<p>The family is not ready to go that public yet. If no results this weekend, who knows.</p>
<p>Consolation, it is time for the spouse to contact an attorney who deals with mental health issues. The attorney will be able to work more closely with the police, could get emergency hearings and/or court orders, etc. This is a specialized practice, but you should be able to find one in Portland. The spouse should not delay. Most of these attorneys have emergency numbers over the weekend, as they are used to the frantic nature of those calls.</p>
<p>Chedva, that was basically part of the advice from the NAMI rep. I’m not certain whether the spouse has in fact taken that step, although I advised it. The spouse is, understandably, emotionally overwhelmed.</p>
<p>I spent about 4 hours going to churches, businesses, and the public library in the area with pictures of my friend supplied by the spouse. My H left work early and combed the nearby public park yet again. I am exhausted. Not because of the physical activity involved, but emotionally, from describing the situation, over and over. I spent some time pursuing other avenues–taxi companies, my local police (I live in an abutting town)–after I got home. </p>
<p>My friend’s spouse is overhwhelmed, a wreck. The spouse has the added burden of being accused by my friend, completely unjustly IMNSHO, of abuse. There are a <em>substantial</em> number of people, as we have seen in threads in this forum. who will believe any and all abuse claims.</p>
<p>I think that after we search tomorrow, my friend’s family will have to decide whether to approach the media or “respect” my friend’s “wishes” and let my friend go and descend into madness. Society’s rules are favoring the latter, so far. :(</p>
<p>She’s in the hospital. She was picked up by the police in her home town while we were canvassing the area where she was last seen. They called her D. I took her to meet the police and her mother. The police officers were trying to get my friend to agree to go to the hospital peaceably. Suffice it to say, they had to resort to force. It was harrowing in the extreme, especially for her D, who stood up like a champ. We are all so relieved, and heartbroken at the same time. At least we don’t have to worry about her being dead in a ditch. There is apparently no doubt that she is being blue-papered, and will be sent to the local psychiatric hospital on Monday. We can only hope that she receives the care she needs and forgives us for refusing her pleas to take her home.</p>
<p>In the course of this, we met so many people who said they had this kind of thing with their brother or sister. There is far more mental illness out there than most of us realize.</p>
<p>Thanks, everyone, for your help and support. I hope that this is not just a temporary calm, but I know that for many it is a recurring nightmare.</p>
<p>Oh thank heavens she is ok, Consolation. I’ve been thinking about you all weekend. I sent you a PM with some additional local resources, should you need them. You are a wonderful friend. I hope she gets the care she needs.</p>
<p>Consolation,
Glad to know your friend is in a safe place.
Prayers for her and all involved.</p>
<p>I’m glad your friend is now in a safe place.</p>
<p>I am so glad your friend is getting care. She is blessed to have you and her family in her life.</p>
<p>Glad to hear she is safe. Hopefully this will be the start of her getting well. One thing that seems perhaps unusual to me about this situation is that the person sounds like someone who is in her thirties or forties–past the highest risk time for developing a mental disorder that is so disabling (I am pretty sure this is true of schizophrenia and perhaps also bipolar disorder). Just wondering whether she has a history of these kinds of symptoms or did she become so sick completely unexpectedly?</p>
<p>Thank God that she is safe and getting help. And friends like you are a true blessing.</p>
<p>You are a true good friend, Consolation. So glad that the mom appears safe and in a place where she can get some help. Best wishes to you, her and the dear family at this difficult time! Mental illness takes so many forms and is difficult for law enforcement and loved ones because laws don’t always actually protect the mentally ill, unfortunately.</p>
<p>Consolation…This is such a hard story to hear, and you are indeed a very good friend. I hope your friend finds herself in a place that will provide the best treatment for her. Blessings to all.</p>