Q. My eldest daughter, 38, is ill. She shows signs of schizophrenia and I am sure she also does drugs. She is on permanent SSI. I have not talked with for a while as she swears at me and I don’t need it. Especially when I ask if she has taken her meds. I don’t even know the last time she saw a doctor. She hears voices, says people live in her attic, brings up people she knew when she was 5 years old and says they are all at her neighbors home laughing at her. And so on and so forth. Ihave called mental health, the PD and Sherriff, hospitals, everyone and because she isn’t a 5150, they will do nothng. Tonight was the icing on the cake when her landlord called me and said he is evicting her for lack of rent and the abuse she gives him. I don’t blame him a bit. My 89 yr old mother lives with me and I will not submit her to any abuse. I understand part of this is a disease but what can we do to help her. How can we help her? The agencies in place won’t help. She won’t or can’t cooperate. Now she’ll be homeless and then what? Any info will be much appreciated.
A. You are facing a complicated situation. Not only is your daughter having a psychotic episode, she is using drugs which is most likely exacerbating the situation. Unfortunately, in this country, even the sickest people who are clearly delusional and need help desperately do not meet hospital admission criteria. All too often, it takes a gravely dangerous situation or a tragedy for them to meet hospital admission criteria. Even then when placed in the hospital, many people are not there long enough to stabilize and are let go before they are ready and the cycle continues. This makes the work of families much harder.
You should keep trying to get her into the hospital. That is the best and safest place for her. To be admitted, hospitals in most states require that she is “a danger to herself or others” and by that they mean “is she suicidal or homicidal.” They are usually very strict about this but it can depend on where you live. Next time you call mental health, the PD or sheriff, stress that she is “a danger to herself or others”. Stressing this may be the only way she can be admitted.
I know it’s difficult but don’t give up on her. You may be all she has. Try to get her into the hospital and try to get her to take her medication. Things can turn around. I am familiar with a case of a woman with schizophrenia who refused her medication for over twenty years. She was hospitalized many, many times because of her refusal. Her family did not give up and kept trying to get her to take her medication and eventually, their efforts proved successful. Do all that you can. Once you have tried all of your options, there is no more that you can do. Good luck.
Last reviewed: By John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on 23 Jan 2006
