Fluctuating mental health condition and traveling abroad.

davidplans

I have Bipolar with psychotic features and some other relevant conditions that I'm not going to deluge because my identity could be compromised. The thing is I really want to go travelling abroad but am trapped because my psychiatrist has renewed my community treatment order again which is basically a section in the community forcing me to have monthly depot medication and to live here with staff support. When I go missing for more then one night the staff report me missing to the police and they look for me potentially could be re-called onto a section 3 back to hospital.

I feel restless, I have this yearning to visit places and feel like I'm wasting my life and my youth.

I was wondering if I were to run away for a month could they possible stop my benefits while away even if I informed the relevant benefit people. I know they would detain me on my return to England at the airport and section me again, which isn't nothing new.

GwylimT

It depends on the type of benefits that you claim.

It is very difficult to gain travel insurance which will cover preexisting mental health conditions, so be prepared to pay a hefty amount for that.

davidplans

I won't be able to get travel insurance so will go without it. I'm claiming DLA and support group ESA plus housing benefit.

PasturesNew

I'd not be worried about what happens upon your return - I'd be more worried about what could happen in a foreign country, full of foreigners, if I had an episode (possibly brought on by the worry of what'd happen when I return and the feeling of hopelessness that thinking of that might bring on).

Best to stay away from foreigners if you've got something 'wrong with you' that they might not understand. Could find yourself baton'd down to the ground on foreign soil and flung into a grimy foreign prison just because some native pee'd you off and you went off on one and they've no idea what's "wrong" with you, but they don't like the look of you/you're foreign and so they won't be as kindly as they might be to others.

Better to do what you're doing now, and wait until some future time when it's more feasible.

missbiggles1

PasturesNew wrote: »

I'd not be worried about what happens upon your return - I'd be more worried about what could happen in a foreign country, full of foreigners, if I had an episode (possibly brought on by the worry of what'd happen when I return and the feeling of hopelessness that thinking of that might bring on).

Best to stay away from foreigners if you've got something 'wrong with you' that they might not understand. Could find yourself baton'd down to the ground on foreign soil and flung into a grimy foreign prison just because some native pee'd you off and you went off on one and they've no idea what's "wrong" with you, but they don't like the look of you/you're foreign and so they won't be as kindly as they might be to others.

Better to do what you're doing now, and wait until some future time when it's more feasible.

I really hope that you're joking about this!:eek:

GlasweJen

Do you speak any languages aside from English?

How would you cope with being asked for an ID card to be produced by a police man with a gun on his hip who doesn't speak English?

A lot of "romantic" languages such as French and Italian can sound downright scary if someone is shouting, Italians in particular raise their voice and make loads of hand gestures which can be very strange to a reserved Brit. I remember on exchange the host mum was very loud and gesticulating and I thought I'd done something wrong but she was just telling me something about the neighbours cat!

DomRavioli

OP, you're on a community order. That means you're still under a section of the mental health act.

You cannot run away - they will locate you and bring you back. you know this.

soolin

davidplans wrote: »

I have Bipolar with psychotic features and some other relevant conditions that I'm not going to deluge because my identity could be compromised. The thing is I really want to go travelling abroad but am trapped because my psychiatrist has renewed my community treatment order again which is basically a section in the community forcing me to have monthly depot medication and to live here with staff support. When I go missing for more then one night the staff report me missing to the police and they look for me potentially could be re-called onto a section 3 back to hospital.

I feel restless, I have this yearning to visit places and feel like I'm wasting my life and my youth.

I was wondering if I were to run away for a month could they possible stop my benefits while away even if I informed the relevant benefit people. I know they would detain me on my return to England at the airport and section me again, which isn't nothing new.

Unfortunately you may have to accept that travel is not for you at this point in your life, perhaps look forward to a day when you feel more stable/able to cope and see then about travelling with an organised group of some sort.maybe talk this through with your Pysvhiatrist and see what they can offer as a future plan.

I would also echo the point above about certain other countries perhaps not being as tolerant of illness as we are, the language barrier alone can cause real issues for any traveller, Ill or not. I travel a lot mainly Europe but sometimes further afield and even now can sometimes find myself becoming anxious if someone starts shouting at me because I have perhaps misunderstood a comment they have made, or maybe I have strayed into an area where I am not allowed. Even in some European countries for instance straying to close to say an airport or any other place they consider 'military' can mean you end up faced with soldiers in full body armour waving guns at you.

I would also Never ever travel without full insurance, whilst there are some reciprocal agreements in Europe , I have found language difficulties when trying to get help can be very stressful.

Lastly, do you even have access to your passport and money enough to actually travel? I'm not sure you would get very far without either.

teddysmum

Would you not be flagged at passport control and what if you had an upset while on a plane ?You can't just stop it and get off.

elsien

Appeal against the CTO?
There's also a difference between going AWOL without telling anyone and a planned break away.
Could you look at a short break to start with and discuss the feasibility with your care team? Careful preparation is more likely to get you a yes than just legging it.

[Deleted User]

I agree that it might be worth planning a short break of a few days, see how it goes, come back and then plan the next trip.

I'm afraid that in this day and age of shortages, the staff must feel there is a need for the care they have put in place.., it wouldn't be there if there wasn't reason/need. There just isn't the money to waste it on unneeded care.

Could you bear to plan the trip, including investigating how health needs can be satisfied if necessary while waiting for your condition to stabilise enough?

It really would be a nightmare to be feeling unwell (with any condition) and not even be able to understand the language.