Mental Health How do I voluntarily seek psychiatric help without the possibility of being admitted?

[Sapphires]

A few weeks ago I finished an 8 day Ketamine/4-HO-MET/Methoxetamine binge which only ended because I ran out of drugs. While I waited for my next order to arrive (this time with much larger amounts,) I decided to get my sleep schedule back to normal, however I had no fatigue or tiredness and it was impossible. I figured that since I'm not hallucinating or suffering some sort of psychotic episode as a result of the drug cocktail, and especially the stimulant, that I would be fine to just carry out life and that I would get tired eventually. Starting a few days ago, I started to get very minor hallucinations (hearing things, tasting things differently, things morphing into objects) but I was able to identify them as hallucinations. Eventually I managed to fall asleep and I slept for about 11 good hours. I woke up and felt completely normal, but I was not normal at all. I kept hearing knocks on the door and I would see a family member standing there, I would ask if they wanted to come inside and when they said yes they would walk in front of me and turn the corner into the kitchen. When I finally got to where they went, they were gone. This happened at least 20+ times in various scenarios, seeing people and having very detailed conversations with them but hallucinating every aspect of it. That night, I hallucinated that my neighbor texted me and told me that he was in my house going through my stuff and constantly harassing me nonstop, also threatening my dog and bringing up very bitter personal things.. I got extremely angry and told him that I was driving home and that I was going to kill him and set his house on fire, texting him the entire night with absolutely 0% knowledge that this was all merely a hallucination. After all, how can I be tripping that much when I havent used any drugs for 3+ days and I just got a good nights sleep? When I got to his house I pulled in his driveway and texted him to come outside and that we were going to go on a little drive, he said that he wasn't home and that he was at a friends house so I slammed on the horn right next to his door for nearly 5 minutes seeing if he would come out but he didn't. I then went home to go back to skype (where I had hallucinated many more conversations with him and others) and tried to find the chat log in my phone that said the specific thing that made me so enraged. Eventually he apologized for being so rude and caled a truce to which I accepted, I fell asleep shortly after and woke up experiencing the same subtle halucinations and paranoia, just on a smaller scale. I also went through and tried to piece together as much of what happened, but all of the things that I actually said were just incomprehensible jibberish and that I had indeed hallucinated nearly EVERYTHING that happened that night.

I am now at the point where I would like to voluntarily admit myself to a psychiatric facility to acquire a good anti-psychotic as I fear for the safety of others, however the state of maryland has an absolutely terrible medical system which does not properly protect the patients. A mental health facility can keep a patient for as long as they want, and there is financial incentive to do so. I want to find a way to seek psychiatric help, to be able to tell the doctor everything that has happened since the binge, all without any risk of being admitted against my will.

Any options are welcome, including going to another state or country with more protective laws.

 

[Dr. J]

This link shows a document from 2002, so not sure how much of it may have been amended, at all.

But, it looks like there's a pretty high standard for you to be admitted involuntarily. You must meet all the criteria listed. If you admit yourself voluntarily, you retain many rights of directing your own care. Moreover, if you informally admit yourself, you can leave the medical facility at a time of your choosing; keep in mind the facility could petition to have you held longer but, again, this has to go through the courts and all the criteria must be met.

Speaking from personal experience with both voluntary and involuntary admission, if you are checked in, you will likely be looking at a several day stay. If you truly feel you're a threat to others, then getting yourself to a facility may be exactly what you need. And, keep in mind, it takes at least a couple days for them to identify what type - if any - of mental illness you might have and develop some sort of treatment plan/aftercare. To get any sort of medication, you'll likely need to at least be admitted for observation. Here in AZ, you can be observed at some facilities for a 23 hours where you are assessed, given any emergency medication - such as an anti-psychotic and then the docs can make a recommendation.

I'm not an expert nor very familiar with Maryland's laws other than this document, but I would suggest that a voluntary admission or at least an assessment for admission would be beneficial. If your experiences are still persisting this long after use an you've slept, something else may be going on... or not. Only a medical professional can say for sure.

