for a week though, I acted as normal as I could. It was a struggle for weeks, if not months, after getting out)

Big hug to you, I can totally understand the burden put upon you are really big now. Having to be the provider and everything else happening- no wonder you are struggling. And don’t feel bad or feel guilty for how you react. First: it’s not minor stresses, they are pretty big. Second: stress and bipolar are not good friends, so even if it was small thing- we sometimes get wiggled out of balance.

You are pretty darn strong that still keeping your head above water. I really hope you get some help, so you don’t have to carry it all on your shoulders alone. Whether it’s help at home or if it is a stay in hospital/ward.

[Guiness187055]

I was in the hospital for kidney issues and the hospital did not give me my psych meds. I had a psychotic episode where I thought everyone was trying to kill me. One of the nurses was so afraid of me she refused to come into my room to treat me after the episode. I was baker acted and chained to a bed in the hospital for three days until they resolved my kidney issues. I was then sent straight to a mental hospital for a week and a half not by choice.

[tsrc78]

Originally Posted by Moreta

I've been involuntary once and that was just because I was transferred to the psych hospital by a cop in a cop car. Also just FYI in the great state of NC it takes like 18 months to get a hearing for SSDI, and then you have to wait another 3 months till the court date. I had my hearing in November and still haven't heard the ruling yet, 3 months out. It's super lame.

OMG you have got to be kidding me??!! I had no idea it could take THAT long. This makes me feel so much worse because we need extra money so much. My mental state cannot stand staying where we are, so we still want to plan to move. I know the area has a slightly higher cost of living, but I’ll be closer to my psychiatric providers, now that my new doctor wants me to start seeing a therapist at Duke as well. Did you use an attorney? I am going to get one now, I was hoping it could make the process go faster. But that is ridiculous, I can’t bear to think it will take that long for us. I just cannot take this stress anymore, I feel like there is nothing of me left.

[Moreta]

Originally Posted by tsrc78

OMG you have got to be kidding me??!! I had no idea it could take THAT long. This makes me feel so much worse because we need extra money so much. My mental state cannot stand staying where we are, so we still want to plan to move. I know the area has a slightly higher cost of living, but I’ll be closer to my psychiatric providers, now that my new doctor wants me to start seeing a therapist at Duke as well. Did you use an attorney? I am going to get one now, I was hoping it could make the process go faster. But that is ridiculous, I can’t bear to think it will take that long for us. I just cannot take this stress anymore, I feel like there is nothing of me left.

I got a lawyer after my first denial. The lawyer can't speed the slow *** process up.

[Nammu]

Being ip involuntary can only help the disabilty claim.

[pirilin]

I never volunteer for nothing.

[Daonnachd]

The one time I can remember, my pdoc heard how things were going for me and recommended IP, but gave me the chance to opt in and go voluntarily. Do you have that sort of relationship with your pdoc?

[~Christina]

Old thread back to life

[Blueberrybook]

I think here it is involuntary if the pdoc feels you are in eminent danger to yourself or others.

I went involuntarily twice, one because I wound up in a naked foot chase with the police and the other I don't really remember other than fighting a bunch of gnomes in an ambulance. It's pretty much when you very clearly need hospitalization but either cannot consent or refuse to go.

[hexacoda]

Maybe it's different here in Canada. I was made IP twice. Both times my husband called an ambulance. My guess is he thought I could be a danger to myself? I don't really know. It doesn't matter since I needed to be seen and go on meds to get better. I've talked to him about how, in the future, I prefer we try other methods than calling an ambulance. Hopefully we don't have to worry about it again.

[Christopher1990]

I've been 302d so many times. My father has power of attorney over me. I can be anywhere around town it does not matter what I say cops come and take me to hospital..

I guess they have my best interest but I've been forced into it too many times it's a horrible experience.

[SparkySmart]

I've never once threatened or implied any intention to hurt myself or anyone else, but all my admissions over the years have been involuntary. In the many states where I've lived, these are the criteria for involuntary hospitalization:

The patient presents a substantial risk of imminent harm to self or others as manifested by recent overt acts or recent expressed threats of violence which present a probability of physical injury to self or to other persons; OR the patient appears to be so unable to care for his/her own physical health and safety as to create an imminently life-endangering crisis.

This is an old thread, as mentioned above, but it's confusing to me how the OP expresses a desire for help and wishes to be hospitalized but wants to be admitted involuntarily? I don't know how this could be accomplished! The loss of personal autonomy that comes with involuntary status is a high price indeed, and I wouldn't recommend it, together with involvement of police officers, if one has a choice.

In any event, since this is an old thread, I hope the OP's situation was resolved to her satisfaction.