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Home › Lifestyle › Health › Involuntary commitment and forced treatment: what are my rights?

Involuntary commitment and forced treatment: what are my rights?

Started by slymaker24 · · 👁 7 views · 45 replies

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Participants slymaker24Scott Davis32Alexander Lewisstormymaker24jadesailor14Tyler Diaz4Amanda Morris3Terry Brooks3Carl Gray65ironbison23Roger Castillo4rapidcyclist87quietviper26Jessica Cox5Nicole Barrett76crimsoncyclist14wearysailor112Thomas MartinezKevin Garcia12feralharbor89nimblesailor85Tyler James5velvetmoose9Brandon Lopez6 …
stormymaker24 stormymaker24 Active Member
98 messages
joined Sep 2008
#21 ·
Roger Castillo4 said:Do the rest of us in the family have to walk on eggshells and adapt to him every single second, or are we actually allowed to live normal lives?? We are all under massive amounts of stress, living in constant fear that anything we say will trigger him into some kind of dramatic outburst. Is there even a remote chance that he will ever become self-critical and finally realize he was wrong??

Alright, I can see that certain realities simply haven't sunk in for you yet.
Schizophrenia is an incurable condition. A person suffering from this cannot grasp that their behavior is flawed, incorrect, or "crazy." To them, everything is perfectly rational and crystal clear; it is you, in their eyes, who are the ones deviating from reality. He might eventually realize things weren't right if he reaches a period of remission, but even then, he will likely never fully comprehend the extent of his past actions.
It is utterly futile to hope that he will wake up one day, realize he has "snapped," and decide he needs treatment. Untreated schizophrenia only trends toward worsening, never improving. This is a hard truth that both you and your family must confront. There is no magic cure, no spontaneous recoveries, no sudden bursts of self-reflection—nothing of the sort. Your only real hope lies in achieving remission through a competent doctor and a proper regimen of medication, supported by your own efforts. However, that does not mean you are obligated to tolerate every single outburst. It means you must educate yourselves thoroughly about his illness, maintain constant communication with his physician, and when he becomes aggressive, you must call 911 and the police to intervene, just as I detailed in my previous post.
Most importantly, he is not responsible for what is happening to him. He possesses absolutely no control over this, nor will he ever, and you must accept that he is being driven by something far beyond our human understanding. The ultimate question remains whether you will ever truly get back the person you used to know.

Do not succumb to despair; seek out professional counseling, find support, and educate yourselves on the mechanics of his condition. It is an incredibly difficult path, but it is not entirely without hope.
rapidcyclist87 rapidcyclist87 Newcomer
2 messages
joined Nov 2007
#22 ·
I couldn't agree more. Every single word.
Roger Castillo4 Roger Castillo4 Newcomer
3 messages
joined Jan 2009
#23 ·
Thanks for all the advice out there....
quietviper26 quietviper26 Newcomer
1 message
joined Jul 2014
#24 ·
My brother struggles with schizophrenia. He first received his diagnosis at twenty-one, and after about three or four years of living with borderline symptoms, my parents were completely overwhelmed by the constant state of crisis he created. It all came to a head one day when he went out onto the balcony and attempted to self-harm with a knife; fortunately, it wasn't a full suicide attempt, so there was no permanent physical damage. That was the moment they finally hospitalized him and provided an official diagnosis. For the next four years, there was a sense of "peace," though that’s really just a generous way of describing a complete emotional numbness. Things took a turn for the worse when doctors tried switching him to a newer generation of medication. He couldn't tolerate it at all, which led to an outburst where he attacked my father, resulting in another hospitalization. The hospital refused to switch him back to his old prescription for a month, insisting on the new one, but it was a disaster. They had to keep him restrained in a chair constantly because he was suffering from horrific flashbacks and intense panic attacks. When I went to visit him, I even saw bruises on his body from the struggle. He is back on his original medication now, but at thirty-one years old, he is truly wasting away. He was always a brilliant child, though incredibly hypersensitive and withdrawn. It is heartbreaking to watch him suffer like this while feeling utterly powerless to help; I know how much pain he is in. He is fully aware of his condition and lives with my parents, functioning well enough that someone meeting him for the first time might just think he is slightly slow, introverted, or perhaps even immature and lazy. Unfortunately, I don't believe there is any alternative for him; the medication is a necessity. Because the illness hit him during puberty, he never truly matured emotionally, which means he isn't able to hold down a job or finish school, leaving my parents to act as his legal guardians. I often see people like him out in public, and I can recognize them instantly by that specific look in their eyes—it is a profound, deep-seated suffering. There are many people like this, some say as many as 1% of the population. They are the forgotten ones.
Jessica Cox5 Jessica Cox5 Newcomer
6 messages
joined Jul 2012
#25 ·
quietviper26 said:I see people like that on the street all the time, and I can always spot them because I recognize that specific look in their eyes.

