As a family member I think it’s the only thing you can do. If a family member is Ill we have to do what it takes to get them better.
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We as a family used court ordered mandate by a judge three years ago but only after it took a lot of work. Finally the letter she had written to the FBI gave the judge enough evidence to order the mandate. Having written accounts of what is happening with your son/daughter as well as what he/she may be writing is important. I must say when it happened it was heartbreaking and I just broke down in tears outside of the court when I heard her anguish over the mandate.
The most recent hospitalization (after a highly functional life) happened when the therapist convinced her to do a psych evaluation at an ER. She went with me and did fine until she started in the triage room which indicated her need for help. Still we had a POA mental health for her at that time. When her older sister who is a medical doctor and I, as her mother present in the ER, reported to the social worker what was happening she was finally admitted. It was ‘easier’ in some sense to help her this time after going off her medication but it still makes it difficult in many ways.
I realized that once she was hospitalized it was only the beginning of her recovery. She is now living back in her apartment and attending an outpatient clinic to adjust back to life outside the hospital. She’s seeking to be employed again after finishing her Psy.D internship.
It is important to realize that MEDICATION is NOT the complete answer but therapy and followup is so important as well as family support. It is understanding what it means for your child to have the disability and what it means for him/her living on a daily basis. (Our older daughter did hire an attorney to help us in this situation.)
It is costly not only financially but emotionally to love and care for someone with this disability. " Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me." Psalm 23:4
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I would love to have my daughter get court ordered medication/commitment, but don’t know how to go about it. Multiple police calls to her residence over the past couple of months for various disruptions/behaviors/confrontations with others but nothing they deem harmful to herself or others, or if she’s showing harm to herself, she won’t allow them or anyone else into her apartment, says she’s fine, so they say there’s nothing they can do. We’ve been on this mental health road for 20+ years. This is the first time she’s not been or eventually become suicidal, rather, she’s completely psychotic with severe religious ideations resulting in alarming texts and social media posting (posting pics of her cutting herself, threatening and harassing others, saying she’s GOD, the bride of Christ, the sole savior of the universe, etc.). She’s been off her meds for over nine months, just quit showing up for work a couple months ago, a complete nightmare that is exponentially worse than what I’m describing here, but she will not acknowledge her predicatment and refuses to even consider treatment. Even if we could somehow force or drag her to some clinic (she won’t leave her apartment), she will not consent to or stick with treatment. How do we get the court to intervene? Anyone familiar with Colorado law? Thank you.
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I’m so glad to hear this report. You and your son are fortunate to be in a place that will allow the involvement of family. It certainly is helpful for him not to fight treatment!
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I know nothing of Colorado law, but can certainly empathize with having a similar situation with my daughter. Here, I can get a judge to sign a commitment order, and police will pick her up and escort her to hospital. Once there, she is assessed, medicated, treated and released with community supports. Try looking up ‘involuntary committal + your jurisdiction. I wish you luck getting your daughter hospitalized. I hope she will accept help, and continue to take meds and access resources once released.
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I am not sure exactly how it works in Colorado. I was able to find out about involuntary commitment through a friend who went to a NAMI state conference. In Wisconsin, we contacted the office of Corporate Counsel. They instructed me on who to call in our county to get the paperwork necessary. All three people each completed the paperwork and submitted it. Basically the paperwork demonstrates they are a danger to themselves or others. In addition it has an area to talk about how their mental illness is not in control (although this is not a big factor in their commitment in itself). Once submitted, if they think it is sufficient, the corporate counsel lawyer contacts each person for on interview by phone. The lawyer draws up an affidavit that each person signs as this info is true.
Then, officers pick up your loved one and bring them to a psych unit to be held for the hearings. That is a rough summary. Hope that helps. You might try calling your local NAMI office and see what information they also have.
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Good luck with working with your daughter. Its a long road with lots of ups and downs. Hopefully you can find the right balance for her.
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Thank you for your caring reply. Colorado is THE WORST for being able to expect anything to come from welfare checks or pleas to the court for somebody unless and until they’re in the act of harming themselves or someone else. “Fortunately”, that’s where we are now. Before I was able to get anything going my end, she went and got herself arrested last night—no harm to anyone but the threats were real–so now I’m trying to navigate through that. I’m hoping they’ll recognize her mental state and its role in the behaviors that got her there, and that this will trigger the court-ordered treatment and medication I’ve been wanting. I just don’t know where to start, though.
