Bobby, take care of yourself also at this time. I do agree about what you write and I actually worked in several different types of hospitals, both physical illness and brain health illness, and saw some really good results for patients. Wishing your wife the best!

I agree, sometimes that intervention is necessary. I myself have spent some time in the hospital when i was very self destructive about 10 years ago. It helps in a bad situation and people do need the help.

Any suggestions about her getting out. She wants to leave, destructive behavior seems eliminated, but there is still depression. Is recognition of the problems of the past needed to leave, do you take her earlier than recommended because she wants to leave.

It is natural for someone to want to go home and it may help her to acknowledge she misses being in her home, her natural element of living. I would follow the psychiatrist's recommendation of discharge date. I think I would not help my loved one leave too early when the situation is not totally stabilized. Their depression won't necessarily go away by the time it is really time to be discharged as per her psychiatrist but there "should be" a change in her ability to function. Leaving too early against what the psychiatrist thinks can set a person up for failure. We often have to be strong and be the "bad guy" to say no I won't help you leave too early and then set yourself up for failure.

People have the right in the USA to not be forcibly restricted in a behavioral health hospital unless they are a danger to themselves or others according to the Supreme Court. So it is possible she can demand to be discharged once she is stable enough. There are also step down programs for daily out patient programs where they go for 6 hours every day or less time is 3 hours 3X a week.
Maybe an outpatient program would be something she could do if her doctor feels it is time to discharge her.

If she is clearly not better and you've talked to the psychiatrist who wants her to stay but they will release her upon her demanding it, you do have the option to refuse to come pick her up. She may call someone else to come pick her up but you do not have to appease her.

I have also had to push three of my now adult children into brain health treatment. I thought two would need hospitalization. One fought us every which way and turned 18 and blew off treatment. This stuff can be very difficult for the loved ones to stand by and watch and know they have no power. Telling her no you won't do the wrong thing by facilitating her leaving early is sometimes hard. They get mad at us. But maybe this kind of tough love is what she really needs. You may need to seek support for yourself through your own therapy or support groups for loved ones run by the hospital or the local mental health agency, etc. I wish you the best, please let us know how you are doing as time goes by.

I think its good you know I've been in mental hospital 11 times good put her away if she's acting up but not for long just to tell her need this and this take it if you want it

My understanding of this is mutual should you deserve more than me well I'd rather you were happy I guess well I suppose you might aswell be happy with your wife

thanks for the comment Ilikeyou. What's the best way to deal with delusions- the typical people are following me, police are looking for me, these cars are strange. No matter how many times I explain that nothing is happening and the beliefs don't make logical sense, she persists and the anti-psychotic medicine doesn't seem to be making a real dent.