Best of luck!

http://dhmh.maryland.gov/yourrights/docs/pbor.pdf

 

[dopemegently]

Over here, you can only be involuntarily committed if the authorities have strong evidence you pose a physical risk to yourself or to others, although it may be different where you are. For example, if I slashed my wrists, there's a chance I could be temporarily committed for psychiatric evaluation, and this is seen as a last resort. You said you want to commit yourself to a psychiatric facility; I have to say that sounds like an extremely radical step to take. By the sound of it, you would only be doing it as a means to an end: to obtain anti-psychotic medication, and to get some professional help. Trust me, this can successfully be done in the community, without resorting to something tantamount to voluntary incarceration. In fact, the vast majority of mentally ill patients are treated in the community, at least in the UK.

 

[jobe28]

Lie to them. Go to a doctor and tell him that you are feeling mildly paranoid (eg say you think people are all staring at you or trying to mess with you). Thats a straightforward way to get the medication.

Be careful of what you say to any psychiatrist. It goes onto your record and they can use it to stick you in hospital later.

Ive personally never found anything my psychiatrist has said to be really valuable at all. If you want to speak to someone about these things maybe consider doing it anonymously online or something. Or maybe even just read up on it.

It sounds like anti-psychotics could help you. The thing is, if you want to one day try to live without the drugs (maybe because of side-effects) a psychiatrist may be able to force you to keep taking them against your will if theyve got enough evidence to "prove that you need it".

 

[Dr. J]

In the United States, it would be extremely difficult for a psychiatrist to order a patient to take any medication. The only scenario I can think of would be someone who is already in a facility against their own will and then it would take a court order. Remember Jared Laughtner, the guy who shot and killed several in Tucson, AZ, including US House Rep Gabby Giffords? Well, he was determined to be incompetent to stand trial and there was a huge ordeal and court battle over whether they could force him to take his anti-psychotics to make him competent. Point being, I wouldn't recommend lying, I've done it before and it actually just results in more trouble later.

To the poster who commented on seeking medication from the community - I'm not sure how viable of an option that would be for the OP. In AZ, you still need an actual evaluation/assessment. They won't just pass out prescriptions, even for non-controlled anti psychotics. I agree that seeking help from an institution such as you're suggesting is probably at the extreme end of your options, depending on other issues you have going on, it could turn out to be a very beneficial experience for you and, these are professionals (from my experience) who will work with you and will try literally dozens of medication combinations before sending you back out.

Most places offer an intake/admissions process where your comments to them determine the best level of care. Since we aren't medical experts or know everything about your story, getting such as assessment or speaking with an intake person might be your best starting point. Be advised that if, during this process, they determine you are a threat to yourself or others, you may not have the option of saying thanks, but no thanks. Just some more things to think about.

Lie to them. Go to a doctor and tell him that you are feeling mildly paranoid (eg say you think people are all staring at you or trying to mess with you). Thats a straightforward way to get the medication.

Be careful of what you say to any psychiatrist. It goes onto your record and they can use it to stick you in hospital later.

Ive personally never found anything my psychiatrist has said to be really valuable at all. If you want to speak to someone about these things maybe consider doing it anonymously online or something. Or maybe even just read up on it.

It sounds like anti-psychotics could help you. The thing is, if you want to one day try to live without the drugs (maybe because of side-effects) a psychiatrist may be able to force you to keep taking them against your will if theyve got enough evidence to "prove that you need it".

 

[jobe28]

In the United States, it would be extremely difficult for a psychiatrist to order a patient to take any medication.

Hopefully youre right. Forcing people to take drugs should be illegal.

I wouldn't recommend lying, I've done it before and it actually just results in more trouble later.

What sortve "trouble"?

I think you should at least withhold as much information as possible when describing what you're going through.

Youll probably end up taking the medication, your symptoms will go away.. and then the doctor will continue to ask you about those symptoms you used to have every time you see them. Which is fair enough, but its stressful

 

[Jerry Atrick]

I think you should at least withhold as much information as possible when describing what you're going through.

