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I was hospitalized, voluntarily but then not allowed to leave for a month and a half after leaving a semi-toxic workplace.

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Anonymous

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I was hospitalized, voluntarily but then not allowed to leave for a month and a half after leaving a semi-toxic workplace. While I was hospitalized against my will, I lost my apartment and all my belongings. They threw everything out supposedly. My car was impounded and I can not afford to get it back. I also had my emotional support animal with me and the shelter he was taken to adopted him out. I was actively trying to get him back but they refused to release him to me.

I-have desperately tried to find an attorney to represent me and take legal action but have had no luck. My family has offered minimal support and that’s putting it nicely. I have tried applying for help from the government and have had zero help for the most part receiving benefits.

Right now I have Medicaid, however, I can’t see a dentist (haven’t been able to in several years), and I have to wait another month. Since my apartment complex threw out my contact lenses and glasses I am essentially blind. A nurse took pitty on me and gave me a pair of her glasses which are not the correct prescription.

I have missed several interviews (at low paying fast food restaurants) because I am in a facility that does not allow me to leave the premises unless I have a “pass”. They also did not take me to an eye dr appointment I scheduled. I have been homeless since Oct 15th. The shelters are absolutely horrible and not really safe.

I was also sexually harassed by an employee while I was involuntarily hospitalized and despite reporting it, nothing happened. He was allowed to even come back to work on the unit.

I am not really sure what to do. I have pretty much lost hope that my situation is ever going to improve. I tried applying for SSI again this morning and now there’s an issue with my social security number. Never mind the fact that all of my identification was stolen. I have lived in shelters, spent nights on the streets or in the homes of random men I didn’t really feel safe with. One of which left me with a bruised neck for several days.

I Have my bachelor’s degree in business management but have had zero luck. I’ve been turned down for several retail jobs (even during the holidays) and for gas stations. I don’t know how many more rejection emails I can take. I’m applying to everything.

I feel like I keep continuing to be kicked while I’m already on the ground. If anyone is hiring or could even be a referral somewhere I would greatly appreciate it. Or help finding a pro-bono attorney for the injustice I have had done to me. I can’t stay with any friends or family either. No one will take me in and my family treats me like garbage. To them, this is all my fault and I’m not trying hard enough…I also have a history of being abused by them as well. Ironically, my mother won’t let me stay with them because she “ doesn’t feel safe with me in their home”.

if you managed to read all of this, thanks. I am really going through it and I can’t take it anymore. Bridge in Atlanta where I saw a homeless man 20 years ago is looking pretty good right now…

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  1. Ernanda M White

    Hang in there as best as you can. I am sorry for all of your pain. Please find an area church and pray to God for deliverance and to send help, hope, peace and comfort to you. I am praying for you too. God is merciful and will always be there even your saddest times. Don't lose hope. Please. Reach out to to 211. Contact the alumni of your university and let them know who you are and if there's any work available. Calll temp agencies in your area, the local workforce centers, call MHMRA for support and the suicide hotline. Know that somewhere there's a chance that you can find help. Stay safe.

  2. Erin Vega

    I’m sorry you are going through this right now. Reach out to churches, welfare, and unemployment offices. Have you tried Legal Aid in your area, not sure they would be able to help but they may be able to steer you in the right direction. Don’t give up and keep pounding the pavement.

    Hugggss your way!!

  3. Anonymous

    Praying for you that God will bless you and you can get back on your feet!

  4. Ellen Smith Fagan

    J.K.Rowling the author of the Harry Potter books etc., starved - was down to "command/prompt" for some time until her work clicked and began to win a better life for her. HANG IN - it gets better.

  5. Ellen Smith Fagan

    I like the call the churches idea. If you are that poorly set, just now, calling the church might be a fine idea....but be real - do not be discouraged if you find you must phone five churches before one can help.

    Show worthiness but don't grovel. You are God's own creation! When you meet them in person, be sure you have done the best you can re: your appearance - "neat clean and in good repair" - is the common law. Soap is cheap. Prepare a resume - a casual list of the good things you have to offer, if someone will only give you a hand up.

    People care - you are being prayed for - no one should suffer that loss. Great gains sometimes come from such times of challenge - USE it.

  6. Wanda Shaw

    This -"Great gains sometimes come from such times of challenge - USE it."

