Long story short, my mother has struggled with mental health for the past 30 years. Her diagnosis is Bipolar 2, Hypo -manic. I’ve seen her in my childhood in both manic and severely depressive states. At the time I wasn’t old enough to know much and we didn’t talk well as a family, but I just knew my mom was “high or “sick”.

The last 10 years my mom has been great! She’s outgoing, spontaneous, but balanced! She’s always been a spender, but I’ve never been worried about her. I’m very proud of her for this. 

Flash forward to this spring and myself, my partner, and my mothers closest friends and family all started seeing a change of her getting heightened. Exhibiting all the various symptoms of Mania - agitated, defensive, hyper, not sleeping well, increased spending and poor financial decisions, risky behaviour, etc. They talked to her, she said she was trying, and eventually I had probably the first very serious and emotional conversation with her about my worries. She told me she had a doctors appointment coming up and was working on it. It ended well, but she was good at spinning, deflecting and warping the truth to take very little accountability or admit she needs help - other than an acknowledgement she was “High”. Bottom line, I was worried about damage to her reputation (already starting), financial damage (trying to buy a lake property a single woman wanting to retire in 2 years should not buy), or that without help she will hit a significant depression when she stops taking care of her self. 

At the doctors appointment last week, her doctor commited her to the psych. Ward based on what he saw. She’s been there involuntarily now for 6 days. She has no insight why she’s there, is very agitated and defensive. Blames everyone else. When I bring up me wanting her to stay or that I think she needs it, she ignores, deflects or gets agitated. It’s very unlike her. She is getting new meds - a long term anti-psychotic injection 4 days ago ( flupentixol) as well as 600mg of lithium daily, which she says she hasn’t taken in 10 years. On top of sleeping medication. 

She has an appeal tomorrow, and long story shorter, will likely get out according to the social worker. There may be a requirement that a Nurse checks in Daily for some time to confirm compliance with medication. 

How do I navigate this? She’s an adult and I have to let her make her own decisions I know, but the last week alone has been hard and feels like only the beginning. I’m worried she will make bad decisions, get herself hurt(not intentionally) and/or fall into a deep depressive state.

I never know how much to engage in arguments while still being compassionate. When I raise my points, she usually doesn’t hear them anyways, so it feels like rational conversation never happens. I am never accusatory or harsh, I try to be delicate but eventually firm when needed. 

The social work team says I’m doing well in the support; but just need a little more help if you can offer on how to deal with this. Thanks so much!