What kind of "look" are we talking about here? Are you seeing an F.20.0. diagnosis in their pupils? Since you're clearly such a world-renowned medical expert...
Carl Gray65 Carl Gray65 Newcomer
4 messages
joined Jan 2009
#26 ·
It’s a bit of a relief knowing I’m not the only one going through this...
quietviper26 quietviper26 Newcomer
1 message
joined Jul 2014
#27 ·
That’s a pretty nasty way to put it, and honestly, it's hard to find the right words for it. I'm certainly no medical expert—I don't claim to have any special credentials or anything—so I can't say I recognize every single one of them, but for the ones I do identify, I feel quite certain about what they actually are.
Nicole Barrett76 Nicole Barrett76 Regular
515 messages
joined Sep 2009
#28 ·
Roger Castillo4 said:Must the rest of us constantly walk on eggshells to accommodate him, or are we allowed to simply live our lives? Our entire family is under immense pressure, living in constant fear that any word we utter might trigger a massive, dramatic outburst. Is there truly any hope that he will one day become self-reflective and realize the mistakes he has made?

He is never going to reach that realization. Those struggling with schizophrenia often suffer from delusions of being watched or controlled by others, feeling as though their thoughts are being stolen or replaced, or hearing voices that feel entirely real. When those hallucinations take hold, they become his absolute reality. You can try to reason with him all you want, but how can anyone compete with the overwhelming grip of a hallucination upon a distorted consciousness?
ironbison23 ironbison23 Newcomer
3 messages
joined Feb 2009
#29 ·
A few days ago, my brother was admitted to the hospital. He spent his time scrawling all over the walls of his room—it was all about how everyone is blaming him, how they’re trying to make him look indecent, and how people keep telling him to just give up on life. He refuses to quit. He kept insisting someone is coming for him, and then the forensics team will show up, and so on...
Basically, the room looks like something out of a horror movie. He wrote through the entire night, and then this morning he told Mom to call Dad to bring him guns and candy because "they" are arriving in ten days to kill us all. We need to protect ourselves. Then, he started smashing things around the house.
The police and paramedics were called.

I was reading that thread where people share their experiences living with schizophrenia. They seem so... normal. I'm terrified that my brother might never reach that stage.
There's also this massive issue with my mother; she simply cannot admit to herself that he actually has schizophrenia. She insists it's just a "schizophrenic phase." Now she wants to get him out of the hospital as soon as possible because she thinks the people around him are complete lunatics, while he—in her eyes—is perfectly fine compared to them.
With that kind of mindset from the person most vital to his recovery—since she's always by his side—I am genuinely scared for his future.

The doctors also mentioned that his high intelligence is actually a complicating factor. Because of it, he's constructed this incredibly deep, complex world that is notoriously difficult to break through.
Nicole Barrett76 Nicole Barrett76 Regular
515 messages
joined Sep 2009
#30 ·
ironbison23 said:The doctors also pointed out to me that his exceptional intelligence acts as a double-edged sword; because of it, he has constructed such an incredibly profound and intricate inner world that it becomes nearly impossible to dismantle.