  7. Anonymous

    This is very sad. Please tend to whatever treatment is offered you. Your length of time in involuntary treatment indicates a serious disorder that led to your cascading negative life events (it is very hard to have someone involuntarily committed for any period of time). I hope you have been offered outplacement treatment to get to the root cause of this negative spiral.

    Churches may be able to help financially and spiritually— the financial will be a stop-gap rather than a long term solution so please follow your treatment plan and take whatever mental health support Medicaid has to offer.

  8. Anonymous

    I am really sorry you are going through all of this. You are strong and brave!! You have a story that is one that could actually happen to ANY of us. We dont realize it and forget it... Maybe this sounds crazy and I dont know where you live, but it is a human interest story. Perhaps a newspaper story to help collect support or aid for you and others in similar situation? Define what you really need and want... a safe place to stay, a job and your dog back. The rest is your past and details but the goals are your focus...

  9. Anonymous

    I respectfully disagree with you that this could happen to any of us. The OP has a serious mental health disorder that has led to involuntary hospitalization. For her to be held in a psychiatric unit for an extensive period, against her will, there is concern that she is a threat to herself or others.

    I truly wish her well, and for that to happen she will need to acknowledge her disability and comply with treatment plans.

    Really, it’s hard to have someone committed for any period of time time, much less 6 weeks or more.

    Sadly, she may not be in a good facility but short of a family member or finding a pro bono attorney to help set up a plan for her safe discharge there isn’t much she can do. This is really beyond the scope of FGB advice, unless one of us is an expert in mental health treatment law and is in her state…..

  10. Anonymous

    What state are you in? I know where I am (NJ) they have 211. You can call and they offer assistance with temporary housing, SNAP, general assistance, probably legal aI’d, etc. I’d also go in person to social services if possible rather than just doing online . I had a relative who needed help and they sat for a while in person working with the representative trying to figure out everything they were qualified for. You should qualify for free transport, or reduced. Look up public transport that provides shuttles to medical appointments. Here in NJ we have SCOOT, DIAL A RIDE, etc. Look up what is available via your county. Call up your primary physicians office and see if they have a social worker on staff. With Medicaid you should be able to see a therapist, go on the insurance app/website and look up one , you can do virtual visits. They should be able to assist you in finding additional sources of help.

    I wish you the best.

  11. Anonymous

    I am so sorry you are going through this. Contact the Legal Aid Society in your city as soon as possible. They’re staffed by paid and volunteer attorneys that provide free legal assistance. They also can help put you in touch with other organizations that can help with things such as housing.

  12. GirlBossanova934974

    Something is definitely NOT right here. All sorts of LEGAL problems. As a landlord myself, I know perfectly well I cannot evict someone without written PROOF that they were served, a court hearing was held, and an order from the local marshal was issued. Civil authorities can impound cars but they cannot confiscate them. Same goes for support animals. Suggest you get a hold of your local public defenders or legal aide group and have them petition the court. You mentioned something about Atlanta. Here is the site for Georgia's Pro Bono law group.

    https://www.gabar.org/programs/pro-bono-resource-center

  13. maria rose

    If your intent was to get sympathy for your situation, you did succeed. But where you go from telling your past story has now become a way to create a new future correcting the mistakes that caused your past situation. Don’t make or create the same lifestyle situation that caused you to voluntarily hospitalize yourself ( I am assuming for both physical and mental health reasons, since you didn’t give details. And this happened to occur right before your landlord repossessed your apartment and your named emotional support pet was taken away to the shelter—I am surprised that you didn’t bring that animal with you when you voluntarily admitted yourself to the hospital as they would have made sure that your support pet was fostered and not sent to the shelter. I certainly hope that you are still getting ongoing treatment for whatever you need to help you recover and deal with the triggers that caused your breakdown but true recovery also means efforts on your part to change your behavior reactions. And if you have Medicaid you do have coverage for assistance in getting replacement eyewear and lenses just not the fancy designer frames. But you the OP can’t blame others for holding you back from moving forward. It’s 2025 a brand new year, start it by getting yourself to a better place.

  14. Anonymous

    First, emotional support animals are not admitted in hospitals. I understand why the shelter would take it, since was basically an abandoned animal, but we don’t know the arrangements OP did if they were planning for a shorter time.

    I’ve personally have had to go to a partial hospitalization because of work situations, I don’t have any mental diagnosis, some work situations can be traumatic enough to break a person. Assuming OP caused the situation that took them there is out of touch with reality and lacks empathy.

