Partners living with anxiety and paranoia

Stressed_wife · ‎28-01-2016

Hello I have been seeing a Clinical Psychologist myself due to trying to cope with after Breast Cancer issues & also problems in my marriage. My husband has also been diagnosed with severe anxiety & paranoia. Being the wife of a anxious and paranoid person is extremely difficult. He thinks I am trying to rip him off, he accuses me of having contact with ex partners , having late night phone calls and messages, theses things are not happening. Through our eight years together I thought he was just being difficult and down right nasty at times. I have since learnt that because he is so paranoid that he actually believes what he says. I am trying to be there for my husband and just put up with it as I am hoping he will soon be on medication to try and help. From a partners point of view it is so so hard and takes it toll on a marriage, but my vows were through sickness and health, through the good and the bad. We are lucky to have a lot of support.

Lori · ‎28-01-2016

Hi Stressed Wife,

Welcome to the Beyondblue forums. Firstly i am so sorry to hear about the battle you had with breast cancer i could only imagine how hard that must have been for you.

Also welldone to you for speaking to a Clinical Psychologist that is great they can be so helpful in tought situations or to just have someone to talk to. It can be extremely difficult to live with someone battling those awful illnesses and you are being a great wife supporting him.

You said he will be starting medication soon ? That should help the paranoia calm down a bit, also has your partner thought about speaking to a professional also ? It could really be helpful for not only him but you aswell so that there is someone else helping him ignore those negative thoughts coming into his mind ?

You really are being an amazing wife by sticking by him and supporting him. I would suggest to him about speaking to someone aswell and see what his response is ? But please remember to look after yourself also keep talking to your Psychologist and maybe you could ask their opinions on it also ?

Take care, and keep in touch.

- Lori 🙂

Stressed_wife · ‎29-01-2016

Hi Lori , my husband is seeing a psychologist himself not a clinical one though. It was my Clinical psychologist who actually picked up on it when my husband came with me as part of my treatment ,by the way he carried on and the things he was saying. My psychologist spoke to my husbands psychologist only today and told her all his observations and his concerns for my husband, with my husbands permission of course. She actually didn't understand some of the things she was being told. She said my husband will believe what he wants to believe.

Lori · ‎29-01-2016

It's good that he is seeing one also and that your Psychologist spoke to his Psychologist. It's not good that they aren't helping too much to him or you about it all 😞

I am unsure on what advice to give you sorry. I would just keep trying your hardest to support him and to keep speaking with your Psychologist and keep trying to talk to your husband about it all.

Goodluck, Please keep in touch. Hopefully soon there will be more replies on here to help support you.

Stay strong!

- Lori 🙂