Advice for my daughter!

I realise on re-read actually, that you mention autism, rather than aspergers? I have met people with the later (who are just people who dont relate emotions socially it would seem, or experience much emotion at all, from my recollection), but not the former. There are probably lots of elements beyond my understanding here, and it must be hard....

In fact its hard to imagine the combination. Person I knew with aspergers was very non-emotional. I guess maybe there are different presentations.

But I guess the question is, really at the core, what would the real benefit of guardianship be? Would it help her get better care, or better treatment? Would is actually acheive that better treatment (keeping in mind that mental compliance in treatment is more important than legal permission). Would their be disadvantages to it, is there anyway she could suffer because of losing control?

Shes living with you, shes getting therapy, shes taking drugs. I am not sure how happy or not she is about all that, or how forfilled she is, or where her emotions are at, what her level of functioning is, if theres an emotional dimension to her symptoms, or a brain structural abdomality - perhaps thats detail beyond this discussion and u dont really say - but is there some critical thing thats shes not doing?

She wanted to avoid incarceration, and a loss of violition, thats quite natural. But you wanted her to get some kind of help with her emotions and her actions is it? Thing is, you cant really force a process like that. It might be more helpful if you encourage some course of action?

And worth remembering, no matter how bad someone symptoms are, a person does need more than protection. I still cannot imagine being in the psych system from age 8 or 10. And shes 19 and living at home, which even if your emotionally stunted must wear a darn little thin at times. Does she ever feel she has independance or liberty? (And could she manage a tiny smidgen?) Could she do an at home study course? Even if shes not well, I hope she has some kind of sense of hope going, some desire for something good.

It still strikes me this talk of suicide, violence and escapism (drinking). There's some heavy emotional current to all this right here. People arent random, even mentally ill people, even if they seem that way to others...

I once had a freind that gently talked me, by engendering trust, into going into a mental health ward. I resented it at first, felt a bit tricked, but then later I came to see it as less forceful and appreciated that by contrast.

If your daughter is truely at risk, and you cant manage it as of the moment, u may well need some outside help, in the form of a hospital or doctor. When things are this important, it makes sense to want to find a professional or approach that both works well, and is kind and tolerant. If you really feel this is so, that she is truely at risk. I would look for such a professional.

But if you set that in motion, try to ease it over a little too, explain yourself a little, and how you feel bad about having to do that, before and after. Its a tricky thing for everyone involved, especially for the person commited, and the relationship thereof. It helps to know that someone is still on your side, even if they make such a call. You need someone on your side with any mental illness situation.

It does seem strange though that if shes taking medicine, and attenting groups, that she wouldnt be willing to participate in something to address her anger and sadness. And I think, if that were possible, for her to find a decent way of dealing with her inner volitility, outside of forcing something because of her being at risk, that would be more ideal (either now or long-term). Only you can judge which is which, but does sound a little like she is at risk :/

Ultimately you don't need guardianship for all this though?
And this current situation is nessasarily permenant, even if it a big situation. In fact, even if it were extreme enough to be called for, its still a tricky call there, because her emotions and your living arrangement/relationship are already highly entwined. Theres probably plenty of push and pull there already....