My cpn, social worker and doctors came out to me today and told me that if i didn't take any of the medication they want to prescribe they are going to section me...again, can they do this? i really dont want to take any meds and they're coming out to me every day now and its starting to stress me out and i cant relax at all because im always wondering when they're going to be here. Is there anything i can do, i dont want to take meds and dont want to go back to hospital again, i just want them to leave me alone
Unfortunately if they consider you to be a danger to yourself or others or your health to be at risk then they can section you. It's usually a last resort though so thats probably why they are choosing to see you every day and offer you the medication rather than immediately forcing you into hospital. If I was you I would take the medication.
Show willing to comply with them and even if you do have to go into hospital it could be voluntary rather than via section and you would be in for less time.
I truely to understand how you feel about medication. I am awful at taking it. At least though if you take the meds then you retain some control. If you don't take them then they will section you and if you are on a section three then they can make you take them.
I hope things start to improve for you soon. Please keep us updated.
Yes they can. If you're in the UK there's a new part of the Mental Health Act which says they can do this.
Do you mind me asking what your diagnosis is? If you struggle taking tablets there are some medications you can have injected. I can't take mine because I get worried that they've been tampered with and my memory is terrible. I have an injection every two weeks instead, it's much better :)
Yes, they can. Following a section 3 they can also put you on a community section if they dont think you will continue your medication. If you can have some of them in depo form, maybe that would be less anxiety for you because they can be done on a fortnightly basis and you wouldnt need to worry about swallowing pills [anti-psychotics].
Maybe ask about them and see if they come in injectable forms?
Hi Bobbalob -stay strong and calm.
You cannot be forced to take meds unless you are on a section or on a formal section in the community even under the new law.
Ring Mind's advise lines and get a lawyer in your area -FREE if you are on low income.
Educate yourself and stay strong. You need to show them you are taking responsibilty for yourself if you don't want to take the drugs. Stay calm. Find out your legal rights. As long as you are feeling ok and not causing hassle to to others no one can do this.
Use exercise, yoga etc and eating well to help yourself. Getting a family member's support or a friend who might stay with you at this time would be great help as they could stick up for you?
If you are in the UK, then yes they can. In the mid 1980-1990's there was a change to the mental health act following the closure of Mental Hospitals that was designed to protect the public and improve care in the community.
Basically, it means you only maintain your right to remain 'in the community' if you comply and take the meds they think you should take.
A bit of a medical/legal cop out from actually looking after why you may object to the meds, but it has been the rule for a good decade now and does not look likely to change.
My advice is to discuss this with them and explain your objections and concerns. Mind can help in acting as an advocacy for this, if you do not feel you can explain well enough by yourself.
*hugs*
Roiben x
If the Human brain were so simple that we could understand it, we would be so simple that we wouldn't.
Maybe you are not in UK bobalob?
I'm referring to the UK -this is not true that you can be forced to take meds. I have recently got this advice for someone else from a lawyer -it is ONLY if you are sectioned. If you are not you cannot be forced. Even if you are on a section in the community - a CTO - you cannot be forced to take it unless it is written into it that you must take meds. Or of you break the CTO in other words break the rules of a legal community enforced section. If you are voluntary , as long as you are feeling well and coping, you CANNOT be forced to take meds in UK.
They can, yes. What is the lack of medication causing your mental health to be like? I think you need to explain more than just that you are being threatened with action if you don't take your medication. There's obviously a reason why your mental health team are so intent on you taking it. It's for your own good. But if you really think you can get along okay without it then prove and explain this to them.
Stop thinking about what I want, what he wants, what your parents want. What do you want?
"Can I be forced to take medication when I am living in the community?
You cannot be compelled to take medication in the community. This is the case even if you are subject to supervised community treatment in the community under a Community Treatment Order (CTO)."
yes they can section you! it almost happened to me but i took different meds in the end and it did happen to my best friend, she was detained for about 6 months because of it.
there is nothing yuo can really do but comply. sorry lovely
x
To be honest I think they are basically giving you the option - take your meds or we'll have to section you because we deem you to be unsafe without them. So if you won't take them they will section you and force you to I guess....
Kinda lots of loop work going on there though!
I think they are trying to give you a chance to stay out of hospital.
WHy do you not want to take your meds? Side effects? Don't feel you need them? Worried about what they actaully are? etc etc...Maybe talking about your concerns about them to the doctors could help coming up with a better solution?
