Eating Disorders Support Group

Eating disorders are marked by an obsessive need to control the intake and/or purging of food. This community is dedicated to those struggling on the road to recovery. Join to discuss your experience with others and find support. Get advice, ask questions, and meet others who are going through similar struggles.

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wildflowers44 12/16/2013

I'm 22 years old and in college. Over the past semester, I've relapsed pretty badly and I'm not in a good place at all weight wise. I'm home on winter break now, and my mom is threatening to have me committed to an inpatient hospital (the same one I went to when I was 17). I just had a conversation with her and it ended with her yelling at me and saying she's going to call 911 and have me taken to the psych hospital. I honestly cannot take her threats and yelling anymore. I am trying my best and dealing with a lot of other issues right now (anxiety and OCD), and I've tried telling her that threatening me is unhelpful. But truthfully, I'm scared she will actually commit me...I am an adult now, but can she still force me into inpatient against my will? What are the criteria for that? She made me a Dr appt for tomorrow and she's coming with me, and I'm so scared they'll commit me.

I don't know what to do. I hope it wasn't inappropriate of me to post something like this on these boards, but I am really upset and anxious right now and could use some advice. Thank you for taking the time to read this.

deleted_user 12/16/2013

Yes, even as an adult you can be committed against your will. You can be taken to the hospital and placed on a 72 hour hold while they determine if you are safe to be out of the hospital. If they determine you are a danger to yourself, they can then get a court order and hold you until they deem you safe to leave.
I hope you are able to get help. I would worry more about your health then the hold you may end up having placed on you. I can tell you from personal experience, it is much better to go willingly than to be court ordered. Good Luck!

sarasota34233 12/17/2013

Your mom cannot force you into the hospital but your doctor or therapist can, as soccer said, place you on an involuntary hold for 72 hours for evaluation. It was much, much better to go voluntarily. If she is that concerned, then maybe you should be open to options. See what the doctor says and go from there. Do NOT go on an involuntary...if the doc recommends inpatient then you need to sign yourself if...it will make your life so much easier as a patient. You admit yourself that you are not in a good place and that things are bad...maybe now, over break, is the time to do something about it? What do you think?

wildflowers44 12/17/2013

Thanks for your replies. I've heard of the 72 hr hold...I'm just not sure how they determine if you're a threat to yourself.

I do admit, I need help. My anxiety and OCD obsessions are out of control and I feel very depressed, and as a result, have put little effort into recovery. The problem is that I do not want to take more time off school. I feel that school is the one thing I have going fore at the moment. If I go inpatient, I will not be able to return until next fall. I also just took a semester off last fall and worked with an outpatient team. Also, this psychiatric hospital is NOT where I would choose to seek treatment. I've already been there and it felt analogous to prison. I mean, I get that some of your freedom and control must be taken from you in any treatment place, but this one was particularly harsh and it didn't sit well with me.

sarasota34233 12/17/2013

If you go inpatient now than you should be able to return this semester. How long do you have for a break? See if that is a possibility.

wildflowers44 12/17/2013

My semester starts back Jan 13th. My therapist and I discussed the possibility of doing 2-3wks of inpatient during break just to get me back on track, and then continuing outpatient once school starts again. But I know the place near my home wouldn't go for that. If I went into their program, I'd be there at least 5-6wks (my GP called and asked last year when I was struggling).

Thanks for your reply, though. I'm just not sure what to do. I know school can always wait and my health is most important, but school is sooo important to me. I feel like taking more time off would just push me further back overall. I have so many other issues with social anxiety/GAD and OCD that I feel I need to work on in the "real world", rather than within the safety bubble that is treatment.

My Dr appt is in a few hours, so I'll see what she says. I'm so nervous. Thanks so much for your support/advice...it means a lot.

deleted_user 12/18/2013

As an adult, I don't believe a parent can even make an appointment for you, much less be in attendance unless you authorize it. You are in control here. Yes, she can call the police and suggest a 72-hour hold...but in the end, you are responsible. When you turn 18-and sometimes before then-all parental rights to things like that are GONE. If she is acting like this, then once this initial thing is cleared up, I would honestly suggest reducing ties. Stress like this is NOT helpful in healing. At all.

wildflowers44 12/21/2013

Thanks, MusicGirl. I agree, the stress from her "threats" is making me increasingly anxious and just causing me to feel like a failure.

At the same time, I do realize that as an adult, I need to make healthy, good decisions. I am considering a higher level of treatment, but I know that such a decision needs to be mine. I wish I didn't have to involve my mom at all, but she's one of the only people I have to talk to this about.

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