Could My Therapist Commit Me Against My Will?

[JennML8]

Could someone help me here? I was told last week by my therapist he will commit me if I am a harm to myself or others. I am not planning on being harmful to myself or others. I just expressed concern of not wanting to further my therapy with a psychiatrist nor desire to take medications. I do have depression and have had a past suicide attempt but I am not planning to do anything to myself. Because he is pressing further therapy on me could he have me commited against my will to a hospital?

Thank you in advance, Jen.

 

[Deleted member 1860]

What exactly did you say to him immediately before he made that statement? Was he responding directly to you saying you don't want meds?

In general, you can't be committed against your will unless you are a danger to yourself or others. This includes telling people you WILL hurt yourself (as opposed to just saying you're thinking about hurting yourself), actually hurting yourself, making threats against others, or actually hurting others. Of course this isn't a hard and fast rule.

 

[JennML8]

Thank you for responding. He had worked with my family before with my first son. He was again appointed a few months ago to help me with my other son. He had encouraged me years ago to seek therapy for my own depression.

The last few weeks he has been overtly trying to find a place where I can seek further therapy including seeing a psychiatrist. I have expressed to him my hesitation to him saying I do not trust anyone and that I am tired of feeling I don't want to "be" here any more. I did not say I was going to take my life, I shared my exhaustion of parenting two special needs sons and feeling alone and stuck.

He know of my previous history of a past suicide attempt and my concern is will he use his knowledge to commit me even though I have no plan to do anything?

 

[Lost Pup]

Was this something he told you in a general sense, outlining the contours of your relationship? Or was it more of a response to something you said or did recently?

Unless a therapist is extremely corrupt, they are very unlikely to commit you unless they are genuinely concerned about your wellbeing. That said, I think if a therapist (who I generally trusted) ever wanted me to be locked up in a psych ward, I would listen to what they had to say pretty carefully and, at least, have a dialogue with them about why they felt this way.

Have you had a reasonable working relationship with him in the past?

 

[JennML8]

Again thank you for being so kind to respond. I believe he had said this to a response I made to him about not fully trusting another Dr. Again.

. I had mentioned being locked up for two months for a serious suicidal attempt in a state facility with no talk therapy and this was the reason I did not desire further therapy.

I respect him highly and understand where he may be concerned from my past history. He has seen me decline physically and emotionally and not care for myself the best, yet by no means did I communicate that I was going to kill myself.

I have had numerous bad experiences inpatient where my Dr. Asked me to step out of the room receiving a phone call to discuss his personal insurance information during a very intense conversation of my suicidal thoughts. And left just sitting outside his office forgetting about our meeting. Have had experiences similar to this which now I trust NO one and he knows this.

 

[amcen]

I have expressed to him my hesitation to him saying I do not trust anyone and that I am tired of feeling I don't want to "be" here any more.

Jenn, I am French and I may have misunderstood the meaning of that sentence, but if it is what you exactly said to your therapist, do you think that "I am tired of feeling I don't want to "be" here any more" could have been understood by your therapist as "I want to finish it all"? That could explain what he told you.

But as a French person, even if I speak English quite well, I might have misunderstood that quote of yours.

Hoping that it has been of any help.

Kind Regards.

 

[JennML8]

Thank you Amcen. You were of help allowing me to know I must clarify to him in a direct and specific way clearly what I feel. I believe because he initially started as a family therapist for my children I am not used to speaking with him about myself. My children were always the focus of his sessions and he has recently directed his attention towards me. I do not care for therapy but because he has been helpful with my boys I respect him highly.

 

[JennML8]

Any advice on how I may start conversation with T or shall I allow him to bring the topic up? I know I need to clarify my feelings directly but should I remind him of his comment of commitment or shall I wait until he broaches the subject. I am very apprehensive about this but I do know We need to discuss this further. I have come to the decision to follow my gut and stand my ground against being commited if this shall come to pass.

 

[mamachick]

There are many statements that patients make that refer to suicidal ideation, which are not a threat of suicide. Such as, I dont want to wake up, I dont want to do this anymore, I wish I were dead, etc.

The therapist or Dr would generally assess the situation, such as, do you have a plan and the means, such as pills, firearms, a plan to jump off a bridge, etc. There are many questions they can ask to assess the lethality. There are identifiable risk factors. Most people that attempt suicide do not even want to die, they want to escape the pain and are out of resources and coping skills.