Could you perhaps elaborate a bit more on that observation? I have heard it suggested that highly intelligent individuals can actually be even more susceptible to manipulation than those who are less cognitively gifted. If that holds true, does it not mean that the medical professionals' primary task is simply to determine the precise dosage and the ideal cocktail of medications, waiting until the patient regains enough rationality to engage in psychotherapy? Once they apply methods of persuasion and deterrence to foster stability, won't those techniques only truly take hold once the acute psychotic state has been sufficiently dampened? Can a person ever truly be critical of their own delusions—for if they were, would they even be struggling with schizophrenia?—but when one is involuntarily hospitalized and medicated, isn't a rapid stabilization of psychosis inevitable? The true challenge lies in convincing the patient to remain compliant with their medication, to accept that involuntary treatment was necessary, and to understand that no one is to blame for the illness. Once an intelligent patient establishes even a modicum of trust with their psychiatrist, will they not eventually come to believe that there is no ill intent behind the care, and thus continue their prescribed regimen indefinitely?

In contrast, might we not see a situation where a less intelligent individual, being harder to manipulate, feels better after taking their medication at home and decides to stop altogether? Is it not true that those with lower cognitive engagement tend to follow their immediate, superficial moods and fleeting feelings rather than their long-term memory or logic? And does this fact not significantly complicate the entire course of treatment and the ultimate prognosis of the disease?
Nicole Barrett76 Nicole Barrett76 Regular
515 messages
joined Sep 2009
#31 ·
Nicholas Wells74 said:And that specific reality makes managing the course, the treatment, and the overall prognosis of the illness significantly more complicated.

... because since the patient is driven almost entirely by their emotions, can we truly guarantee the continuity, the consistency, and the steady adherence required for medication?
crimsoncyclist14 crimsoncyclist14 Member
27 messages
joined Jan 2009
#32 ·
slymaker24 said:urgent question:

What steps should one take to ensure someone diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia—who has been deemed legally incapacitated and therefore has a court-appointed guardian—is taken in for involuntary psychiatric treatment, given that they are refusing all medication and are starting to pose a potential danger to those around them?

Any guidance would be sincerely appreciated!

Well, you simply call 911 and request both emergency medical services and the police; they will respond, and the individual will ultimately end up in a psychiatric facility.☕
wearysailor112 wearysailor112 Newcomer
3 messages
joined May 2010
#33 ·
Looks like there are quite a few of you here who have been dealing with this for a long time... so I'm really hoping for some advice...
How do you actually convince the rest of the family—and the patient themselves—that medication is non-negotiable? Like, how do you prove that pharmacotherapy actually works when they just won't see it?
It’s my brother, but honestly, everyone in the house is struggling to accept it. It isn't even just about the diagnosis itself, it's more about how they define schizophrenia and the whole idea of treating it...
Things have been blowing up around the house again lately. We've been living in this heavy, tense atmosphere for a week now, just constantly waiting for things to escalate...
I feel like I'm losing my mind at this point. I don't know how else to explain it to them, and my nerves are just shot from the constant aggression and that feeling of always waiting for the worst to happen...
I'm seriously at a loss for words... I'm beyond desperate...
Please, if anyone from other families or even those living through it can help...
Thomas Martinez Thomas Martinez Newcomer
6 messages
joined May 2010
#34 ·
Anything at all!! My younger brother was diagnosed with schizophrenia by a general practitioner. It all started about 12 years ago when he completely shut himself away—refusing to leave his room, neglecting all hygiene, and just withdrawing from everyone. He basically spiraled for five years. Then, after those five years, the auditory hallucinations kicked in; he’d claim voices were answering him, or he'd spend hours staring at a wall talking to someone who wasn't there. His behavior shifted overnight—sudden fits of hysterical laughter, rage, and this unsettling look in his eyes. He started making strange facial expressions, making threats against the family, and developing these odd physical tics... chasing delusions that have zero connection to reality.

I should mention—he lives with our mother, who insists he’s perfectly fine and just ignores everything he's going through. She’s completely neglected him; she's entirely self-absorbed, mostly worried about how his condition reflects on her. Honestly, it's disgusting. She's too ashamed to admit her son is struggling because she doesn't want her coworkers at the office to know. For years, we've tried to convince her to help him. We've consulted doctors, but they all tell us the same thing—that she is the only one who can take action—but the issue is, she simply refuses to.

