Should I be worried about my husband - early signs of schizophrenia

hey there @Worriedwifey welcome to the forums!

recognising those alarm bells sounds pretty overwhelming for both your husband and you - i'm really glad to hear that he's able to talk to you about it openly, it's good that he has you to lean on. it can be tricky to say anything for sure, sometimes those signs can be related to stress, trauma, flashbacks, poor sleep, mental illness, etc. i like that you've approached it with curiosity, i think keeping an open mind is great! have you spoken to your husband about what you think? perhaps encouraging him to chat with a GP/therapist would be a good start too? i know you mentioned he isn't open to it, so perhaps exploring why he doesn't want to talk to someone about it? talking it out earlier can be helpful in reducing the severity of symptoms, and they might be able to provide some coping tools too.

here are some resources to check out that might be helpful in learning more about schizophrenia:

• Schizophrenia Fact Sheet
• Schizophrenia Guide
• Understanding Schizophrenia: Symptoms, Myths and Treatment - The SANE Blog

hope that helps you get started, let us know how you go 💙

@Worriedwifey I am really glad you were able to have extended family contact which is important for family cohesion. I am glad your husband felt comfortable talking about things. It would make sense and be natural that memories and dreams would arise, and many people have experienced the lack of certainty about those in between states. I am glad you reiterated that nothing serious happened.

I also had family history of so called schizophrenia (both parents). It is a fearsome label. Often associated with inadequate work, perception and parenting skills. I grew up with the fear and likelihood I would get it. It didn’t happen. I am old and well researched in the matter. I know the stats.

It sounds as if you have a loving caring relationship. Hold firm to that, and hopefully your husband will work through his own trauma and put things in perspective. I guess reasonable boundaries and some talking through things will help.

There can be a problem if family pathologise one member rather than face life issues openly and transparently. Many people question the biomedical model of schizophrenia and I would caution against hasty conclusions. Early intervention can be tricky as to whether it would help or alienate trust. A family therapist once cautioned me about self fulfilling prophecies. I have had a difficult time managing my anxieties about it all. Looking through things through a developmental and/or a trauma lens can be helpful. What is fair and reasonable etc. its not easy. Do your due diligence, reach out as needed, but try and manage your anxiety. I am happy to talk, if you tag me. Yes as a mum, it can be hard cos then we will also worry about the so called genetics and the children. He might be a sensitive creative soul. I also married a man with a diagnosis of schizophrenia. He had a few hospitalisations before our marriage but none since. It didn’t work out as a marriage but he managed his life with out medication.