Is there something wrong with him or is he taking the mick?

[Worried79]

Firstly, apologies for name change but I have a friend who uses mn who knows my usual username.

I'm posting about my husband, he has started acting strange and I'm not sure if there is something wrong or if he's just trying to wind me up.

About a month ago he started becoming obsessed with windows and doors being closed. His excuse would always be that he didn't want flies coming in but he's never been like that before.

Then there was loads of other wierd behaviour like him getting up in the middle of the night and sneaking around the house. I actually started to think he was having an affair.

The he started celotaping money to things, like 2p would be celotaped to the computer desk or £1 would be celotaped to the wooden floor. Everytime I asked what was going on he just laughed and made out he was trying to wind me up.

Then last week we were sat watching TV and he asked if I ever watched "The Borrowers" when I was a child. I told him I didn't and he said "oh, I was just going to ask what you'd think if you saw loads of little people running around the house". I just laughed and said I'd catch them and sell them on ebay and he laughed really awkwardly and said "its ok, she didn't mean it" at this point I told him to stop acting stupid and he said sorry but then said "no really, how would you react? would you be scared?". I told him to stop going on about stupid stuff and that was that.

About an hour later he said he was coming upstairs to check his email. I followed him up about 5 minutes later with some of DDs clothes to put away and heard DH whispering in our room saying stuff like "I don't know what she'd do, I don't think it's safe yet". So I went in and said "for gods sake, don't you think you're taking it a bit far?" and he jumped up and looked around him quickly and then said "thank god for that" under his breathe as if something had hidden before I went in.

I told him I no longer found the joke funny and that it was freaking me out and I wanted him to stop it. He hasn't mentioned it since but has continued with the windows and doors and celotaping stuff and wandering around the house at night.

I'm actually really worried that there is something wrong with him. He's 37, not stressed as far as I know, no history of acting strange. Is he simply taking the piss?

[MinkyBorage]

doesn't sound like he's taking the piss tbh, but no experience ogf anything like this myself. Be inclined to take him seriously. He sounds delusional. Hopefully someone with some advice will come along soon.

[Alambil]

I think I'd try to get him to a doctor, tbh - it sounds too developed for a wind up?

[TheArmadillo]

IF this is serious I would get him to a dr asap as he seems to be delusional.

Are you sure it's not a joke or a game he's playing with your dc?

[forevercleaning]

have you posted this on another thread, i'm sure i have responded, but cant see it?!

[lucyellensmum]

Why would he wind you up? I would be worried, i would get him to go to the doctor. Do you have the same GP? Go on your own, explain to him whats been going on - really, please.

[ObsidianBlackbirdMcNight]

Sounds as though he might well be having delusions. Only you know if it's the sort of thing he would do as a joke but if so it's very odd in itself. I'm not sure what to suggest...

[Divastrop]

it seems like a very long time to carry on a wind-up.

[goingslowlymad]

Oh my goodness NDTH, I KNOW this isn't a funny thread but c) has me pissing myself.

OP all I can suggest is you let him know he can talk to you.

[columbolover]

Without knowing your dh and whether he tends to be the kind of person who does take the mickey in a strange way, he sounds unwell.

How old is your dh?

Has he done anything like this before?

Drugs / drink a problem recently - only ask as drugs particularly can cause delusions

Has he been under any stress lately? Is his mood changeable, aggressive? Stress can cause delusions and hallucinations.

If he is talking to himself he may be hearing voices and he is talking back to them. The voices may be telling him to behave in the way he is.

Can you sit him down and ask him (gently) why he is sellotaping money to things and if he is hearing voices?

You should definitley speak to his GP as soon as possible - if he is unwell he needs treated early to have best outcome.

[Yurtgirl]

Gosh worried this would freak me out!
Have you up until this point had a good relationship?

He sounds delusional to me. Why not sit him down and ask him whats going on. I would insist he sees a doctor asap

Hope he gets some help soon

[izyboy]

I do have experience of watching someone disintegrate into paranoid schizophrenia. They had never suffered from it before and it occured when the person was in middle age.