Has anyone else dealt with something like this? Is it actually true that our hands are tied? We can't just sit by and watch him fall apart. I truly believe she ruined his life—if she had just gotten him medical help sooner, he might have had a fighting chance.

To make matters even worse, about a year ago, she sold her house—which was falling apart, by the way—because she was drowning in debt. We bought the place from her and gave her $85,000, which she blew through in a single year, yet she wouldn't even buy her poor son a basic T-shirt. Last week, she was evicted from her rental because she ran out of money. She managed to secure herself a spot in corporate housing, leaving her own son out on the street. We had no idea until we stumbled upon him sleeping on a park bench. We were absolutely shell-shocked. We paid for a hostel for him for a week, but he got kicked out of there, too. We can't take him into our home—we're terrified, to be honest—since we have small children and we're scared of what he might do during one of his episodes.

We went to the police, but they just told us that the mother is the only one who can initiate anything.
God, what kind of law is that! PLEASE, I need more advice.
Kevin Garcia12 Kevin Garcia12 Active Member
52 messages
joined Jun 2010
#35 ·
I mean, honestly, there’s just zero logic in thinking that a mother being the only one who can step up makes any sense... you call 911 and lay out the whole situation, they show up with the police, and if things actually play out the way you say they do—the guy will be hauled off to jail within five minutes...
feralharbor89 feralharbor89 Member
41 messages
joined Sep 2011
#36 ·
In a situation like this, it would honestly be a great idea to get the Department of Social Services involved, especially since we're talking about someone who is ill and sleeping right out on the street!
They might be able to offer some really solid advice on what steps can actually be taken to help.
nimblesailor85 nimblesailor85 Newcomer
2 messages
joined May 2013
#37 ·
How do you even begin to explain to someone that they need medical help when they’re completely in denial about it? And more importantly, at what point does it become necessary to involve the authorities or force them into a hospital against their will?
Tyler James5 Tyler James5 Active Member
142 messages
joined Jul 2012
#38 ·
nimblesailor85 said:How do you even begin to explain to someone that they seriously need medical help when they just refuse to see it? And is it actually okay—or necessary—to basically force them into a hospital against their will??

Look, if you want an answer that actually makes sense, you’re gonna have to give us some more context about what's going on here...

...
nimblesailor85 nimblesailor85 Newcomer
2 messages
joined May 2013
#39 ·
Donna Johnson16 said:If you want any kind of helpful or coherent response, you really need to provide more context regarding the situation.

...

We’re dealing with a man diagnosed with schizophrenia who is constantly experiencing hallucinations and talking to voices. He’s convinced there’s a massive conspiracy against him and his family, and to cope, he’s constantly using marijuana because he thinks it keeps him calm. On top of that, he's deeply depressed. His parents are essentially looking the other way, pretending nothing is wrong, and since he believes he is perfectly sane, he’s become paranoid about medical professionals—we once tried to trick him into seeing a psychiatrist, and he ended up thinking the doctor was part of the "conspiracy." I am trying to figure out how we can actually help him. If we force him into treatment, will it just cause a complete mental breakdown? Is there any other way to make him realize that he isn't okay?
velvetmoose9 velvetmoose9 Active Member
163 messages
joined Apr 2020
#40 ·
nimblesailor85 said:So, we're dealing with a guy who's been diagnosed with schizophrenia—he’s constantly hallucinating, talking to voices, and he's convinced the whole world is out to get him and his family. To top it all off, he's constantly smoking weed because he thinks it keeps him level, but he's clearly struggling with depression too. His parents are basically playing blind, pretending nothing is wrong, while he genuinely believes he’s perfectly fine. We actually tried to trick him into seeing a psychiatrist once, but he just thought she was part of "them"—you know, one of those conspirators. I'm really wondering how we can actually help him without making things worse. If we force him into treatment, is he just going to have a total breakdown? Is there any other way to make him realize that things aren't quite right?

Generally speaking, when someone is going through something this intense, they usually end up being brought in by paramedics, and more often than not, the police have to step in to assist.
If this really is a case of severe mental health issues, taking a proactive approach makes a lot of sense.
That said, you should definitely sit down and talk things through with the rest of the family first.

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