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Thank you for your caring reply. Colorado is THE WORST for being able to expect anything to come from welfare checks or pleas to the court for somebody unless and until they’re in the act of harming themselves or someone else. “Fortunately”, that’s where we are now. Before I was able to get anything going my end, she went and got herself arrested last night—no harm to anyone but the threats were real–so now I’m trying to navigate through that. I’m hoping they’ll recognize her mental state and its role in the behaviors that got her there, and that this will trigger the court-ordered treatment and medication I’ve been wanting. I just don’t know where to start, though.
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Good luck! Its important you act when these things occur as the authorities like for the request for treatment to be in close timing with their destructive behavior. Check into a 3 party petition.
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I just read about your recent update. I’m sorry to hear about the incarceration of your daughter. It is heartbreaking. Are you able to advocate for your daughter? We used a NAMI support person a lot both times when we needed help and direction. They usually know not only know how you are feeling about this difficult situation but can give you practical helps what to do. https://namicolorado.org/
When our daughter later was charged with a felony we ended up hiring a lawyer to defend her. It was costly but it was worth the fact the charge was reduced to a misdemeanor. Depending on a court ordered defender is usually not as effective as they don’t know the client and have a huge case load.
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Thank you, Julie1 
I was able to utilize and get some good information from the NAMI LawLine. It seems at least one of the legal professionals handling the case recognized my daughter’s affect and concurs she desperately needs psychiatric help, and has asked for a liaison to assist with the interaction between the mental health and criminal law portions. We’ll see how this goes.
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Irol I hope you were able to get the help you needed. I know how frustrating it can be.
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Zannah, My son had tried a ton of meds and was considered treatment resistant but finally clozapine - the gold standard has stabilized him. Yes he has to get blood draws monthly to stay on it (it was weekly and every two weeks at first), but it has been a miracle for him. Does he still hear voices everyday? Yes, but he is stable and they don’t bother him as much. Also he is aware that it is just his illness.
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I wish I could try clozapine, but due to other health issues, I’m not a good candidate I’ve been told. I’m happy that your son is stable on it. I hear that a lot about clozapine
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Zannah, I have a question for you. My daughter who deals with Paranoid Schizophrenia mentions that she has a-volition one of the negative symptoms of Schizophrenia. Do you experience this and if so, how do you handle this symptom? Thanks. Julie
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Yes, I struggle with this as well. But my husband is very supportive. I also have kids to think about. Between those 2 things I find it in myself to function. I manage to do a couple things per day. My family is my motivation
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My precious wife returned to me from court ordered evaluation, at Valleywise Behavioral Hospital, now under court ordered monitoring of her medication treatments.
Her behavior managed to get us evicted along with our large dogs and cat, now we will reside in a fleabag motel until our money runs out. With a recent eviction, and a foreclosure, nearly seven years ago, it’s been impossible to find lodging, even though we both receive Social Security income, retired, both 67 years old. I am a Vietnam era veteran, pre-approved for a housing loan, but not for the inflated prices in the Phoenix area. I remain profoundly disabled by liver failure/transplanted, kidney failure, and diabetes, so I’m endeavoring to rent in northeast Phoenix, near Mayo Clinic. No luck so far. I am considering all options, including leaving the state, except my precious wife remains under court ordered monitoring. It’s getting down to a question of survival for us.
I entreat you to reply with advice and encouragement. I know this must be a community of love, based on the stories I’m reading.
Be well, all of you.
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Sorry to hear of your difficult situation. Have you connected with NAMI southern arizona? https://namiarizona.org/
You said you had a preapproved loan from Veterans. Can they help you more? https://housing.az.gov/us-veterans
Any other agencies in the Phoenix area could help you out?
Housing Senior Housing
I noticed you posted december 22 so you may have already found out what you need.
Take care.
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Oh my, @lico_saenz . You are struggling with so much! I hope things have bettered for you and your wife in the time since your post. It was your first post, and I don’t know if you’ve been coming back to this site or not.
My suggestion is to contact NAMI, even if there is not one in your city, there are loving people to talk to on the phone. I wish I’d taken the advice of the first NAMI representative I contacted at the start of my daughter’s illness, as she was spot on in her suggestion (court ordered meds after reporting a threat to the police, any threat, to get her involuntarily committed: I didn’t have the courage in the beginning). There are many people in NAMI, and many organizations, each running sort of separately by volunteers. So call as many as you need to get advice that seems appropriate for your situation.
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