Could someone please help me understand dhs mental health issues?

I wasn't commenting in response to anything other posters had said. Merely stressing that the OP needs to prioritise her safety. For both their sakes, actually, as if he harmed her while ill, thats a heavy burden to carry. Situations can escalate very quickly and her husband's condition appears inconsistent and unpredictable. She can support from a safe place.

I hope you’re ok, contrary to what others are saying I would run for the hills, a life with someone with considerable mental illness is a life sentence! The carer is that, with no support! After ten years it was the best thing I ever did

Ok.

I haven’t judged her at all. I’ve explained psychosis. I haven’t told her to be alone with him at all - I was actually the first to direct her to appropriate support?

please don’t put words in my mouth. Op asked me to explain her husbands symptoms. I have given her advice on how to interpret it. Others have given her safety advice and judged - not me! I even said stigma was due to a lack of understanding.

when I was using the word dangerous I was referring to the threshold for involuntary treatment or ambulance intervention.

op should first look after herself but she also wants to support her husband. if she feels she is in danger then that is an immediate ambulance and going somewhere safe. Nobody has argued with that.

Which is very easy to say when you are not alone with a man during a psychosis. OP dont liaten to anyone judging you. It's natural to go into fight or flight mode in a scary situation and usually we dont think we do. He does need help though, contact 111 and find out what is available in your area in terms of community and crisis support.

I'm not sure it matters whether the behaviour is deliberate or uncontrollable. Either way, if it's making you frightened then you do need some distance. If your husband is doing it on purpose to scare you, he could be hostile and a danger because of that. If he is so severely ill he doesn't know what he's saying and it's manifesting as hostility, that's dangerous too.
Please don't try to diagnose him. The advice should always be the same regardless. If you're scared of a man, get away from that man. Where you go from there, whether that's to support him through illness or end the relationship needs to be decided from a place of safety. Ask him to go back to the hotel and contact his health care team.

OP has recognised that she handled the situation badly and is trying to get help for her DH, and support and advice for herself so she can respond more appropriately in future (if necessary). Continuing to berate OP is not helpful to anyone.

He might be having sertraline psychosis.

Antidepressant discontinuation syndrome - Wikipedia https://share.google/4ddQsGgjPgNAcHSdq

You handled this incredible badly. I’m finding it baffling that you acknowledge he experienced a trauma trigger but you still thought he’d be ok to “get on with jobs cooking then going out to do some nice bits in town”. I can’t even begin to imagine the lack of insight you’d need to think that.

Op a hospital is where you need to get him to- don’t leave him alone when he’s having an episode just get him in the car and to the hospital

Yes it was poorly handled, the trouble is we teach cpr but not mental health first aid. So dealing with it can be scary and we react in ways which don’t help. But cant turn back time.

1. During a trauma trigger the prefrontal cortex can effectively shut off (read The Body keeps the Score” by Van der Kolk for a simple explanation on this. The prefrontal cortex governs speech and reason. This would explain his mono syllabic thought.
2. at the extreme of the fight or flight response is freeze once this breaks and it the individual can’t physically run they will often dissociate - their mind will run, sometimes a simple feeling of not being connected to the body, sometimes the apparent take over by an alter ego.

You need to be patient and learn how to create a feeling of safety and groundedness as a way of offering mental health first aid

Your son needs professional help. Please help facilitate this.

Things that can help in an immediate time of crisis

1. making people feel safe is top priority - speak calming but clearly and firmly - tell them what is happening, under no circumstances stand over them or be confrontational
2. Dont not expect them to answer questions, understand anything complex. Use the word safe a lot
3. if safe for them get them to take the attention to their breath, tell them they are getting enough air in, their body in taking care of that they need in blow more out, you can do this by counting 4 in, 5 out, 4 in 6 out etc, if to complicated get them to hold hand up and blow away
4. ground, ask them how their socks feel, soft or hard, warm or cold, snug or loose? Etc

please seek professional help

I wouldn’t try to explain anything at the moment. What he says may or may not match his behaviour or symptoms. Assessing an acute mental health episode is very difficult. This is why you need professionals.

I would say to anyone who is absolutely terrified by their partner to find a safe space, whatever the cause, even if that means leaving them alone.

No, you were frightened. It's ok, please don't beat yourself up. x

It’s ok, please don’t apologise. It’s good you raised it so people can learn. Stigma comes from a lack of understanding most of the time, not malice.

Oh sorry I didn’t know that.

I agree with previous posters that this is dissociation. I don't think it's psychosis. It is a good idea to have someone see him. It may not ever happen again

He’s more likely to hurt himself than her. Verbally, yes, he might be hurtful but this is a huge stigma psychosis sufferers face. Statistically speaking, he’s most at risk of self harm

That would have scared the life out of me. I can understand why you did what you did and now using hindsight you are trying to get him help.
I would try to get him help today. I would be worried he could hurt you during an episode

I hope he gets the help he needs soon, and that you are feeling safe.
It sounds like a frightening experience.
For both of you.
You're arranging help now for him, and that's good.

You’re getting such a hard time on here feom the usual mob. I hope you are OK

Well he’s suffering with trauma, not stupid. He knows what people will think if he starts doing this, so he’s hiding it. You’re a safe person so it’s coming out with you.
like I said - assume rational (even if maladaptive) response to trauma. Do not take it personally. Liken it to epilepsy- if he had a seizure and accidentally punched you, you would know it’s because he’s lost control of his brain. This is the same with psychosis. He is not in control of his brain. Sometimes he will be more lucid. Sometimes less.

I'm glad you have called 111 and they are taking this seriously.

You must have been really scared but hopefully the MH team will attend and assess.

Please don’t just leave the house next time (or at least phone someone first), anything could have happened. I know its frightening (been there), but you need to support your clearly ill partner. Phone 111, or 999 if he’s at risk, or putting you at risk, or take him to A&E.

Samaritans are not allowed to give advice, they can only listen and question. When there is need or appropriate we can also sign post to services that may help. We are not allowed to give our opinion as we are not professional Dr's, psychologists, psychiatrists or the such ( we'll im training in psychology but that's not allowed to impede on my listening role)