Supporter Wife With Ptsd Just Moved Out In A Psychotic State

[70Times7]

Toria, Thanks your inisght and concern.

I think I have have a pretty good idea what to expect from the bipolar based on my experience with my daughter (now well managed and happy after 8 years, praise God!) While I now realize that I was seeing some symptoms of PTSD in my wife for decades, it is only now that the intensity has revved up along with the psychotic also. I have gained a lot of understanding regrding the emotional space that she needs for the PTSD from this Forum, but I am conflicted about what I also know to be her need to be in daily contact with people to return to rationality from the psychotic. The distrust from the PTSD seems to feed the paranoid part of the psychosis.

I think that I have to come to terms with being patient and letting her work things out for herself. I can take care of me and pray for her, but I don't see much else that I can do other than gain perspective from the experiences of others.

 

[KP the nut]

Hi and welcome to the forum.

 

[commonsensebaby]

Wow. The flip side of the coin I am on. A few years ago, I was in a space very similar to your wife. My husband was enduring incredible trauma due to this. I was another person entirely, off my medications, running wild, contemplating divorce, and creating events to somehow justify it.

My diagnosis is C-PTSD. I was able to work through it, but it was frightening what it took and where it could have led. I know for me there was a significant triggering event which precipitated my break from reality, but that is only in hindsight. My advise is much as the advise others have given.

However, since my break, I have asked/told my husband to be very clear with me if he ever sees any of these signs again. The message I have asked him to give, repeatedly and without elaboration, is : "I love you. This is not the you that makes you happy. Let's find that person again. I am here". No shame, only love.

 

[70Times7]

CSB - That is incredibly helpful. Since she has isolated herself at what point do I try and communicate the "I love you unconditionally" message? Does she need to be completely rational or just not completely in sensory overload, for example?

 

[commonsensebaby]

CSB - That is incredibly helpful. Since she has isolated herself at what point do I try and communicate the "I love you unconditionally" message? Does she need to be completely rational or just not completely in sensory overload, for example?

Good question. I built a pretty solid wall when it came to my husband. I cannot tell you why because he certainly had done nothing at all to "cause" anything. You know, he just quietly endured a great deal. He was quiet ALOT. But he didn't go anywhere. He always responded to me when I did interact with him. He told me he was confused. He told me he was scared. He didn't just hunt me down and tell me though, it was when there was a miniscule of interaction happening.

One other thing though, one of my friends asked me if I realized what I was doing... if I needed to go to the psych hospital. That pissed me right off but it stuck with me. After that, I started to come around and my husband was just.... right there. Right there for whatever. It wasn't instant, it was still a weird ride for a long time, but it worked out.