My sister's problems : please help - Family & Friends of the Mentally Ill Message Board

bultun · 01-22-2005, 12:07 AM

My sister, 36 years old, has Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). She refuses to take medication and hence, is given medication without her knowledge. OCD is now under control.
SHe has a very unhappy marriage and recently, she is having an affair with a man in her neighbourhood. Unfortunately, this man is a known swindler and has swindled people (including my brother-in-law). He also runs some kind of a sex racket on the sly. However, my sister does not seem to believe any of these informations and is not ready to hear any negative remark on this man. This has resulted in the breakage of her marriage (which has been very unhappy in any case)and my brother-in-law has moved out of the house. My sister has an eight-year old son. We are very worried that someday she will marry this man who is a criminal and bring upon a lot of misery on herself and her son. We consulted a psychiatrist, but he says this unreasonable behaviour cannot be treated and as family members, we can merely watch from the sidelines.
I am writing to you to see whether there is anything that can be done to help her. Should I talk to some other psychiatrist? The one I talked to seems to think that nothing can be done and it is a little to demoralizing to accept that!
Thanks!
-- Kamakshi

Rani* · 01-22-2005, 10:34 PM

My guess would be unless you're willing to involve child services and prove her an
unfit mother the psychiatrist is right. If that occurs the court can force her to get the help she needs if she wants to regain custody of her child. You can imagine the consequence on her behalf for a second offense. It's a long shot but sometimes a
good scare is enough to walk a staight line.

One other thing to keep in mind is if she is a threat to herself or anyone else including
her child, the police can be called and she can be forced to go to the hospital for treatment. Maybe someone else will have a better idea. Good Luck

mudhound · 02-05-2005, 07:19 PM

wat a minute. She is being given meds with out knowing it. How in the world is that happening?
2nd who she marries is her own bus. I or you can not make that decision for her. People are allowed to make mistakes. It's up to us to just voice our own thoughts before they do make them and to love them after they make them.

Jennita · 02-27-2005, 11:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mudhound

wat a minute. She is being given meds with out knowing it. How in the world is that happening?
2nd who she marries is her own bus. I or you can not make that decision for her. People are allowed to make mistakes. It's up to us to just voice our own thoughts before they do make them and to love them after they make them.

Yeah, I'm thinking the same things? What's up with this? Last I heard, a 36 years old is not a minor, and has every legal right to decide if she takes medication or not, and who she can marry or not. Maybe she's not making the right choices, but that is for her to decide.