Kim Richards is refusing to get further treatment after only recently being released from a mental health facility.

Radar Online reports the onetime "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" star's downward spiral only appears to be picking up steam.

"Kim was advised that she needed to continue treatment, but ultimately decided not to stay and left," a source said of Richard's decision earlier this month to bolt from the undisclosed facility where she was being treated. "Kim's four children are absolutely heartsick about her tragic situation. She is spiraling out of control."

The 50-year-old Richards was also recently jailed on charges she attempted to steal around $600 worth of merchandise from a California Target store. After spending a night in jail, she was released on $5,000 bond. At the time of her arrest, TMZ reports she was homeless and living out of her car.

Richards entered rehab immediately following the shoplifting meltdown, but now family members are again left at a loss over her abrupt flight from the facility.

"The family just doesn't know what to do, and are afraid something horrible is going to happen to her," said a source. Reports are the loved ones now fear the only options available to her are going back to rehab, being put on some type of medical hold, or ending up hospitalized from alcohol poisoning or pill overdose.

"Kim is a ticking bomb, and her kids just hope she is in a safe place when she hits rock bottom, and will be able to recover from it," a source added.

Up until recently, Richards had been rumored to be hoping to return to "Real Housewives," but given her even more erratic behavior of late, all indications are that remote possibility has grown even more unlikely.