If they feel you are unsafe though then they will section you.
I would call up that MIND number that has been mentioned about to get more details....but it is very complicated...
I feel they are trying to give you a chance to stay out of hospital here...but if you don't do what they are asking they don't consider you safe....
Please take care. It must be difficult. But we aren't lawyers and we aren't psychiatrists etc....these are the people who can expain things properly to you regarding the mental health act...
You made up your mind to torture mine!
If you read a scar like a book, you will relise the story in which you over look
Hi Bob, hope you are ok? It is awful to feel so pressurised. Unlesss you are sectioned currentlly you have a legal right to control what goes into your body. I hope you reach out for help to some of these orgainizations.
The website above is compiled by some UK psychiatrists and psychologists who want to help people who do not get any benefit from drugs or who choose an alternative natural route to staying well. Most psychiatrists are trained in UK to use a drug dependent model for recovery. Not all of them agree with it. More amd more people become well and stay well without drugs and fully recover even from the the worst bouts of psychosis.
here'sa quote from the website:
"Distress or confusion tends to be episodic in nature. Once an episode has passed or if the psychiatric drug is not helping we may wish to stop taking the drug. If we want to reduce or stop our dependence on psychiatric medication, it is important to develop other ways of balancing mood and dealing with difficult mind states. It is also important to develop a support network around you that will support you in this ‘coming off’ process. We recommend where possible people work collaboratively with their prescriber to negotiate the coming off process. Reducing medication can be a difficult process so it is important to prepare well before starting a reduction process."
Get legal advice and back up through MIND's list of lawyers trained in Mental Health. Phone or email: Contact Mindinfoline
Well, the doctor came out to see me last week with a social worker or something and said he was going to give me risperidone on top of escitalopram i was already taking i said i would prefer it if i didn't have to take any tablets but i would take whatever they prescribed and the social worker said he would come back with the new pills some time in the afternoon, but he came back with the police and i've been put on section 3 am typing this from home as i've just ran away ... risperidone makes me feel tired all the time and i cant believe they sectioned me again just as i was starting to feel better
I hate being in hospital, why cant they just carry on treating me at home
Please don't run away from them it'll only make things worse in the long run and result in you being held in hospital longer. If they think you're going to keep running away they'll put you in a secure ward and take away your privileges to leave the ward. It's best just to comply with them when you are there that way you'll be released sooner.
It's obviously quite traumatic for you, wish you all the best and hope things work out for you.
Some men aren't looking for anything logical, like money.
They can't be bought, bullied, reasoned or negotiated with.
Some men just want to watch the world burn.
im really sorry that this has all happened to you.And it is clearly obviously very distressing for you understandably.
i guess the professionals feel you need to be in hosp at the moment for them to able to treat you properly.i know this must be really difficult for you especially if you do not want to be there/dont feel you need to be.
im so sorry i didnt see this earlier and im very worried by the post you wrote today about having ran away.
i really hope you are alive and safe and well.And if you havent gone back to the hospital as hard as it is you really need to.
It sounds like people think that this is really important for your health right now [whether you agree or not] that you are in hosp right now.But aside from that as has already been said if you dont go back you risk being taken back by the police and a more lengthy stay on possibly a more secure ward too.
i cant imagine how it must feel to be forced to be in the hospital but you need to try and work with them as best you can and please know we are here for you too.
Could you maybe try and get an advocate who could help get your views across on medication/treatment etc if you dont feel your being listened to or treated fairly/receiving the right treatment?
i hope you are safe and that things start to improve for you very soon.
Take care and very best wishes for now.Please let us know how you are when you feel upto it/are able/have computer access.
i do not always manage to be around but i wish you all the very best - love and luck to you all!
Thanks for letting us know - but so sorry Bobalob, I thought of you and was wondering.
You can always try again. Cooperate with everything. You'll get another chance. Educate yourself and then you will be able to know what you can and cannot do. This is a good website with alternative approaches by an NHS psychologist who was himself sectioned 3 times many years ago. www.rufusmay.com
Take care, keep the faith, believe in yourself and look after yourself, you will get through it x
and they're coming out to me every day now and its starting to stress me out and i cant relax at all because im always wondering when they're going to be here. Is there anything i can do, i dont want to take meds and dont want to go back to hospital again, i just want them to leave me alone 