This is prolly the worst advice I have ever read on any forum, ever.

If you are going to lie and withhold information, why go at all? The entire purpose of going to a psychiatrist is to ask them to fix something that is broken. If someone is on the verge of suicide or homicide and they withhold information, you know what? The doc may withhold the proper medication regimen that could keep that person from going over the edge.

Youll probably end up taking the medication, your symptoms will go away.. and then the doctor will continue to ask you about those symptoms you used to have every time you see them. Which is fair enough, but its stressful

The symptoms are supposed to go away. But that doesn't mean you should stop taking the medication. The medication is what is keeping the symptoms at bay. Jobe, I don't know you or your mental health history so I cannot determine whether you have a diagnosis and had a bad experience with some doctors or if you are some asshole who is purposely trying to hurt people.

 

[Jerry Atrick]

A few weeks ago I finished an 8 day Ketamine/4-HO-MET/Methoxetamine binge which only ended because I ran out of drugs. While I waited for my next order to arrive (this time with much larger amounts,) I decided to get my sleep schedule back to normal, however I had no fatigue or tiredness and it was impossible. I figured that since I'm not hallucinating or suffering some sort of psychotic episode as a result of the drug cocktail, and especially the stimulant, that I would be fine to just carry out life and that I would get tired eventually. Starting a few days ago, I started to get very minor hallucinations (hearing things, tasting things differently, things morphing into objects) but I was able to identify them as hallucinations. Eventually I managed to fall asleep and I slept for about 11 good hours. I woke up and felt completely normal, but I was not normal at all. I kept hearing knocks on the door and I would see a family member standing there, I would ask if they wanted to come inside and when they said yes they would walk in front of me and turn the corner into the kitchen. When I finally got to where they went, they were gone. This happened at least 20+ times in various scenarios, seeing people and having very detailed conversations with them but hallucinating every aspect of it. That night, I hallucinated that my neighbor texted me and told me that he was in my house going through my stuff and constantly harassing me nonstop, also threatening my dog and bringing up very bitter personal things.. I got extremely angry and told him that I was driving home and that I was going to kill him and set his house on fire, texting him the entire night with absolutely 0% knowledge that this was all merely a hallucination. After all, how can I be tripping that much when I havent used any drugs for 3+ days and I just got a good nights sleep? When I got to his house I pulled in his driveway and texted him to come outside and that we were going to go on a little drive, he said that he wasn't home and that he was at a friends house so I slammed on the horn right next to his door for nearly 5 minutes seeing if he would come out but he didn't. I then went home to go back to skype (where I had hallucinated many more conversations with him and others) and tried to find the chat log in my phone that said the specific thing that made me so enraged. Eventually he apologized for being so rude and caled a truce to which I accepted, I fell asleep shortly after and woke up experiencing the same subtle halucinations and paranoia, just on a smaller scale. I also went through and tried to piece together as much of what happened, but all of the things that I actually said were just incomprehensible jibberish and that I had indeed hallucinated nearly EVERYTHING that happened that night.

I am now at the point where I would like to voluntarily admit myself to a psychiatric facility to acquire a good anti-psychotic as I fear for the safety of others, however the state of maryland has an absolutely terrible medical system which does not properly protect the patients. A mental health facility can keep a patient for as long as they want, and there is financial incentive to do so. I want to find a way to seek psychiatric help, to be able to tell the doctor everything that has happened since the binge, all without any risk of being admitted against my will.

Any options are welcome, including going to another state or country with more protective laws.

OP, I am sorry you are experiencing this. I don't know much about ketamine or the other drugs you were abusing during your binge but you could have triggered a psychosis. It still amazes me that some people will devour dangerous street drugs like candy but won't take what a doctor prescribes them I'm not necessarily talking about you since you haven't been to the doctor yet.

My advice is to go to your doc and tell him or her everything you told us. Hell, copy and paste your post on a Word document and print it out. If you fear for the safety of others then it is your responsibility to get help. I can tell you from experience that being committed is not the end of the world. I've survived it and so can you. Since being committed I went to grad school, obtained a Master's degree, and landed a sweet job.

