Disclosure of illegal activities to mental health professionals
 

I am considering returning to my psychiatrist after a 3 year break and actually being honest about the extent of my problems this time.
My main fear though is that I will get in trouble over some of the things I have done ie. with the police, by getting sectioned or if they tell my family ( I am 22 though so I don't know if that could happen).
The main things I have done are:
-Obsessive and stalking behavior. Mostly thinking about people (6 or 7 hours a day) and doing thorough internet research on them, but also some creepy things like watching them in public (through accidental meetings-I haven't followed people), taking pictures and recording our conversations without their knowledge and watching them in their homes with a telescope. I don't feel like a danger to people but Im not sure a psychiatrist would agree. The people I stalk have no idea though.
-Buying and using illegal drugs. Driving while high. Selling drugs to my friends (occasionally).
-Losing my temper with pets.

I live in Ireland if that makes any difference.

I don't think they would tell your family or section you because you aren't an immediate risk to yourself or others (from what you said). They may have to set strict boundaries and rules with you though. Do you know why you stalk people? Are these friends/professionals/strangers?

Maybe you should think about giving your pets away. If you are hurting them, that's pretty unacceptable!! I don't want to come across as rude or anything but animal cruelty I can't just sit back and say nothing. They shouldn't be suffering

I think you need to be honest in order to get help. At this stage I can't see them sectioning you or calling the police, but if you let your behaviour continue then one day you might go 'too far' with the stalking and do something serious. In the UK there is a specialist stalking service to help those with stalking behaviour. I don't know if anything like that exists in Ireland.

The only consequence I think your at risk of here is them contacting the dvla (or whatever the Irish equivalent is) about you driving when high. Because that isn't safe - it's not just your life you put at risk but everyone else out on the roads. You would never forgive yourself if you ran over and killed an innocent bystander.

Thank you all for your replies, they have put my mind at ease about getting help :)

Hi Pomegranate, Im not sure exactly why I stalk people. I think I have a personality disorder although Im trying not to self diagnose, which is a really bad habit of mine. It started around 10 years ago when I was 12 and I have stalked 6 people since then. They are all parental/authority figures like teachers, therapists, psychiatrists etc. I just get obsessed and really fascinated with them, I have to know everything about them and I want them to love me and give me attention.


Thanks FightingButterfly, I actually have a phobia of driving and running someone over so I totally get what you're saying. After I passed my test I stopped driving for 2 years because it freaked me out so much, I used to imagine it at night and have panic attacks and have them when I was trying to drive. Drunk/high driving was always the one line I said I'd never cross, before this summer I never even drank a sip of alcohol and drove but the last few months my impulsive behavior has gotten out of hand.

Imogen88, I don't want come across as rude or anything either but
1) I never said I owned any pets, now or in the past.
2) I specified that this is something I have done. I didn't indicate whether I still do it.
3) Your post has no relevance to my thread.
4) I came here for advice in getting help with my problem behaviours. After all, last time I checked this was a support forum for people with mental health problems. I did not come here to be judged by you based on your half cocked assumptions from my original post.