Often if you are having these thoughts, the T will help you with a safety plan, and that if it gets too bad, you will call them, go to ER, etc. Some therapists do a contract with a patient. Most do not want you hospitalized unnecessarily. Especially since they can only hold you for 72 hrs for evaluation and if they do not observe risk, they must let you go.

I am sorry you are feeling so bad. If you do have a plan to end it, it is best to share it with your therapist. I dont know your reason for not wanting the meds but I know that after 6 months I just went back on them last week. I need them-I was feeling suicidal. I feel much better already-not up to par, but not a risk. It is very hard living alone and having no supports when things get really bad, and being unable to get out of bed and nobody to advocate for you. Often the T will bring in a family member or close friend who has daily contact with you so that they will know what to do if things get worse for you.

 

[JennML8]

Hello Brat,
I am sorry you were feeling this way yet glad you are feeling better on the meds if this helps you. Were you on medication before and/ or talk therapy with a T? I would like to hear more if its helpful for you to share and you do not mind?

Even though I have family ( a lot of family) I am alone and having no support is better much better than having them involved. I rather deal with this with supporters such as yourself because many do not understand the despair that comes from wanting to end your life.

I did not expect to be in therapy nor discuss myself because the T was brought in distinctly to help me with my son. I had no intention of diving into my personal affairs but it happened through the course of treatment for my child. I respect him highly and understand his a position as a therapist yet it is rather difficult to not convey my feelings when emotional times are being brought up.

I don't speak of self harm as I feel it defeats the purpose if this is what I am wanting. I can't predict the future nor am about to contract for anything. I feel at this point I need to thank him for his professionalism and ask if we can finish up our time with the focus on my son which is what I had agreed upon in the first place.

I understand where he may be coming from but I also know the flip side in trusting no one. I hope he will understand my wishes but also am prepared to face a challenge if he deems me commitable. My past history might influence him to make a wrong decision.

 

[JennML8]

Brat,
Good luck with your PCP appointment tomorrow. Let me know how it goes with getting the antidepressants for your anxiety. Will keep fingers crossed and prayers spoken for you ALL goes great with your appointment! :0)

 

[mamachick]

JennML8-If you have no intention of self harm and have not said that you do, I really do not think he would attempt that. It is a waste of his time. He would have to attend a mental hygiene hearing in front of an appointed attorney and the mental hygiene commissioner and would look like a fool.

I attempted suicide 3 or 4 yrs ago. Today I saw my primary dr and told him that I started myself back on the few anti depressants that I had left when I went off 6 months ago. I told him that it was really bad last week, and if I thought I would have been successful, I might have....but I didnt. I stayed in bed for days and slept as much as I could. When awake, I could not eat for days. I lost 7 lbs this month and am only 120 anyway. I am bordering on agoraphobia (very difficult leaving the house). I do admit that I have a good relationship with him and told him that if it had gotten any worse, I would have walked in to his office without an appointment.

I was barely managing, feeling overwhelmed with too many things. My 25 yr old daughter and her bf came in drunk and an arguement ensued and they left. My ex and her collude and I have been stuck for years because I had an accident and am disabled with a traumatic brain injury and many other things. I am dependent on him and they play me like a puppet. This put me over the top to start. She lives out of town most of the time so I was not expecting her. She came to get things but rather than call me, she barged in and shoved past me and scared the hell out of me coming in the house unexpectedly. This set me into panic, then to depression. My kids are actually pretty awful-trained by their father that I am the maid and slave and here to take orders and meet their demands or else......

I live alone, my biological family is drama and dysfunction and drunks. My passive aggressive ex showed them that I was second class and I am dependent on him for support. My therapist describes it as a hostage situation. They have bled me of my savings from my accident My daughter has berated me in front of all and any company so I dont have company anymore. I lost some cognitive abilities and that is painful, but I dont need her to tell me how stupid I am daily and physically wear me out moving her furniture and doing the laundry she dumps on me.

Would it help to get your own therapist? I do go to therapy and it does help, very slowly. I guess I will have to take meds just to feel half way good, but it is better than not wanting to exist at all. I know it takes a leap of faith to trust in a therapist and share, but you can go at your own pace. My body is depleted of so much, Vitamin D, and brain chemicals evidently, that I need to function and to want to live. Exercise might increase those chemicals as well, but not able at the time.

If you are considering suicide, please reconsider. I know what a failed attempt is like and that what we really want is an escape from our reality. There are other solutions. Please keep sharing here and be free to lean on others here when you feel weak. You can message me if you want to talk privately.