Expert: Libby Bonner - 7/10/2006

Question
my son is almost 21 and i belive he is in rapid cycles but he belives nothing is wrong. he now has no job nowhere to live, noone will allow him to stay with them becuse we dont know what to do. he thinks every one is out to get him, strangers as well as family.i cant get him to understand it is his behavior that people dont know how to deal with and he belives he is fine and every one is against him.how can i get him to understand we love him but he needs help?
      ps. i was told he was bipolor and adhd at the age of 8 years old by more than one doctor. icant just say take your med. anymore. please please help me help him.  

Answer
You need to get an atty and find out whether you have enough to get him committed for treatment.  I doubt that you do.  Be sure atty knows about bipolar and that he took meds in the past.  How long ago?  How long did he take them and did they help?

Give up on convincing him of anything. He is not rational; you are; waste of time.

If you live somewhere small, you might ask the police or sheriff for some ideas or help, or ask what will happen if/when they pick him up.

www.psychlaws.com   See if your state permits involuntary assisted out-patient treatment.  It is easier than committal.

Or ask atty whether you can become his guardian.

Find the nearest NAMI food support group and start attending.  People in the group have dealt w/ your problem and may have some answers....  www.nami.org

I am terribly sorry.  This is one of the hardest things in the world to deal with, and the laws in most states don't make it easier.

I can tell you love him a lot.  So pls do whatever you can to get this book:  it's by Woolis and it's called When someone you love has a mental illness.  It about communicating with and helping people who are not thinking right.....it will make dealing w/ him more effective --- until he can get into treatment.  You WILL be helping him if you know better how to talk w/ him, and listen to him,   AND you will feel less helpless.  Pls do buy the book and read it and use it.

Good luck.