    IDK if all of this is true or not, but I also don’t have evidence to contradict it and blame a person that is clearly trying to create a change in their life.

  15. maria rose

    I am glad that you see positive progressive thinking on the part of the OP and are still willing to give them more chances to get help, which I think they are getting already but not in the way they want to get it—remember they lost their apartment ( probably because of unpaid rent) and they voluntarily checked into the hospital ( to have a warm place and a bed and food to eat) and if that pet was an emotional support animal, most shelters today would find a temporary foster home until the OP is able to support themselves and their emotional support animal adequately. The question is whether the OP has reached that stage of making the changes needed with all the support systems in place, especially if they already had some already but ignored the required re-evaluation process that are in place to make sure those receiving the help are getting the right support as needed.

  16. Anonymous

    I am very sorry to hear about your situation. If u are in or near a metropolitan area, may I suggest posting on a local subreddit for your city?? Where I live these stories get a lot of support and information for local resources.

  17. Anonymous

    Keep in mind Jesus loves you.

  18. Anonymous

    I'm sorry to hear about all of this. If you are suffering from mental illness, would you be eligible for disability benefits? This might help you medically and financially to get back on your feet? It might be worth a local google.

  19. Mayra

    This is overwhelming. Is there a way to get assigned a case manager like from the county MHMR department? Someone that already has the leads and contacts for where you can get this and that done and monitors progress monthly

  20. Xx Sera Blvd

    One more, case managers take the heavy lifting off doing it yourself. Even if tried and feel disappointed, hang in there. This is proof that speaking up your have a swarm of women around the country wanting to see you get the success you deserve. I hope you believe it and sincerely hope the work you put in is found. Warmly, -S

  21. Anonymous

    I hate what you are going through, I really do but as already mentioned, even if you go to a hospital voluntarily, to keep you there involuntarily is nearly impossible unless something is really wrong.

    I realize you have been through issues. Does the hospital offer any counseling. You got your story out to a bunch of people on a message board. We can offer suggestions but we can't change your situation. Only you can do that.

    It has been my experience that family will help (not saying all but MOST) until they have done all they can. Prime example is my brother. I am in no way saying you are him so don't think i am accusing you of anything. My brother isn't worth the cost of the bullet to shoot him. He is a taker, never a giver or sharer. You could leave him $100 daily for him to use and he would probably say "you can't do 150?" Never grateful or thankful for anything. My parents have spent thousands upon thousands of dollars in hospitals and facilities to try and help him. He doesn't like being told what to do so he gets mad when he lives with them and they have rules.

    I have asked him before. "You don't stay with mama and papa because they tell you what to do but you will go out, live on the streets, get high and go to jail where literally everyone tells you what to do" To me the math ain't mathin!

    Last year my parents went to his tent. (He was previously in a mens house renting a room and they had him a job). He left there because he didn't think he should to pay on a room when he doesn't have a private bathroom). . He would literally rather live in a tent behind a Dollar General than work and have a room. He told my papa he was not working for $10 an hour. (He is a high school drop out with a rap sheet longer than any cvs receipt you have ever seen)

    Sometimes it is time to Poop or get off the Pot. No one can put in the work you will have to do to get out of this hole you are in. Even if a lawyer helps you, it could take years to produce any findings. Even if they are made to pay, appeals will stop that. You have to figure something out before then.

    The first thing I suggest is to stop focusing on only the bad stuff. A broken clock shows the correct time twice a day. Look for 1 good thing that you can do. If it is nothing but getting outside and taking in some fresh air. The hard truth is that if it is important to you, then you will make a way, but if it is not, you will find an excuse.

    I don't think anyone is trying to kick you while you are down but sometimes we all have to figure things out on our own. Before I ask my parents for anything (which I never do but I know the option is there because I never do), I ask myself what would I do if my parents were not alive? Could I blame my mom for not helping me if she was in heaven? No, so that means I can't blame her for not helping here.

    Good luck. If you have medicaid, take advantage of every counseling and mental assistance program you can. Find a support group. You may have to try a few before you find one you are comfortable in. My grandkids had medicaid and I know for a fact that if transportation is an issuue, GA Med will send a taxi to transport you to your appointment.

  22. Anonymous

    First Link: https://www.womenshelters.org/cit/ga-atlanta

  23. Xx Sera Blvd

    Here again, this link should be a good choice. Again a case manager in your city, state can assist you with getting in and seeking help.