I was in and out of several hospitals for several years before they were able to determine an accurate diagnosis and proper medication cocktail. I'm telling you, if you are honest with your doctors then you will get better much sooner than if you fight it. If you have a good doc and do what they tell you while keeping open communication, you prolly won't have to be committed. It's when people start tampering with their doses or quitting their meds altogether that the trouble occurs and then you just might get committed.

Good luck and please let us know how you are doing.

 

[jobe28]

If you are going to lie and withhold information, why go at all? The entire purpose of going to a psychiatrist is to ask them to fix something that is broken.

People go to a psychiatrist for help not because theyre "broken". The psychiatrists main job is to prescribe medication, and thats really all the help they can give you.

For someone in America, theres probably no need to worry. But for other places the psychiatrist can keep you in hospital or force medication on you against your own will. THATS why I suggest lying. Because it SUCKS when you tell them youre feeling better and they say "i disagree" and tell you youre actually crazy but you dont know it.

The symptoms are supposed to go away. But that doesn't mean you should stop taking the medication. The medication is what is keeping the symptoms at bay.

It should be your choice if you want to keep taking the medication or to stop. There are other ways of treating particular mental illnesses. The medications are good but they do have side-effects with are annoying

 

[Jerry Atrick]

People go to a psychiatrist for help not because theyre "broken". The psychiatrists main job is to prescribe medication, and thats really all the help they can give you.

For someone in America, theres probably no need to worry. But for other places the psychiatrist can keep you in hospital or force medication on you against your own will. THATS why I suggest lying. Because it SUCKS when you tell them youre feeling better and they say "i disagree" and tell you youre actually crazy but you dont know it.



It should be your choice if you want to keep taking the medication or to stop. There are other ways of treating particular mental illnesses. The medications are good but they do have side-effects with are annoying

Denial. You haz it.

Someone may not be completely broken yet but nobody EVER went to a psychiatrist because they were perfectly healthy and well. Admit it, the only reason psychiatrists even exist is to help people who are having problems.

And yes, in certain states within the United States, doctors ARE allowed to petition for a judge to order someone to be hospitalized against their will. Did you not read my other post? That is what being committed means.

OP, I am sorry you are experiencing this. I don't know much about ketamine or the other drugs you were abusing during your binge but you could have triggered a psychosis. It still amazes me that some people will devour dangerous street drugs like candy but won't take what a doctor prescribes them I'm not necessarily talking about you since you haven't been to the doctor yet.

My advice is to go to your doc and tell him or her everything you told us. Hell, copy and paste your post on a Word document and print it out. If you fear for the safety of others then it is your responsibility to get help. I can tell you from experience that being committed is not the end of the world. I've survived it and so can you. Since being committed I went to grad school, obtained a Master's degree, and landed a sweet job.

I was in and out of several hospitals for several years before they were able to determine an accurate diagnosis and proper medication cocktail. I'm telling you, if you are honest with your doctors then you will get better much sooner than if you fight it. If you have a good doc and do what they tell you while keeping open communication, you prolly won't have to be committed. It's when people start tampering with their doses or quitting their meds altogether that the trouble occurs and then you just might get committed.

Good luck and please let us know how you are doing.

When I was forcibly hospitalized, I was also ordered to receive a shot of time-released Risperidone every two weeks. Those shots hurt like a motherfucker. A big-ass needle is jammed in above your ass cheek and it injects a blob of liquid directly into your muscle.

But you know what? I was going over the edge and the entire experience had to happen otherwise I'd be dead or in prison today. I'm not mad about what the mental hell system did to me. On the contrary, they saved my life.

Now quit being a baby and go take your medicine :D

 

[jobe28]

Someone may not be completely broken yet but nobody EVER went to a psychiatrist because they were perfectly healthy and well. Admit it, the only reason psychiatrists even exist is to help people who are having problems.

By whose definition of "perfectly healthy and well". If someone decides that they are comfortable with the symptoms of their "illness", then that should be left entirely up to them.

