Posts by Megan Bailey4

Thanks, driftinggull21 🙂))) I'm feeling a bit too emotional right now, so I can't exactly think objectively...

driftinggull21 said:Once the medication wears off, his true personality will resurface. If he wasn't an aggressive person before he got sick, he likely won't be now. That is usually the case.
The restraints weren't used because the parents requested them; that decision rests solely with the psychiatrist based on their clinical assessment. It was clearly necessary due to him being either auto-aggressive or a danger to others.
There is no reason for the parents to second-guess themselves. He is clearly very ill, and people who are ill require medical intervention. Consider what his quality of life was like before the hospital; do you honestly believe he was happy living in a state of paranoia and illness?
He can be helped through medication and treatment, followed by long-term support and family education regarding the condition.
As for why him? No one has an answer. It could be you or me tomorrow. Why does someone get diagnosed with cancer? Life isn't fair.

When he was using drugs, he was aggressive; when he tried to quit with beer, he was aggressive too... once, he even ripped all the pillows apart with a knife. Then he moved away, and things were okay for a while until he came back and ended up at a state facility because his doctor wouldn't certify her as fit for work... he just had too many setbacks and failures following him throughout his life. Right now, I am left with nothing but memories of the good times from when everything was still okay... I guess I'm taking up space here just to vent my soul or feel a little lighter, I don't know... Am I a terrible person for being his sister in this situation? Yes. If people visited him, they would "endure" his rambling, incoherent stories for an hour or two or three, then leave—pushing it deep down inside and hoping it would just pass on its own. I know life isn't fair, and self-pity gets us nowhere, but I'm scared of what comes next. Not for myself anymore, since I live far away, but for my parents. I find myself hoping he returns to how he was before all the addiction—peaceful and kind. He was always good to everyone else, even if he was hardest on himself... if that's just an illusion, it's better to dream that way until reality knocks on the door...

driftinggull21 said:That individual is clearly psychotic, likely suffering from paranoid delusions. They lack insight into their illness and the necessity of treatment and medication.
Involuntary hospitalization lasts a minimum of 30 days via court order.
I advise the parents to perhaps refrain from visiting for a few days until the medication takes effect and he gains some level of insight.
The family did what was best. Acute psychotic states require hospital treatment.
Upon discharge, I recommend discussing long-acting injectable medication with the psychiatrist, as this is clearly an uncooperative patient.
Do not worry if he is restrained; they will release him as soon as he stabilizes. This is for his own protection, as well as the safety of the other patients and staff.

The hardest part is not knowing what comes next or how to handle things when he returns... we are terrified of potential aggression toward his parents because of what was done to him. His parents were heartbroken when he asked them, "Why did you do this to me?" in a calm voice—he only becomes agitated when being restrained—which made them even doubt their decision. Reading through, he simply refuses to take medication (when he went to the dentist, he claimed he wouldn't go back because they were putting chips in his head...), and he won't see doctors for the same reason. I don't know how this is going to work. I think the worst part right now is the realization that he is sick and there is nothing I can do to help him, along with the question of why this had to happen to him.😢

Someone very close to me was involuntarily committed to a psych ward today. He had been taking Risolept because his parents described him as being "a bit scattered." He refused to admit he was sick and wouldn't take any medication, so his parents started hiding it in his food. However, lately, he hasn't been accepting anything from them—not even juice or meals, just money. It all came to a head when, over the last month, he smashed every lightbulb in the house to live in total darkness, tore apart and threw out cabinets, destroyed all the pictures, and broke three or four cell phones. Nothing was done until he physically attacked his father today. Once he arrived at the psychiatric unit, he asked his parents why they would do this to him. I don't even want to write about how his parents are feeling right now. There is such intense guilt, and they are questioning if they did the right thing by bringing him in. Perhaps the worst part is that no one has truly accepted that he is actually ill; instead, everyone keeps hoping it isn't anything serious—that it's just a phase because he's unemployed or just being difficult. I can't help but wonder how he is doing there. It took five or six people to hold him down just to get him restrained. My heart is breaking. It was a heavy decision, and while deep down I know it was the right move, a part of me is still angry, wondering if this was all just a temporary outburst or an overreaction. 😢