  24. Anonymous

    Second Link, Mental Health Services Georgia:

    https://medicaid.georgia.gov/types-services/behavioral-health-services

  25. Anonymous

    Third Link: (Prescription Glasses): https://georgia.preventblindness.org/vouchers/

  26. Anonymous

    Fourth Link (Housing Assistance): https://www.atlantahousing.org/housing-programs/

  27. Anonymous

    Fifth Link: (Feet of Clay) : https://feetofclayatl.org/who-we-are/ and

    https://atlantava.org/ and https://nspireoutreach.org/hope-for-domestic-violence-and-nspire-outreach.html

  28. LaQuita

    I am praying that your situation will get better and you will get the assistance you need.

  29. Marcia Smith

    My heart really goes out to you. I think most people have gotten very near homelessness if they didn't experience it. In the early 200s my husband and I moved after both losing our jobs - mine after an accident at work, and we lived off of the meat that hunters brought us (we lived in a rural area of Tennessee). Have you tried to reach out to a church? They are not all the same, some are loving and helpful and others are judgmental and awful. maybe this link would provide some helpful resources https://nicholashouse.org/homeless-resources/ Sending you love and light - you got this!

  30. Anonymous

    This is entirely heartbreaking, and having worked in several high pressure, toxic workplaces, I feel that this could happen to any of us. I was let go from a position of almost 20 years in the Fall of 2024 (making mid six figures) and am trying to understand how to pivot. To put it in perspective, I have applied to fuel stations and also pet supply locations to no avail.

    I think there is a disconnect in mental health whereby there is a complete lack of care options for ordinarily high functioning people such as yourself - we are all treated as though we are off the rails without understanding causality. Please do not end your life. I have been down that road too.

  31. Xx Sera Blvd

    Wow. How can anyone who read this entire post not feel compelled to help in anyway. Hmmm. In what state are you? Have you tried to seek shelter at a women's shelter (religious organizations) and in-take would need some details. Is your hold for 72 hours? Not too sure How fairygodboss works. To protect our privacy, have you tried reaching out to case management? and seeked out any sponsors? CODA is one organization, let me know if we're able to communicate. Thanks!

  32. KLARA MURRAY

    So very sad luv was in similar situation spent 7 months straight in the hospital and it turns out they sent my doctor a letter saying I was treated as the wrong patient for 25 years getting the other persons meds put on insulin I'm not a diabetic. There was another patient with exact same name as me a d we went to the same local GP she was 35years older I can't get any solicitor to take my case on and I almost died in the hospital.

  33. Barbara Speck

    I am so sorry to hear this! I have been hospitalized as well & fired when they found out it was for psych. I am now on SSDI AKA Disability. Depending on what state you are in it can take time to get an approval or denial & it can be a tough process. I too was homeless & couch surfing for a time. I now live in a low income apartment & live in my disability benefits. I am safe & happy! Keep trying! My time of despair seems so far away now. I have also looked for work & it can be daunting. Please do not give up hope! I am praying for you!

  34. Kristine Phillips

    Try an employment agency.

  35. Anonymous

    Pray. And I will pray for you. I'm not a religious person by any stretch of the imagination but I've found speaking my troubles into the universe helps. You have a lot going on and I would focus on getting the help and using their resources. And if you can volunteer or give to someone less fortunate (I know it doesn't seem like it) you may find hope and a return from the universe.

  36. maria rose

    I suggest you re-read the post as stated by the OP and not once did the OP mention reasons why they voluntarily chose to do their actions and yet are upset that they lost their apartment and their emotional support pet. Housing issues can be addressed through many different sources as long as the individual meets the requirements and keeping the emotional support animal with the owner is also part of the available support systems. But the OP has not mentioned any past experiences except the present situation which is not what they were expecting—like someone else mentioned when you voluntarily check in to a hospital setting, if is not as easy to just walk back out unless certain conditions occur. That is what the OP meant by they are not getting what they wanted versus what they actually need to do to get better. In this case, the OP is rejecting the suggestions given and trying to find an alternative way that doesn’t mean making the changes to better themselves. Maybe you can understand it as explained by AA philosophy, change comes from within and until you reach that bottom point of your existence you will never improve. As observers of those who have needs, we can offer help and solutions but if they don’t change how they deal with living their life productively they will never be satisfied. Tough love help means knowing when to stop just giving.

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