Most people with "mental illnesses" are not violent - to themselves or others - so that whole argument is bullshit. Especially when youve never given any examples of having been that way in the past. Its like being "guilty until proven innocent".

 

[Jerry Atrick]

By whose definition of "perfectly healthy and well". If someone decides that they are comfortable with the symptoms of their "illness", then that should be left entirely up to them.

Most people with "mental illnesses" are not violent - to themselves or others - so that whole argument is bullshit. Especially when youve never given any examples of having been that way in the past. Its like being "guilty until proven innocent".

Just because you are comfortable with the symptoms of your ailment does not mean the ailment miraculously went away. If you were comfortable with diabetes would you quit your insulin shots?

I don't know where you got the idea that I called anyone violent because I didn't. I agree that most people with mental illness are not violent. I also know that certain people who think they don't need their meds are often so self-absorbed that they are completely oblivious to the fact that their behaviors are wreaking havoc on their relationships with friends and loved ones. Relationships are something I still struggle with and I have been virtually symptom-free for five years. Have I been cured? Hell no; most mental illnesses cannot be cured. I just stayed on my meds and battled the side-effects until the side-effects eventually went away. Shit doesn't happen overnight.

Jobe, I don't know how long you have had mental illness and I don't know where you are in your treatment. It sounds to me like you have had some bad experiences but you have not been very specific as to what those experiences are. I used to sound a lot like you but I realized I was only lying to myself. IMHO the hardest part about having MI was admitting to myself that the doctors were right and that I will have to take a couple of pills everyday for the rest of my life. Now that I don't have to deal with side-effects you know what I say to that? Big fucking deal. Taking two pills a day is not the end of the world.

 

[jobe28]

I also know that certain people who think they don't need their meds are often so self-absorbed that they are completely oblivious to the fact that their behaviors are wreaking havoc on their relationships with friends and loved ones.

Someone without a "mental illness" can just be a dick and essentially ruin his/her own life..or even commit suicide and end their life.

Shouldnt that still be someones right to do if they so choose?

 

[Jerry Atrick]

I guess being a dick didn't make it into the DSM-V

Hey, I'm not qualified nor do I feel like opening a discussion about the philosophy of suicide. Durkheim wrote a famous book on suicide you may find interesting.

My experience with suicide, or attempts made by people I know, are that they are once again so self-absorbed that they think they are all alone when actually people really do care about them. Being self-absorbed is not a mental illness in and of itself but a lot of mentally ill people become self-absorbed with things are going on in their brain that nobody can explain.

 

[ad lib]

Sapphires-

The best thing you can do is be open and honest. If you end up getting admitted for what you say, then just remember that it's in your best interest and that it will make you better in the long run.

No one wants to be institutionalized, I understand that, however if it happens then it happens. You need to be honest so you can get the care you really need

 

[Lolie]

Lie to them. Go to a doctor and tell him that you are feeling mildly paranoid (eg say you think people are all staring at you or trying to mess with you). Thats a straightforward way to get the medication.

He's better off telling them the truth because the normal course of drug induced psychosis is that it passes fairly quickly once the drugs which caused it are withdrawn. if he doesn't tell them about the drugs, they'll likely wrongly diagnose him with some form of schizophrenia and that's much more likely to result in him being held involuntarily if he's showing outward signs of psychosis (and people who are hallucinating usually do precisely because they don't know what is and isn't real).

Whether he'd be prescribed anti-psychotics for "mild" paranoia is also extremely hit and miss.

I also know that certain people who think they don't need their meds are often so self-absorbed that they are completely oblivious to the fact that their behaviors are wreaking havoc on their relationships with friends and loved ones.

Unfortunately, sometimes people deciding they don't need the meds is an indication that they're decompensating and already somewhat delusional - ceasing their meds then exacerbates this. Family and friends often believe that perfect compliance with medication will keep people stable but it's actually possible to decompensate in spite of perfect compliance - in which case the decision to stop taking meds isn't a rational one at all and the apparent selfishness is a symptom of someone who's mental stability is already slipping rather than the cause of it. Families aren't warned about this possibility nearly often enough.

