treatment order

Hey @Eden1919

i haven’t been on one, but they are currently threatening to apply for one. I’ve been given a list of things that I need to be doing or they will. So kinda feels like one without all the legality’s.

I’m really sorry that you are on one. Sounds like it’s a really challenging time for you. And I can’t imagine how hard it is to read all that stuff about yourself.

@Bow I am sorry they are threatening you with one it really does feel like all your control is gone when they do that. I remember I was so scared when they were threatening me with one for the first time it was awful so I can imagine you must feel pretty uncomfortable about it all.

One psychiatrist said it was just a way to protect me but it doesn’t feel that way idk it really was hard to read all that stuff like it felt surreal and like it was a joke or something like that can’t be me idk how to explain it but I just feel so off now and it is making me doubt everything like I don’t know what is an isn’t real and who is and isn’t trying to trick me and ugh it just makes everything more complicated and I have been trying so so so hard to just focus all my attention on my studies because if I start to think too long about everything else I just get freaked out.

@Eden1919

I’m so sorry you’re going through this ❤️

Hello @Eden1919

I find just reading about what you are going through very distressing. I have been subjected to involuntary MH confinement and treatment in the past. In the last few years I have had to fight off Involuntary Treatment Orders (ITO's) and attempts to force me to agree to injections of slow release anti-psychotics or depots as you call them. In my experience this wears you down and is debilitating, particularly if you are unwell and/or heavily medicated at the time which is often the case .

You said " I just feel like they are trying to get into my head" . I would say they are trying to take over your entire body and mind.

Your concerns ARE legitimate and they ARE real issues and they definitely should NOT talk to you, intimidate you or frighten you the way they do. This is called bullying and abuse - plain and simple. Just because you have mental health problems doesn't give anyone the right to treat you like that.

This business about needing an ITO in order to help you is total nonsense. ITO and threats of ITO's are being used excessively by the MH authorities simply to control people. Why can't they give you a say in your own treatment?

If you are up to it you should go to the court hearing and object to the ITO application, but to be successful, you will probably need the help of a legal aid lawyer. My experience is that they can be your best friend in a situation like this. Do you have anybody who could help you arrange this? It It is certainly possible with a little bit of the right help to defeat these MH people and take back control of your own life. That in itself will probably start to make you feel better.

Regards

Willy

I just wanna say it's really brave of you to be in this situation and open up. I myself have never been on a treatment order as such, but spent countless amounts of time being medicated up until I'm speechless and drooling, and with the feeling like your being forced well I can definetly relate to that in Mental Health facilities, prison facilities as well as general doctors surgeries and not by medication but by constantly labelling me as a "crazy" "venerable" "looney bin" or complete waste of skin with no emotions or any actual purpose of being a living young happy, but a little more colourful and out there than most with my thoughts and behaviours. I had extremely terrible experiences as a child in mental health facilities, I grew with my abandoment issues and I started to neglect my own worth and left the real me in the dark while I took medications half my life from every face and hand that didn't even hear me breath next to them basically. I am off all medications from prisons and antipsychotics past 3 years, also 34 months of benzo pill addiction. I won't be medicated unless I feel like I'm not grasping reality or coping, and never let a health professional TAKE MY PERSONALITY and ISOLATE ME AS A LOST CAUSE again.

Listen you may be having to take these shots as directed, but make sure you speak up and say if you feel overwhelmed, or paranoid, or scared, trapped or confused..... you are doing the treatment which means you are COMPLYING with order and doing a great job. You should never feel like your a lab rat or you are not able to say STOP. I NEED A MINUTE- you should be reassured every time you take this step, and I don't blame you for wanting to bring this up it's a good vision of how mental health are looked down on or not seen as the person they are but only the illness they battle daily. I hope when treatment order is finished you can see good hearted and strong !

Hi @Eden1919 I am sorry that the information in the CTO has come with what I hear, a lot of stigmatising content.
The language that is used in AUS mental health is supposed to reflect recovery oriented practice and many do not. That hits a nerve in me & I imagine that would be very challenging.

Does the service you are accessing offer any peer support? They can possibly bring an element of assistance with you around this?

Also, it is within your rights to have access & availability to legal aid as support for representation before the mental health review tribunal.
If this has not been offered you can find more info about it here - sorry I think this is only NSW related https://www.mhrt.nsw.gov.au/the-tribunal/ but they also have many relevant forms that can help guide you if you are unsure of what to prepare yourself for the review here. https://mhrt.nsw.gov.au/documents.html

If you don’t want legal aid assistance you can also have a support person with you who can either simply be with you there as an ally or help communicate on your behalf any specific concerns or requests you’re bringing up in the CTO. As these meetings can be stressful and feel very imbalanced with power. I encourage you to empower yourself with what will be helpful for you in the process.

Hearing you

Flybluebird

@Eden1919 Oh Eden1919 that is what my psychiatrist is threatening me with. I feel your pain I really do. I am here for you hunny. Love peaxxx

Thank you @petrichor @Willy @hername @Former-Member i am not sure I even want to go to the hearing because the last few times I went they only really listened to the doctors and even when I had legal aid they didn’t help at all. I just want to ignore it and pretend it isn’t happening but I know I can’t I just wish I could. I will have to sit and think about what approach to take and if I am going to go.

@Bunniekins I am so sorry they are threatening you with that too it is very scary and not nice to have that held over you all the time.

Last time I was with my case manager, we chatted very openly about the CTO that they were considering for me. I asked lots of questions cause I’ve never had one before. My case manager explained that the judge is very… can’t remember what she said but very harsh on those applying for it. She said that the judge makes sure that it’s very patient focused and driven towards the patient getting…. being well. Although I don’t want one cause it takes away that all important control for me, she did make me feel a bit better about it, that it isn’t all bad. I guess if it came to that point for me, I’m confident that it would be in my best interest.
mine isn’t so much about medication though, I’m ok taking my meds and know that they help me, mines more about ensuring I eat and drink and have my pathology done. So I can’t imagine how difficult that is for you both @Eden1919 @Bunniekins being forced to have meds that you don’t want.
💕

Hi @Eden1919

I can understand you feelings and wishes that it will all go away but unfortunately it won't. If you do nothing, a new ITO will be issued and the state MH services then have the right to do anything they see fit to your mind and body for the duration of the new order. It is a terrible infringement of human rights and shouldn't be happening but it does and way to often.

I am very surprised that Legal Aid didn't do anything to help you in the past. This has not been my experience with them.

If you feel like it, it might help to share more details of your situation on this forum. I am sure that there are other people who have been in similar situations to you and have managed to win. Some may be able to offer additional advice.

In my experience, these MH people tend to be paper tigers who rely heavily on lies and intimidation. When you stand up to them and bare your own teeth you have the battle half won. I know that for some of us that can be a very hard thing to do but so can living life under an ITO.

Regards

Willy