I can't say with certainty. I'm sure it varies by jurisdiction, but I would suppose your family would need to petition for guardianship or to have you involuntarily committed. That would be a court mess. That's a thought.

Some years back, my ex-wife (wife then), had me commited with the help of a pdoc and a judge. Though the police were involved, I never went to jail. just straight to the pwaerd.

A posse of Social Workers and a PDoc here.

Are you on meds and see a dr? If not you should. I have been hospitalized 4 times. It helps for a while and then I am right back again. I don't know what to do at those times.

Thanks for the feedback. I was on lamictal and klonopin at the time I went psychotic. Now I'm on Depakote and Resperdol. I'll just have to wait and see if the new meds work - been on them since October. Problem is the other meds seemed to have been working but overnight I zinged into mania - caught whole family off guard. Other problem is that I was in Jail so long I just got sicker and it's made my recovery a real bitch.

Oh, I am seeing a pdoc. I've asked him this question and he said the jail/hospital route was the best way to get help. Just doesn't sound right. I have talked to my brother about getting guardianship - but there's a lot involved to that (for instance if I went on a spending spree, which I always do in mania, he'd be responsible for that). I think I will try and call the Mental Health Deputy that handled my case and see what advice he can give.

What is it like in other counties/states - do you have MH deputies?

I don't know what to say to help, I wish I did. I just wanted to say, good post and good for you, for trying to figure it out.

Your family, or whoever you chose, can put out a mental inquest warrant that will send you to the psych hospital for a minimum of 72 hours. These vary by state so check yours out. Once you're in the hospital they can evaluate you.

Making someone your power of attorney can also be beneficial since they are allowed to make medical decisions for you if you are incapacitated, including psychotic.

All failing that you can call 911 and be taken to an emergency room and from there, you'll be admitted to a psych ward.

9 times out of time if you have not mada a threat especially in front of the police you're not going anywhere. If you go to the hospital er and are acting odd they will send you

Well my youngest sister desperately needs help but refuses here where i live they do not put u in the ward unless u are trying to hurt yourself or hurt somebody. It rips my heart apart just knowing that she refuses to get the help when she has already been diagnosed as bipolar. She can seek treatment without going to the ward i already told her this.

It's a good thing that u got your brain back it was the same said for me when i was psychotic. All i can say is to stay in treatment and take your meds..

I just got off the phone with the Mental Health Deputy that had been in charge of my case. He said that I can't be forced to go unless I have threatened to harm myself or someone else or if I have broken the law (trespassing, etc.)

He did say that if I feel I need to go to a hospital (if I have enough presence of mind), I can call him and he will get me to one. He was really a nice guy.

Problem is that I'm afraid I won't have the presence of mind. I didn't the last 3 episodes so what's going to make the difference? I get so paranoid that I won't trust anyone....this sucks. I hate my brain.

Power of attorney sounds like a good thing to look into though.