 

[justjack1948]

This link shows a document from 2002, so not sure how much of it may have been amended, at all.

But, it looks like there's a pretty high standard for you to be admitted involuntarily. You must meet all the criteria listed. If you admit yourself voluntarily, you retain many rights of directing your own care. Moreover, if you informally admit yourself, you can leave the medical facility at a time of your choosing; keep in mind the facility could petition to have you held longer but, again, this has to go through the courts and all the criteria must be met.

Speaking from personal experience with both voluntary and involuntary admission, if you are checked in, you will likely be looking at a several day stay. If you truly feel you're a threat to others, then getting yourself to a facility may be exactly what you need. And, keep in mind, it takes at least a couple days for them to identify what type - if any - of mental illness you might have and develop some sort of treatment plan/aftercare. To get any sort of medication, you'll likely need to at least be admitted for observation. Here in AZ, you can be observed at some facilities for a 23 hours where you are assessed, given any emergency medication - such as an anti-psychotic and then the docs can make a recommendation.

I'm not an expert nor very familiar with Maryland's laws other than this document, but I would suggest that a voluntary admission or at least an assessment for admission would be beneficial. If your experiences are still persisting this long after use an you've slept, something else may be going on... or not. Only a medical professional can say for sure.

Best of luck!

http://dhmh.maryland.gov/yourrights/docs/pbor.pdf

Do you think these symptoms will last or fade with time? Drug induced psychosis is slightly different to other psychotic states, you seem quite lucid and self aware which is a good thing. You should think about attending a unit but I would advise on having a good support group on the outside who'll atleast give the consultant a sense of accountability, sometimes the power one consultant has over a psychiatric patient is a bit hard to comprehend. But if you need help, good luck and stay off the drugs next time.

Drug-induced psychosis - Using or withdrawing from drugs, especially cannabis or amphetamines, can cause psychotic symptoms. These may resolve as the effects of the substance wear off. In other cases, the symptoms may last longer but begin with a drug-induced psychosis.

 

[Akerman]

Hey OP Sorry to hear all that you are going through. Your profile says you are in Baltimore. I did a quick Google search and it looks like the laws in that state say that you can only be committed involuntarily if you pose a risk to yourselves and others. The trouble is, that's a pretty broad criteria, and from your first post, it sounds like we can't know whether you pose a risk to others. Even if you're not going to physically 'go' for someone, that doesn't mean you aren't at risk of pissing off the wrong person whilst delusional/hallucinating and ending up getting punched in the face or arrested.

That said, mental health services in the US are generally massively overstretched, and they're not going to bring you in to take up a bed unless they have to, especially if you're saying that you don't want to be there.

No idea if it would work, but perhaps go in, and if anyone so much as indicates any kind of involuntary hold, very quickly say that you would like to request voluntary in-patient care.

Lie to them. Go to a doctor and tell him that you are feeling mildly paranoid (eg say you think people are all staring at you or trying to mess with you). Thats a straightforward way to get the medication.

I'm not sure that this would work, unfortunately. Firstly, it would probably lead to a diagnosis of the onset of a serious mental health condition (schizophrenia, bipolar or just straight-up psychosis). This will be damn-near impossible to wipe off the record, and they may well step in if you try to stop taking your meds and they suspect that you may have this kind of illness.

Also, no idea what it's like in the US, but in the UK, GPs aren't allowed to prescribe anti-psychotics. It's possible that you will need to be referred to a specialist mental health or drug treatment service in order to get the meds you need.

If they know that it's drug-induced, they can offer short-term treatment. OP, if you do not want to say specifically what you took, perhaps - and I know many in the drug using community will look down on me for suggesting this, what with its potential implications, but still, perhaps - you could try telling them that you smoked a legal herbal high for a few days straight. Since cannabis is generally looked down on less than ketamine, and 'legal' cannabis less than 'legal' dissassociatives, there may be less of a stigma associated. You can say it was in a plain baggie and given to you by a friend of a friend, no need to actually fabricate substances or suppliers, or get anyone in trouble.

