Andrew Belonsky: So, Jeremy, what happened? How did you end up at the Eating Disorder Institute?
Jeremy Gillitzer: About two weeks ago two social workers came to my apartment. Apparently they were called by my aunt's boyfriend. He saw the article in City Pages that said I needed help. I planned on going myself a few days later, but then after than these two social workers came and said they wanted to talk to me. I said I planned on going in a few days. Meanwhile, one of them left the room - she's a good actor. She looked at her phone and said her daughter - she had to call her daughter back. The next thing you know the city police are coming in and they're taking me away to the hospital.
Jack Jett: Then there was some sort of trial? You said that you didn’t want to be there?
JG: There were two trials. The first thing they did was put me on a medical hold because I was so unstable, then they took me to ICU and put me on a 72 hour medical hold. On the 21st of November I had preliminary trial and then on they 28th they issued a stay of commitment, which is sort of like a probation. If I don’t do well here in the hospital they will commit me to a state hospital.
AB: A judge said that you had to be in there?
JG: Yeah.
AB: How do you feel about that?
JG: I don't want to and I don't feel how they did it was very dignified or right. I wanted to do it on my own and I think it probably would have been more effective had I done it on my own. I just don't think someone else should decide when and if and how I'm brought to treatment.
AB: You say you were going to go…
JG: Right. I was going to come in [on Friday, November 23].
AB: Why Friday?
JG: Because it was the day after Thanksgiving and I wanted to spend Thanksgiving with my family. I feel that there's some stuff I needed to take care of, which isn't being taken care of now. I really isolated myself and there's no one to take care of my stuff.
AB: Do you feel like - are you thankful that they came and took you, though?
JG: No, not at all. I'm not at that point. I don't know if that will ever happen, because I had this experience many years ago where I was taken to many places against my will, although I was an adolescent. It's just not going well. I've pretty much cried everyday since I've been here, because I've been so upset about being here and this whole situation.
AB: What do the nurses say to you about being upset?
JG: Well, they try to get me to take certain medications. They're talking to me. They're okay - some of them. Some of them are downright mean. I don't know. It's just difficult to be here. I'm so despondent everyday. I've not been caring if I lived or died and that hasn't gotten any better.
AB: Were you given a lawyer?
JG: I was given a lawyer. I'm not crazy about him. As a matter of fact, I asked to switch attorneys. He said he would talk to the person who assigns attorneys tomorrow.
AB: Why are you not happy with him?
JG: Just because he's tried to talk me out of asking for certain things. At the last hearing I asked if I could go home. He said not to do that, because the hospital might ask for a full commitment. I don't know what the full commitment is, but apparently it's worse. He's supposed to represent my rights.
AB: Well, maybe he's right. Maybe it's the best thing not to ask for it.
JG: I don't know.
AB: What is it: a "Stay of Commitment"? How did they explain that to you?
JG: It's hard for me to explain. It means I'm not committed if I follow all these rules. My court papers say, "Volunteer remains here until medically stable and follows all instructions of the doctor and treatment team, take all prescribed medications, cooperate with after care planning, follow all recommendations of the team."
AB: So, you are, legally speaking, voluntarily in that situation?
JG: Right, but say I just left, then they would take me to court to get a full commitment, is what I'm understanding… It's really not volunteer.
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Jossip Initiatives
I used to work in crisis intervention, and the quick answer (to one of your questions) is that, in general, a state has the right to interfere when a life is in imminent danger (potential homicide or suicide). The laws vary on a state-by-state basis. The standard model is that a crisis worker will get an ex-parte order from a judge, who will allow a person to be held involuntarily for x number of hours (24-72). Within that period a shrink will need to certify that a person is an imminent threat to themselves or others, after which they can be held longer.
A lot of new judges are initially reluctant to grant forced mental health admits. The first death tends to change their minds.
Jeremy, if you happen to read this, as someone who has had eating disorders in my life, I know it is hard to break the cycle it feels like you are losing control, but as time moves on you come to realize that you are really regaining control. You are in my thoughts and prayers. Stay Beautiful
Don't wring your pretty little hands, Queerty. You can have your ideological cake and eat it too (though the cliche may be particuarly inappropriate in this case and I regret using it). You can still fervently uphold an individual's right to make his or her own life/death decisions, but only if they can do so rationally. I'm totally not a doctor, but I would suspect that Jeremy's eating disorders may have altered his body chemicals and had a psychological impact that could impair his reason. So in this case, I would say the state is justified in using its protective powers.
And I echo jasonmcdowell, and will keep Jeremy in my thoughts. This is a terrible thing.
This is a sad story but an important one. Best of luck to Jeremy. His battle is hard but he seems to have the strength to deal with it. Talking about it so openly is a huge step.
You are in our thoughts….Miami
Wouldn't anybody listen to Jeremy? He said he was going to check himself in right after Thanksgiving. Everything was totally under control, right? He just needed to get some things taken care of before he checked himself in, right? Probably pay off some bills, try to cancel his AOL, etc. And let's not forget Thanksgiving. Sounds like a bunch of empty excuses from a very sweet guy with a very serious problem. Not to be nasty, but you were never going to check yourself in. Instead of spending your time at the hospital thinking about how you can get get a new lawyer; try utilizing the help your state is offering and focus on getting better.
It is terrible, but obviously there is a lot going on with him inside. He needs therapy and a better attitude.
If anorexia is a scream for attention, aren't you enabling him by posting this?
thanks to andrew for posting this and to all of you who supported me
jeremy gillitzer
jeremy, we talked today for a minute over the phone. you did sound better than the other day. i think of you alot, especially since i have an eating disorder too. its not easy to deal with this disease from day to day. i can honestly say i know how you feel. i pray that you will get better and become happy again. talk soon my friend. :)
donnie
I saw him recently biking downtown. He still looks like death warmed over.
Hope he gets better.
Hi Jeremy. I've just read about you in a italian magazine. So i decided to search u in the web and i'm here. i tell u that i know what means bulimia or anorexia, cause i'm destroying all the mechanism tha caused these problems. I win on them but not yet on the psicological deviations. So… i hope u will get better with yourself, and i hope i will do the same, life is one, life is our.. if u want, i'm here:
http://www.leonorucha.splinder.com