Tuesday, August 12, 2008
My sister was diagnososed with being a Paranoid Schizophrenic in the past year and was doing ok for a while. She lives by here self and lately is not taking here medications and is going downhill very quickly. She is 45 and wont allow any help from anyone, how do get here the help she needs?
The police have been to here house several times but they wont help because she hasnt broken any laws. Her hallucinations and violent outbursts are increasing on a daily basis. She owns her house and wont allow anyone on here proporety to help her. I am assuming I need a lawyer or to take some sort of leagal action to take over her estate so I can get here some help ? Any advice would be greatly appreciated, Thanks in advance !
Patrick
Hello Patrick,
If you say your sister is becoming increasingly violent, then she is a danger to herself or someone else, and that is the criteria for admission to a psychiatric hospital. By all means, she may be playing the cops and acting all nice when they arrive, and then getting violent after they leave. It may come down to your word against hers if you press the cops that she's been violent. That could be what you have to do. I also recommend you read the Xavier Amador book, I Am Not Sick, I Don't Need Help, which coaches family members on how to talk to their loved ones to persuade them to stay in treatment. Some people with schizophrenia appear to be functioning, yet do so barely and it's only a matter of time until things get worse. Read the Amador book, call the cops if necessary, and be persistent with them that your sister is violent towards you.
I hope things work out for your sister.
Regards,
cb
cb,
Thank you very much for your inpute, Im going to buy the book today ! Once again me and my family appreciate your help..!!
Patrick