Hi everyone,
Have posted about this before but could really do with some advice about next steps.
My ex has had a series of breakdowns since June, all involving delusions and paranoia to various degrees. Both police and mental health professionals have been concerned enough to ask for mental health assessment and have talked about him needing to be on anti-psychotics and get help from Early Intervention in Psychosis team.
Unfortunately he seems to have never reached the threshold needed to be hospitalised and get the help he really needs and the nature of his paranoia and delusions means he won’t admit he has a problem or seek help.
His last breakdown was in September and involved him going missing. He isn’t manic anymore but still has delusions that I am spying on him and part of a conspiracy.
I moved out with our 3 year old and we’re now living with my parents. Ex is having supervised contact (by me or family) twice a week, which is exhausting as he is difficult at the best of times. All professionals involved have said I am doing the right thing for DS but need to go to court to get anything official in place. So they will tell me unofficially to keep doing what I’m doing but can’t put it in writing.
To add to this, it was not a healthy relationship. Ex is manipulative, coercive etc and I’m so happy to be out but sometimes end up regretting leaving because I’m so worried about aggravating him and him taking DS. I am concerned that he is able to manipulate healthcare professionals. He’s told me that his GP has said she will call social services to advocate him having unsupervised access unless I let him have DS overnight. I called his bluff on this and said that was fine, but we’re all scared that he’s going to turn up demanding access. I’m still under his grip a bit and find it very hard to disagree with him after years of walking on eggshells.
Should I get a solicitor? Keep refusing unsupervised contact and wait till he takes me to court?
Also looking for handhold and support as this is exhausting!