I dont want to worry you, but my gut feeling is that you really must take this seriously. Visual hallucinations are unusual, however he obviously has some awareness that what is happening is odd, hence questioning you etc.

Get you DH to the GP immediately. Or even call out the emergency GP, a mental health assessment is needed. Do not let the situation degenerate, if he has to take medication it will be more effective if taken early on in his illness. You have my greatest empathy.

[Alexa808]

Is this what English humour is about? Because as far as I'm concerned I don't think it's funny. Not in the slightest. In fact I find it creepy and would have called the white clad men with the nice tight jacket...

How about a little spy cam to let you know what's going on in your house when you're not there. God knows what he's up to when you're not around.

[thumbwitch]

Perhaps you could try to "humour" him to see how far it goes - ask him about the little people, get more details on what he thinks he sees and then you might be in a better position to decide on the intervention route - although I agree with the general consensus that he needs some form of medical assessment.
He isn't into any form of recreational substance, is he?
Good luck

[slim22]

I have witnessed the same as Izyboy (with one of my best friends), and also strongly recommend prompt action.

I think he is dropping hints to see how you would react if he told you the full extent of his "visions" "voices" he hears etc....
He is testing the water and YOU SHOULD NOT MOCK HIM.

Please consider the fact that he is probably in a very scary place when he is lucid about his odd behavior and he knows you are noticing something is going on .

I know how scary it is for you to watch this happening in your own home but with prompt treatment he (and you) should learn to recognise the signs. Remember this is much more frightening for him and he needs your support. Listen and sympathise. If it is delusional behaviour the last you want is breach his trust by mocking him. It will backfire as he will only become more secretive.

Don't want to scare you, but really do get medical help. If he shrugs off the suggestion call your family Dr and describe his behavior.

sending you lots of hugs

[Weegiemum]

I really dont want to scare you. Have actually been wondering whether to post.

But DH (who is GP with special interest in psychiatry) says you need to get him seen. Now. If he won't go tot he doc then you need to go yoursef and explain the issues. The GP should then arrange a visit from the Community Psychiatric Nurse to assess, or, if it is worse than that, from the Crisis Psych Team.

It might be (because it often/normally ends up that way) that you poor, ill dh would need to be taken into hospital if he wont accept he is ill - and that could mean that he would need to be sectioned (taken in against his will with the say so of doctors/social workers/the police working together).

If someone is psychotic they are unpredictable and you need to ge help for him asap - and if not, you need to make sure that you and any kids are safe. You don't want to be in a house with an unstable psychotic - because, seriously, anything could happen.

Please get help first thing int he morning. With the GP, refuse to get off the phone, insist on speaking to a doctor as soon as you can. tell the receptionist it is a psychiatric EMERGENCY! If you feel you can't wait, call the on-call service, though it wont be as good at dealing with your dh.

Thinking of you. All the best and I hope he can be helped soon. A third of people who haev a psychotic episode never have another, so hopefully that will be your dh's situation

[slim22]

Gosh, did not want to start talking about sectioning, but yes, that's what would happen eventually if he is not treated ASAP.

you have to go through this, but everything will be ok once he gets the right treatment. Taken early, this is manageable.

[slim22]

PS if you post on the mental health thread you get some feedback from mners who've actually had such episodes.

I received a lot of useful info and support when I was trying to figure out what was going on in my friends' mind.
( she was eventually diagnosed bipolar with heavy manic episode)

[bloss]

Message withdrawn

[slim22]

How are you doing today?
Any close family/friends that can come round and help you assess the situation?
Please don't try and tackle this on your own. YOU will need support too. Lots of it.
It's not an easy thing to come to terms with.

thinking of you.

[izyboy]

If you can, let us know how you are today. I let my partner look at your thread. He is a professional in the mental health field and also considered that the situation appeared serious.

[Weegiemum]

Are you OK? WOndered if you had managed to talk to anyone about your husband? Hope that you are all alright?

[Weegiemum]

Just wondered how you are doing worried? Have things changed at all?

[slim22]

thinking of you