My mother is pschizophrenic and bi-polar and we need some help.?

Question

Hello, my mother is bi-polar and pschizophrenic and for the past few years she has a severe outbreak every 6-8 months. The last time she went on a high-speed chase that was televised on the evening news. We take her to the county ward and try to make sure she takes her medications, etc. but it is becoming very overwhelming for all of us.

We can not afford to take her to a private hospital and we all feel like we don't have enough time and energy to take care of her and help her the way she needs to be helped.

Does anyone know of a non-profit organization to help pschizophrenic and bi-polar people? Maybe even a low-cost home to treat them? I am worried she will hurt herself or other people even though when she is in her normal state she is one of the nicest/greatest people you could ever know.

Extra information requested:

I'm 24 and had to move away from my family for a new job position.

She is not married to my biological father.

She lives in the state of CA and from what I understand all treatment must be voluntary by the person with the mental illness (AKA we can't force her to go to a clinic, etc.... although we have talked her into it several times thankfully)

Schizophrenic - sorry for the mispelling

Answer 1

Your mom sounds like a "rapid-cycler", or cyclothyme. It also sounds like she needs a change in meds, as what she's currently on clearly isn't doing the job. Yeah, it IS overwhelming to have a family member w/ mental illness issues, especially BPD issues that end up with them on the nightly news. Have you considered having her committed against her will when she's in the middle of a manic episode? W/ her current history, it's very clear she poses both a danger to herself, and to others. Some ppl. w/ BPD can be extremely immature, self-centered and childish, and profoundly not able to take responsible care of themselves. Is your father her husband? Ie, are they still married and together or were they ever? Who has ultimate legal responsibility for your mother? How old are you and your siblings, btw? Is it possible you could all take a day or a week or a month, and trade off on her care, so that none of you get burned out? Have you contacted a) The County Department of Mental Health, b) the Visiting Nurses Association, c) Adult Day Care Services, e) your mother's physician, f) the discharge planner at your local hospital, g) the Police, h) your mother's physician (again) and his/her PA or Patient Advocate? All these people can and should be able to help refer you to services in the community for your mother. Has she had a Durable Power of Attorney for both Medical Needs and Finances appointed? That is to say: Is she in control of her own finances and does she make her own medical decisions for herself? If it were me, I would also speak to the police so that they have a file on her, and are well aware of her mental condition. If a person is sufficiently manic, out of control and posing a danger to herself or the cops, it is often the case that that person can end up killed, b/c the police don't know that they're dealing w/ someone who's having a psychotic break or a heightened manic episode. Speaking to the police beforehand can help to avert a tragedy. When the police understand what's going on, they can actually be extremely helpful. They deal w/ mental illness all the time in their jobs, and are not strangers to it. There really is NO short term fix w/ this situation. My mom is bi-polar, not cyclothymic however and since her children have grown, she's in much better health b/c of the lessened stress. Your fears and worries are legitimate. I would suggest that you also look for and attend self-help groups for caregivers. Taking care of someone with these issues longterm can compromise your own health and well-being, so putting yourself first is of paramount importance. As far as "low cost homes" are concerned: Forget about that. Longterm care doesn't come cheap for this condition, ever. Start w/ the suggestions I've given you, and e-mail me back for more if you need them.

I wish you well. This is a tough row to hoe, as well as being a lifelong issue, but breakthroughs and improved condition w/ med change is NOT impossible. There is help out there, you just have to find it.

A response to your repost: 1) If your mom is having a psychotic/manic break, she CAN be committed against her will, and will often have to be so. At the very least, you can get the local hospital to do a 72 hour hold and assessment. This is a minimum, and will buy you a little time to both speak with her doctors and attempt to find a residential setting for her to receive further care and tweaking of her meds. They cannot and will not just dump her back on the streets to the best of my knowledge. People w/ BPD, diagnosed and undiagnosed have something like a 1 in 4 or 5 chance of committing suicide (on their own or by "cop") before their 45th birthday, and the medical establishment knows this, so unless she has no insurance, the docs and hospitals are NOT going to discharge her on her own recognizance... (and it's a travesty if she doesn't have SSI, b/c BPD is a legal disability and she should be receiving SSI!!!! Clients who are SSI recipients automatically are fully medically insured through state Medicaid (in CA, it's Medi-CAL) programs. You may have to fight for this, and it may take three times, but if she's as ill as you state, she'll get it.) What meds is she currently on, and have you as a family tried her on Lithium, and is she cooperative and responsible about taking her meds?

Answer 2

Check with your county mental health services. You can look this up online and see what organizations are out there. Unfortuantely, most of these organizations provide care only when there's an emergency and not an inpatient program. However, there are some inpatient programs out there that provide services that accept medi-cal and other types of insurance.

You can also dial 211 from any phone in California to access information about community, social, health, and goverment services.

It is good that you have talked her into getting treatment, so perhaps she will go voluntarily again if it means she will get better. I am sorry that you and your family have to go through this. Keep checking around through county resources and see where that leads you. If your mother has insurance, then they also may be willing to foot the bill for what is obviously a serious mental disorder. Good luck!

Answer 3

It might be tough to drive her to do whatever. I might simply hold reminding her how a lot the remedy helps you and what sort of bigger your existence is. Maybe she is going to take the illustration. I have an aversion to taking medications as good, but if it will get to a factor wherein the health problem or situation you may have is plenty extra damaging than the tablets, it is time to rethink. Just remind her of that. Also to support out meanwhile, why do not you allow the opposite children keep at your condo as on the whole as you'll be able to? I recognise there are plenty of them, however in case you might take all of them out for a couple of hours to the mall, or positioned napping luggage for your flooring and feature them over for sleep overs now & then, and so forth. The extra you'll be able to get them clear of that atmosphere, the bigger for them, your mother, AND you.

Answer 4

Boy, does that sound rough! Check with your county mental health services. They may have some ideas on dealing with this. Medicaid in the United States could pay for the services depending on the situation.

Answer 5

I also suffer like your mother and my son also had to did with my mental illness and it a family disease and I know Iv affected his life remeber it is a illiness im in houston tx and I went to DAPA for 3months out patient program and Im doing good but ever 6 to 8 months I need a medicine addjustment dapa phone number is 7137838889

Answer 6

Well, it depends on how old your mom is, and her income status. Check with your local Area Agency on Aging, and Department of Human Services--they will know of programs available to you.