People go to a psychiatrist for help not because theyre "broken". The psychiatrists main job is to prescribe medication, and thats really all the help they can give you.

It should be your choice if you want to keep taking the medication or to stop. There are other ways of treating particular mental illnesses. The medications are good but they do have side-effects with are annoying

jobe28 is right about the side-effects. Anti-psychotics have particularly rough ones, but they will be better for you than your current situation, and hopefully you will not be on them for long.

Also, jobe28, I happen to agree, in many ways, about the thing psychiatrists focus on being medication. However, this also means that they know how to take someone back off medication and prescribe the right pills for each individual situation, because they're well in practice. Yes, there are some doctors, especially in America, who are all about shoving drugs down peoples' throats, not helping them. But the OP clearly needs some drugs right now. They may not even opt for anti-psychotics, in the circumstances. They may just go with keeping the guy sedated on benzos and see if things clear up on their own, which I know is what they do in my area for cases where patients present to emergency rooms with cannabis-induced psychosis.

He's better off telling them the truth because the normal course of drug induced psychosis is that it passes fairly quickly once the drugs which caused it are withdrawn. if he doesn't tell them about the drugs, they'll likely wrongly diagnose him with some form of schizophrenia and that's much more likely to result in him being held involuntarily if he's showing outward signs of psychosis (and people who are hallucinating usually do precisely because they don't know what is and isn't real).

Whether he'd be prescribed anti-psychotics for "mild" paranoia is also extremely hit and miss.

Unfortunately, sometimes people deciding they don't need the meds is an indication that they're decompensating and already somewhat delusional - ceasing their meds then exacerbates this. Family and friends often believe that perfect compliance with medication will keep people stable but it's actually possible to decompensate in spite of perfect compliance - in which case the decision to stop taking meds isn't a rational one at all and the apparent selfishness is a symptom of someone who's mental stability is already slipping rather than the cause of it. Families aren't warned about this possibility nearly often enough.

Solid advice.

OP, I don't know if you are still following this thread, but if you have not yet done so, or for anyone else reading this in a similar situation, my advice would be to go to a doctor, tell them that you smoked a legal high in a plain baggie for a few days straight and that now you are having hallucinations. It may be best to leave out some of the more violent (or at least potentially violent) hallucinations if you really want to ensure that you are not pressured into or forced into ongoing treatment or medications, but it seems like you really need some help. It's also hard to know whether this is just going to go away or be ongoing or even get worse, so the sooner you can see a doctor, the better.

 

[Jerry Atrick]

OP, I don't know if you are still following this thread, but if you have not yet done so, or for anyone else reading this in a similar situation, my advice would be to go to a doctor, tell them that you smoked a legal high in a plain baggie for a few days straight and that now you are having hallucinations. It may be best to leave out some of the more violent (or at least potentially violent) hallucinations if you really want to ensure that you are not pressured into or forced into ongoing treatment or medications, but it seems like you really need some help. It's also hard to know whether this is just going to go away or be ongoing or even get worse, so the sooner you can see a doctor, the better.

IMHO lying about which drugs the OP took is no different than lying about fake symptoms. You are correct that the OP needs professional help from a psychiatrist but lying about what drugs were taken could lead to an ineffective or even harmful treatment plan. Honesty is not always the best policy but I'm pretty sure in this case, it is.

 

[Akerman]

IMHO lying about which drugs the OP took is no different than lying about fake symptoms. You are correct that the OP needs professional help from a psychiatrist but lying about what drugs were taken could lead to an ineffective or even harmful treatment plan. Honesty is not always the best policy but I'm pretty sure in this case, it is.

My line of thinking was just that very few mental health workers are even privately thinking that they know the contents or effects of the latest cannabinoids or research chemicals, so the treatment is likely to be approached similarly for psychosis resulting from either. But you absolutely are not wrong, honestly would be the ideal policy here.