# Serious Q on when a doc can have you "committed." **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 24, 2005, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/serious-q-on-when-a-doc-can-have-you-committed/286398 "2005-01-24T12:06:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2005, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/serious-q-on-when-a-doc-can-have-you-committed/286398/21 "2005-01-26T03:13:48Z")
> [@Eats\_Crayons](#): > > The criteria vary from state to state, but generally all four of the following must be met: > > 1. You’re suffering from a mental illness. In the opinion of the psychiatrist. > [@](#): > > 1. You lack that ability to make rational decisions hand show no signs of having that capability to rationally discuss your situation. In the opinion of the psychiatrist, who may view your inclination to differ from his view that you should be commited as a clear sign of your lack of rationality. > [@](#): > > 1. You are likely to harm yourself, someone else, or damage property. In the opinion of the psychiatrist, who doesn’t have to support his or her views. > [@](#): > > 1. Your diagnosis is not only one of the following: alcohol or chemical substance abuse; anti-social personality disorder; mental retardation; organic personality syndrome; or an organic mental disorder. > . All psychiatric diagnoses consist of the opinion of the psychiatrist. They do not need to back them up with lab results (they don’t exist). If they wish to have you detained, you will receive whatever diagnosis will justify that. — **AHunter3** , who is therefore a “paranoid schizophrenic” and had to break out of a locked ward to escape forced drugging. Sorry to say shocking things but yes the danger is real and you are wise to worry about it. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2005, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/serious-q-on-when-a-doc-can-have-you-committed/286398/22 "2005-01-26T03:30:31Z")
PS — some people find great benefit in the drugs they offer, saying in some cases that they have saved their life; but there are many people at the other extreme, who say that the drugs make them feel like their brains are wrapped in cotton batting or that the drugs give them nightmares or make them feel horrible. Schizophrenia drugs tend to shut down the nervous system, generically. They aren’t very specialized. They do permanent brain damage and have many side effects. Bipolar drugs come in two flavors: lithium and everything else. Lithium tends to rid you of your highs and your lows and can make you feel like nothing really matters very much. It’s also emotionally (but not physically) addictive. It does _not_ cause brain damage but if you OD on it it can ruin your liver and kidneys. The other bipolar drugs are like schizzy drugs: they are neuro dampeners with bad side effects and the risk of permanent brain damage. Depression drugs are the most modern and snazzy, but recent data shows that they provoke a wide range of unintended emotional and conceptual states, including very active suicidal feelings leading to successful attempts. They do not know 1/3 of what they pretend to know. If the meds help you, take them, but get some feedback from other folks on the same meds, and take responsibilty for your condition and retain authority over what does and does not go into your body. You will _not_ generally be treated as if you should be making these decisions. (It’s true of medicine generically and just happens to be particularly strong towards mental patients). Stats show that untreated MH-diagnosed people fare better in the long run that people receiving psych treatment. It’s a questionable stat (maybe those of us who ditch psychiatry are people who function relatively well without psych meds and therefore function better within the social system) but even so it’s relevant. Do not assume the mental health system has the cure for your unpleasant experiences. Reserve judgment and be skeptical. And do your own #@#%! reading. ---
**Author:** ![SamIAm336](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SamIAm336](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SamIAm336)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2005, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/serious-q-on-when-a-doc-can-have-you-committed/286398/23 "2005-01-26T03:31:36Z")
This thread is somewhat prophetic for me. My daugher, who has similar problems with meds and insurance, just decided that she DID need to be hospitalized. For us the fear was that they would not decide to keep her. She has not been taking her meds and the antidepressants are not working any more either (when she actually takes them). she has no insurance since she just turned 23 and I cannot keep her on mine anymore. She has applied for SSI more than a year ago and is still working on the appeal proccess. All of this is too much for her to deal with and stresses her out even more. Anyway, I really understand your dillema, keep trying, please don’t give up, and do what is right for you, not your mom. Ilearned a long time ago that My daughter is the best judge of her state of being most of the time, not me or anyone else. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2005, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/serious-q-on-when-a-doc-can-have-you-committed/286398/24 "2005-01-26T03:59:09Z")
> [@AHunter3](#): > > Depression drugs are the most modern and snazzy, but recent data shows that they provoke a wide range of unintended emotional and conceptual states, including very active suicidal feelings leading to successful attempts. Not according to the product literature from Eli Lily, Forest, et cetera. :rolleyes: Seriously, I took Lexapro for _four_ days a couple of years ago and started suffering from irrational, violent impulses. I check into the ER, and the doc calls down a psychiatrist from the padded ward, who assures me that it’s not the meds. Uh-huh. I crawl in bed and I’m back to normal (depressed, but not violent) in three days. Some people swear by it, though. Psychopharmacology is truly a black art. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![AngelicGemma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/439d5e/32.png) [@AngelicGemma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AngelicGemma)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2005, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/serious-q-on-when-a-doc-can-have-you-committed/286398/25 "2005-01-26T11:52:54Z")
> [@Seeker74](#): > > Thank you for all the encouragement. I can’t tell you how much it’s appreciated. My husband and my two close friends are very supportive, but Mom isn’t. Last night, she told me “not to get on any drugs I don’t really need…” :rolleyes: Your mum might just be worried about you. My mum is a mental health social worker, and is often worried by how some doctors seem to hand out strong medication like they’re sweets. If I told her I was going to see a psychiatrist, what your mum said is the exact same thing my mum would say. ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2005, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/serious-q-on-when-a-doc-can-have-you-committed/286398/26 "2005-01-26T11:58:59Z")
**Seeker** , I’m really sorry about your experiences with Donna. There’s a woman with issues! But on the plus side, it sounds like you have a good psychiatrist, and they’re not always easy to come by! I hope you decide to continue pursuing counseling; Donna, and people like her, IME, are the exception, not the rule. Don’t give up the fight; _you_ are worth fighting for! ---
**Author:** ![Kitchen\_Wench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f08c70/32.png) [@Kitchen\_Wench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kitchen_Wench)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2005, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/serious-q-on-when-a-doc-can-have-you-committed/286398/27 "2005-01-26T12:10:23Z")
> [@AngelicGemma](#): > > Your mum might just be worried about you. My mum is a mental health social worker, and is often worried by how some doctors seem to hand out strong medication like they’re sweets. If I told her I was going to see a psychiatrist, what your mum said is the exact same thing my mum would say. Oh Gemma, you are a generous and kind woman. My mum is the same mum who told me she was embarrassed to be seen with me due to my weight when I was 10. Who told my 13 year old niece she’s retarded… Mother is an insensitive bitch. But not all the time. Most of the time she’s alright. Yes, she’s probably worried. She means well, but in her not so lucid moments, her execution of well-meaning intent is all messed up. Christ, I have suspected for at least 15 years that _she_ needs some kind of pharmacological assistance. Norine- If I had had my wits about me, I would have blasted Donna over the phone. And suggested _she_ needs to get some professional help. But I was feeling a bit frazzled and well, fragile. She caught me off guard. Don’t think I’m not considering calling her up today to give her an earful. I doubt I’ll actually do that, though. I have a tendency to cry when I’m really mad & I don’t want to start the crying jag all over again. But I would take a lot of satisfaction from guilting her senseless. (Heh… Guilting is a skill I learned from me mum. She taught me well) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/serious-q-on-when-a-doc-can-have-you-committed/286398.md?page=1)