Major problem here only serious people!?

my close cousin came back from iraq about 2 years ago and came back with a mental disorder, i forget what its called but it brings on bad effects on his life. things in his head telling him to do stuff or stuff that arent there. Last week he almost could've killed himself. he slit both his wrist and walkd and walked outside naked. somebody called the cops and they took him to the hospital. this is things in his head telling him to do stuff he doesnt know. its been over 2 years now and its still been like this. my aunty wrote a letter to the state but havent gotten that reply yet, im just so worried about him. the hospital will let him out but we are just worried about leaving him home by himself again. he is only 23 years old. any other advice than notifying the state? if the veterans help, but the state doesnt. please serious people only!

another thing this happened more than once already.

I've worked with a lot of vets, and this does not sound like regular PTSD. If he hears voices as if they are outside of his head, that's a symptom of schizophrenia. If the voices come from inside him, he may be dissociative. Either way, he's a vet and the VA has resources to help him. Get him to the VA as soon as possible. Tell someone there what he's doing and how he is acting.
All of the possibilities I've mentioned are treatable - he can get a lot better with the right help.

He has post traumatic stress disorder plus suicidal tendencies, I think you need to get professional help for him asap. Don't leave him alone and if he is suicidal, he shouldn't be let out of hospital...

He probably has PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder). They're giving veterans risperdal in low doses to help this and there's a new old medicine that might help nightmares .I have to look it up..I'll edit and tell you so be sure and check back. It was formerly used for high blood pressure but they recently did studies and found it takes away the memory of nightmares.(not the nightmares themselves...but you don't remember them) Sounds like he's also got schizophrenia...I don't know. He needs to be told not to do what the voices say to do. The government should be helping him. Keep pushing the govt. till it really helps him. Google "medical help for veterans " on here and see what you can find out..in the way of help and new medicines etc. Good Luck.
EDIT...That medicine is called Prazosin. You can google it and find out more. Ask the dr. if he knows about it...mine didn't..

he needs help now!! do not delay..take him to a mental health clinic...or try to get a referal from a doctor..asap! he will need an evalution maybe will be admitted to a mental health hospital for awhile

i feel so sorry for you, theres nothing worser than standing by and watching someone you love self-desruct, hang in there and give him all the support you can..try locating your states veterans home/hospital..pyschritrist, or even your local politican......its no reason a healthy fit mentally stable 23 y.o. man to return after serving his country this way....its so sad! really research theres help out there...community services, organizations...............good luck!

This problem is with the whole mental health system and not just the VA. I had the same issue with my husband and I have heard this story hundreds of times. I don't know of a permanent solution; but here is how I made it through two years until my husband got ECT and went into remission.

1) Know your local cops. Some will understand and some won't. Don't bother trying to change the minds of the ones who won't listen - you will just lose your mind. If they decide to 51-50 or 52-50 your cousin - ask them to stay with him until he is actually fully CHECKED IN to the hospital. This will avoid him putting on 15 minutes of sanity at the ER and getting released that night.

2) Don't be afraid or embarrassed to take him back. The hospital will be more hesitant to release him if they know you will bring him back when he acts up on the car ride home. This may take half a dozen times before it works.

3) DON'T let him live alone if you can possibly avoid it.

4) The truth is, he will probably only get as much treatment as HE thinks he needs. The mental health system is not set up to make advocating easy for relatives. This is NOT YOUR FAULT.

5) Whoever ends up being his primary caregiver needs to be in therapy too. Have at least two secondary caregivers if you can so that they can get a rest when they need it.

6) Know the rules for your insurance. Before you call to work out your problem, call and ask the question hypothetically. Then hang up and call back to deal with the actual issue. If you get a bad representative, hang up and call back. Do this until you get someone who will listen.

7) His doctor CAN'T tell you about his condition without his consent, but that doesn't mean that he can't listen to what you have to say. If the doctor resists this - get another doctor.

8) Take pictures of his house, or his injuries. If you can, tape record scary things that he says. If he is ranting and needs to be admitted, but calms down when the EMT's arrive - call 911 on the phone and then just leave it off the hook so that the EMS can hear what is going on. Call earlier rather than later - if he has cut, burned, scratched, pulled his hair, refused to eat etc - call right away. If he has threatened someone, call right away. You do not need to wait until his life is in danger to call.

9) You are not alone. There are millions of us out there with loved ones cycling through the rotating doors of the mental health system. Find some. Call NAMI, talk to the other families you come in contact with, and share your story with those who do not know. The more people who know about this; the sooner we will successfully demand change.

If you have a more specific question; or if you just need to rant. Feel free to send it in my direction.

God Bless and may the road get easier from here.