PRICILLACasual Contributor
MY WORLD HAS CRASHED
Hi, I am new to this group and advised yesterday this might be a place that could help me.
My husband was diagnosed on Monday with Paranoid Schizophrenia. For 5 years I have seen a decline in him and his thoughts with continued stories of people following him, him being filmed in every location he goes to the point he quite his job in Real Estate after 25yrs (2014) because he believed he was being set up by "a third party".
Fast Forward to today, having been employed for no more than 6 weeks in 3 jobs in 4 years because each time he believes the employers have been "inflatrated" and are part of the big scheme. For 3 years he has accused me of having affairs, he used to follow me, have me followed (all of which I was not aware of at the time) and since I found out what he was doing he stopped. He also accusses me of being part of the Scheme, team, army, third party who are out to get him and continously says there are cameras in the house, the house is bugged and his phone is also bugged.
When he first started saying these things, they sent him to a pychologist - he ended up seeing 3 different ones over 3 yrs all of which he ceased going to because he believe they were also part of the scheme, part of the set up.
He finally got a great job in Aug this year, company car, phone, etc etc and after 6 weeks, the same story, they are having him filmed and followed. What makes matters worse is that he does not speak to anyone about he just take action and began emailing and texting his new bosses/peers telling them he was going to the police to report them, asked them to sign a doc he had typed up declaring they were not part of the scheme etc etc. The fact that I don't believe his stories has created so many arguements between us because I say I don't believe its happening and is automatic response is to accuse me of being part of it.
On Monday he was placed on antipsychotic which, to his credit is taking reluctantly because he believes there is nothing wrong with him but says he will take it because I think there is something wrong with him.
The reality of this has crashed my world this week - I have 3 kids, a mortgage, bills, etc etc and a husband now who is completely incapable of holding down a job - he appears to be uneffected by the consequences of his actions and how they will effect us and when I tell him, he says, don't worry, just stick with me and we will get compensation from who ever has done this to us for 5 years. I know nobody has done anything.
I feel broken, I feel VERY angry and furious at him and I have yelled and screamed thinking something would snap back in his head and now am absolutely devastated with the realisation that it is not going to snap back in his head.
I guess, I just need to know how people cope - fight or flight seems to be my only option and my fear is if I leave him, he will not cope and do something unthinkable and I cannot live with that guilt.
My other question is, can anyone tell me if the medication will fix him - the pychiatrist believes that he will improve but I feel so low in a dark space that I cannot see any light particularly given that he is consciously pursuing his current employer with letters and "trying to make his position very clear" as he puts it.
I just need some hope - I have read some of the forums on hear and carers statements and this has made everything I thought but did not want to believe very real. I do feel like my real husband had dies and someone I have no clue about has entered his body and I just don't know how to cope with it or handle it to make it better.
Many thanks in anticipation for any info or light that can be shed.... 😞
