Mental health and hospital admission

[nutcracker]

If someone who is being treated for manic depression gets ill again, and i mean ill to the point of thinking she is someone else and being as high as a kite, what is likely to happen ??

A dcotor has been out to this person this morning and left after about 10 minutes. That can't be it surely.

She has been now MT, last night.

Oop's just caught up, sorry. What a terrible situation. Poor woman.

aww nuttie, don't feel silly. It is horrible seeing someone you know totally flip out - it's the unpredictability of it all and the fact that they are capable of being so unlike the person that you know.

Her poor dds - I hope they get the measure of her quickly and sort her medication out. Big hugs to you.

Nutcracker it must have been awful to hear!

Watch the program though it was very optimistic and I'm sure it will make you feel more positive about the situation.

nutcracker - I know what you mean about not being up to watching it atm but the way it's presented is quite upbeat so as soon as you feel ready, do give it a try.

Really hope your neighbour (and her family) are getting all the help they need.

Yes watch the programme, (you can also watch clips at BBC2 online), it was a very well done series, very informative and sensitively handled

Ahh ok, I'll maybe try and watch it later then.

I know my neighbour had watched it cos she told me quite a few times. Keep finding myself going over all our recent conversations looking for clues that this was gonna happen.

Think I am going to get off my ass and go do something as I just keep playing it over and over in my head.

Thankyou all so much for your help xxxx

Oh gosh, how awful for her. And for everyone who cares about her.

The one consolation is that she's in the right place, and they will be doing everything they can for her to correct her meds and get her functioning again. At least while she's hospitalised they can be sure she's taking the meds ... my sister gets to the stage where she feels better so she stops taking them, and ends up in a state again. At least when she's in hospital they can be sure she's taking them.

Don't beat yourself up looking for clues that this was going to happen. You won't see them; I can't speak for your neighbour but my sister is very good at hiding things, and the first we know about her having another episode is generally when she's hospitalised. It's hard to spot the clues so go easy on yourself.

I agree wwb, I am glad she is now in hospital as I know her family were not coping at all.

I know I couldn't have seen the signs really, I mean I have known her for 5 years and never ever once suspected anything like this.

I am just really worried over what happens now, what happens when she comes out etc etc ?? I need to get a bit of a grip I think, I made P take me and ds out this afternoon just for something to do but he said I was so quiet and jumpy we may aswell have stayed in and I just cannot stop feeling shaky and panicy since last night.

Anyway, hopefully we will hear some news soon and know how she is getting on.

The most likely scenario is that she will be on a ward near the nurses station for the first week, undergo various assessments and try new drugs/doses. She will have a named nurse and will have a close eye kept and only be able to leave the ward with an escort.

As she makes progress she will gradually be able to have periods of time off the ward eg 10 minutes and then 20 mins etc. Then she will be allowed out with relation/friends for a short outing. Then a home visit. Then an overnight and a weekend. By this stage she will have been allowed to go off premises on her own.

Then she will be discharged into community care with a care plan.

And she will gradually pick up her "normal" life.

If the problem is less acute she may be returned home sooner.

From watching that really good Stephen Fry programme, sometimes a section cna be a turning point for some sufferers.
Fingers crossed your frieneds mental health providers are as excellent as some seen on the tv...

Just a quick update to say they are holding her for a minmum of 28 days.

Hi Nutcracker, just been reading this thread with interest as I am an Approved Social Worker - at least was until no.2 came along. It can be so distressing and shocking to see and hear someone when they are that unwell. Rest assured in hospital she will be observed and assessed and treated. She'll get the right to a tribunal and she will be discharged either after 28 days, before then if all goes really well and if it really isn't going so well they could consider detaining her for longer - worst case scenario. The thing is, now she should get a care plan and have active involvement and follow-up from a Community Mental Health Team - p'haps already involved? Sorry couldn't read whole thread. Likre others have said being admitted to hospital can be a turning pt. for some people. Having good support from family and friends is so important at times like these and it sounds like you've been really supportive. I really hope your friend recovers soon.

As others have said being in hosp is the best for her now and try not to think too much about the things she said-like you commented-she is unwell and didn't mean them. Psychiatric hospitals should not be scary places and ours most certainly isn't-doesn't look anything like a hospital. I have never personally known somebody to be forcibily medicated in their home before and I work for an Acute Services team so thought I had seen it all!!... Good luck xx

I think modern psychiatric hospitals are a bit like student halls of residence!

Just an update to say that my neighbour has been let home from hospital.

I'd like to say she is better but IMO she is still acting and saying very odd things, I just hope they haven't let her go too soon.

She said that there was never any need for her to have gone in the first place as there is nothing wrong with her. Is it normal that she would think that ?? I mean she knows me, she knows I will no exactly whats gone on.