Psych Hold - How Does It Work?

[ThanksForPlaying]

uBPDgf was arrested and admitted for a 24 hour psych hold. She was directing her anger at the neighbors today and tried to "burn their house down" by lighting some leaves on fire and threatened them with a crossbow. I've been threatened with this crossbow before so I was relieved to not be the recipient of threats this time. Her excuse to the police was that it's "not a working crossbow".

The police called this a 24 hour psych hold and told me she would be able to call me tomorrow. However, she called me within an hour sounding calm and collected. "I didn't go to jail - they took me to the hospital" she told me. I know this already because I was standing with her and trying to explain that to her when she was arrested. So it's like she's forgotten the whole incident.

She's already sounding "calm" again, but these are neighbors she's fighting with. We already happen to be moving within the next few weeks - I'm not sure if that's part of her reason for getting dissociated. But I just know that moving will not help with the long term problem. If it's not these neighbors, it will be the next neighbors, or more likely me.  Her issue is some mix of bpd/bipolar topped off with severe alcoholism. She's partially correct that these neighbors happen to be bpd alcoholics also. The neighbors frequently yell and scream at each other and even call the police on each other. But uBPDgf focuses on that - it's the neighbors that are the problem - and not on her severe alcoholism and rage issues.

Will they hold her for 24 hours? When she gets back, should I discuss the incident? Ignore it? Wait for her psych to talk about it? I have my own thoughts about this but wondering if anyone who has experienced this police-mandated psych hold can chime in.

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[EyesUp]

I cannot say how this process works in your area, but my first order of business would be to see the report, if possible, and go from there,

If the police/hospital cannot share the report, perhaps your wife will volunteer it.   It is possible that there’s nothing of interest in the report either way, but if there is you will want to be familiar with the view of your wife known to local police and psych services.

Good luck.

[formflier]

If your wife is not willing to be open and share...so that you and neighbors can see she is getting better, should you "let her back in"?

You have good questions, direct them to her care team and ultimately to her.

Best,

FF