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superagent66 · Aug 18, 2009, 10:55 PM

Was wondering if anyone knows about options for my daughter. She is diagnosed with schizo effective disorder and uses drugs. I just got guardianship and do not know how to have her committed. She won't stay still long enough to help her. She's been hospitalized several times and goes from the streets to the hospital to jail. This has been happening for 5 years. I am at a loss as to whato do now.

J_9 · Aug 18, 2009, 11:00 PM

How old is your daughter? This is a very common symptom of any of the schizo spectrum of disorders.

superagent66 · Aug 19, 2009, 11:21 PM

Lorriane is 27 yars old. She has abused drugs and alcohol on top of the illness for 5 years. I am convinced her drugs of choice have been ectasy,cocaine and weed. I'ts been so difficult because she's been on the run to different states for these past 5 years. She has seemed to desire to settle down in a town where her child resides. I don't have an exact location on her but she pops up every few months or so. The next time she does, I want to be prepared to take an effective action to help her. I am also challenged in that we are in two different counties in NC.

J_9 · Aug 20, 2009, 06:15 AM

Unfortunately, unless she is a danger to herself or others (drug addiction does not count as danger to herself in the psychiatric community), there is little action you can take to help her.

You can try to talk to her, but with her disorder, most likely she won't listen as she probably thinks there is nothing wrong with her.

People with this disorder DO tend to abuse drugs, as well as move around frequently, some living on the streets.

One of the most common symptoms of her disease is non-compliance with medication, and this is where the drug use becomes involved.

I wish you and her the best, but until she realizes there is a problem and is willing to deal with it, there is little that can be done to help her against her will.

Jake2008 · Aug 20, 2009, 09:20 AM

There are many variables within the Schizo effective disorder realm. In order to treat her properly she will need an assessment, that will require a hospital stay in order to have her on effective medications.

Her use of drugs is a contributing factor to her behaviour of course, but it does not address any disorders that she may have. Only an assessment and thourough analysis by a qualified Psychatrist can diagnose and treat her disorder.

That being said, and with you having guardianship of her, you might consider an assessment as part of a condition of her living in your home. I do not know the legalities in NC for involuntarily committing a person, but where I am, you can apply for a special order to have her picked up by the police and taken to a psychiatric hospital. I have had to do this, because my daughter was a danger to herself, when she used drugs, and had concurrent mental health issues.

It was enough that she was a danger to herself, and that at least got the ball rolling.

During court time, I addressed the court myself, and asked for a psychiatric evaluation, and it was ordered. This time it meant that she would have a longer stay, and was unable to leave when she wanted. As things progressed, her charges got more serious, and she was eventually NCR (not criminally responsible), for her actions, and remains now in a psychiatric hospital.

I am not saying that is the route that will likely happen with you. What I am saying is that you can't wait for her to comply, or make good choices, with the diagnosis she has. She is not able to recognize that her getting on her feet will require good choices, and that is part of the package. You have to try your best to have her needs addressed for her.

Nobody would ever choose to be involuntarily committed, but in extreme circumstances when that is the only option to keep her alive, then you need to check out your options in this regard.

Speak to your Doctor for starters. Tell him/her exactly what you have said here, and fully explain your need to be informed of options available to you. As her guardian, I am presuming that you will be able to make decisions for her based on advice you receive.

If you can, speak to a lawyer about your rights and obligations of being as her guardian, and what can be done to secure any legal avenues. I think you will be surprised at what is available to you in order to help her.

The better informed you are, the better decisions you will make.

You have taken on a huge task, and a very difficult one. Having lived through this myself, I hope that you will post again with any thoughts, or questions, as well as any progress you are able to make for her.

Every life is worth living, and her having you in her corner, just might make it worthwhile for her to head in a direction that will see her healthy again.

Good luck.

superagent66 · Aug 20, 2009, 10:17 PM

Thank you so much. This helps. Part of my dliema is her being on the move but I will appear before the majistrate and ask she be picked up if I can locate her. How did the juge finally arrive at the decision to keep your daughter hospitalized? My daughter was arrested for assault with a deadly weapon a few months ago. I thought this info would help her get a longer stay when she was hospitalized briefly last month but it did not.

superagent66 · Aug 20, 2009, 10:17 PM

Thank you so much. This helps. Part of my dliema is her being on the move but I will appear before the majistrate and ask she be picked up if I can locate her. How did the juge finally arrive at the decision to keep your daughter hospitalized? My daughter was arrested for assault with a deadly weapon a few months ago. I thought this info would help her get a longer stay when she was hospitalized briefly last month but it did not.