General Actions Of Sufferer Influenced By People Who Are Not There

[Mrs. T]

My husband has been admitted into the hospital for attempting suicide. These past weeks, ok months, have been really hard. H doing things that make no sense, to even himself.

Since he has been in the hospital it came out that he has been seeing three people who he knows are not there. They tell him to do things that sometimes he listens to and sometimes he doesn't. Explains why he had been acting to strange and doing things that make no sense.

They tell him I am going to divorce him for all that he puts me through. They tell him to do all kinds of things, which has left me with a big mess to clean up.

The other day I came to visit him and he said "oh I'm so happy to see you! I was JUST telling my friends that I missed you and wished you were here". Then this morning I saw a picture drawn on a small white board in his room. I said "did you see this?" He said "ya I did that". I kinda laughed and said, "oh, you must have been bored!". He said " no, they asked me to draw it". "who? The nurses?". He said, "no, my friends".

I'm scared. Has anyone experienced this or know anything about this sort of thing?

 

[Bilby]

Unfortunately not. It sounds like it might be a little more than PTSD? Has he been formally diagnosed?

 

[Mrs. T]

He has been formally diagnosed with ptsd, but this one is new. Well at least it has only just come up. He says it has been about a year. I remember him telling me about a year ago that he saw on two different occasions, a man peeking around a corner at him. When he looked for the man, he was actually not there. I am wondering if this was the beginning.

I fear this is something more then ptsd as well.

 

[Bilby]

Sorry to hear this Mrs T. I wish there was something I could say to ease your fears a little.

The main thing is that he is in hospital - this is definitely the right place for him at the moment, particularly considering his recent suicide attempt. That must have been awful for you :(

I am sure that I have read that sometimes, sufferers of PTSD create 'other' versions of themselves - I think like a kind of coping mechanism (I'd have to do some hunting around, I'm not quite certain on specifics here), but I'm not aware of the hallucination side of things, as you have mentioned, where he is actually seeing other people.

I hope that his doctor at the hospital can shed some light on this for you both.

B x

 

[Mrs. T]

Thank you. I hope someone can shed some light on this for me.

Today, H tried committing suicide again after finding out that one of his friends is not real. This friend who is not real used to work at an auto shop in town as a mechanic. He used to fix our car. One time he fixed our car at his home. H met the guy's daughter who played in our car. We have been paying this imaginary friend to fix our car. Often, when the guy would work on the car, H had to stay and help. Maybe H did the work? somethings are still not adding up. This all gets worse by the day.

So thankful he it's safe in the hospital and getting help. He was moved to a new hospital today. He has been talking about escaping the hospital to come home. I made him promise he wouldn't. Hope that promise holds. Worried.

 

[Bilby]

It sounds like he's just full of turmoil right now. I am so sorry to hear this - and right now, at Christmas, too. It must be so hard on you both.

Have his doctor/s spoken with you/told you anything at all? Is he on any medication etc?

:hug:

B x

 

[Mrs. T]

The hardest part about the fact that it's christmas is that we have kids. I'm trying to keep life as normal as possible for their sake.

His doctors haven't told me anything. I am going to call tomorrow and ask questions. He just got moved to a hospital over an hr away. He is on a lot of drugs which stop the voices and keep his "friends" away. They also help with anxiety so he has stopped shaking and twitching for the most part. Now he can at least rest, even though he doesn't even sound like himself when he talks cause he's so drugged.

Thanks for caring :)

 

[Bilby]

That would be incredibly hard :(

I would definitely be asking questions - you really need to know what is going on so you know how to best support him, and also how to best look after yourself and your children. This is crucial.

B x

 

[amethist]

Hang in there Mrs T, and let them know he has said that he will escape home if he gets the chance.

Have to agree with Bilby, that you really need to know as much as possible, for all of your sakes.

 

[safenow]

Mrs T., I am so glad he is inpatient. His voices might be a condition known as schizophrenia (not sure of spelling). There are meds that can help him with that condition. Be sure to talk to his doctor and that way you can get help on how to help without getting in trouble yourself.

I'm glad he is getting the right help. Perhaps by Christmas, you will be able to have your children visit him and he'll be well enough to seem like himself.

Im so sorry you are having this issue. Dealing with mental issues can be very stressful for those who love us. I have one friend who've been my friend for over 20 years. There are times they have to step back and not be around me. My PTSD is very strong, and when i'm triggered she doesn't know what to do to help. Not many doctors even know what to do since I'm a rare case. But you need to know, there is help and hope.

YOu will find lots of wonderful people here. Let us know how it goes for you both.
safenow

 

[Mrs. T]

Thanks everyone. I found this website http://ptsd.about.com/od/relatedconditions/a/Psychosis.htm. It has some good information on it about the connection between ptsd and psychosis. I did wonder about schizophrenia and H told me today that they also think he may have schizophrenia. This may also explain the phantom smells he has experienced over the year. This website also mentions that the development of psychosis may be connected to severe dissociation in someone with ptsd.

I have told them he has been talking about leaving. Last night he told me he was trying hard to get better. He seemed happy there and seemed to have hope. He also wants to call his mom to get some answers about his past. First time in about six years that he has wanted to learn about his past.

 

[Toria]

Oh Mrs T I am so sorry to read about the two attempts.

I know that my Husband sees people that are not there - he sees people that are from wars. Whether they are people that he has actually seen in real life or recreations of people that look like they are from those countries I do not know. I did write a little bit about it in my diary - I will have a look and post a link if you think it would help, but I do agree with Bilby it does sound like PTSD + something else and I am glad that you have found further information that might help.

I hope that the doctors can give you some more information today and that the treatment helps soon. Thinking of you x