"It's not right what's happened to me"

I am a carer for my mother and sister who both suffer from severe mental health problems. I moved from the USA, first living with my mom then with my sister after she experienced difficulties with coping with that arrangement.

My sister experienced an inordinate amount of life challenges after I moved in with her and became very difficult for me to help. I, eventually and unfortunately, suffered a series of Acute Stress Reactions after the entire situation became more than I could handle on my own. Throughout all that, though, I became increasingly dismayed at how I was treated by the NHS system. I was sectioned twice...despite the fact that I posed no threat to anyone and only needed time and space away from the stressful situation I found myself.

The first time I was sectioned under 136 to Mansfield. Without going through the whole affair in detail I was ultimately released that very same night after they determined that I had suffered from an acute stress reaction and didn't need to be there. The doctors were so insistent on my not needing to be there that they paid for a taxi to take me back to home.

The next day, I ended up in A&E after another episode caused by my families insistence that I shouldn't have been released from Mansfield. They threatened to have me sectioned again and so I went to A&E to see a psychiatrist who ultimately came up with to the same conclusion about the episode that I had experienced that day...acute stress reaction. I explained that I was unable to sleep due to my caring responsibilities and was given sleeping tablets so I could finally rest properly.

The very next day I ended up Highbury under a Section 2 despite me being told that I would be going to Haven House for respite. Even once I realized where I was coming out of the ambulance they transported me in, I didn't freak because I'd taken my mom to appointments there before. I was asked to just come inside to see a psychiatrist so they could evaluate me before going to Haven House. I was not told I could be there a minimum of 28 days....or anything else as to why is been taken there until AFTER I'd come inside and the doors were locked behind me.

I had many issues during my stay there but ultimately was discharged within 1 week after I disputed my section and contacted a solicitor. It's not right what's happened to me and it's not right that these kinds of situations happen all the time.