DH working in a paranoid schizophrenics house

[jammidodger1]

I've name changed for this as could potentially be outing.

My DH works in a trade and went to complete a quote for somebody for a large job in their house. They accepted quote and DH started the work 2 weeks ago.

When he came home from completing the quote, we were chatting about his work as I'm now 38 weeks pregnant and this job is expected to take 4 weeks to complete and DH said that there were Nazi flags and symbols all over the house, posters and books on Hitler and the satanic symbol hanging in places. (Also, DH did tell customer that I was due right about when the job was expected to end but he might have to take a week or two out if baby is born a bit early which was fine).

DH came home yesterday to tell me that he was chatting to the customers wife and she told him that he is a paranoid schizophrenic who doesn't like to take his medication.

DH told me last night and then today he came home and said that he was in today whilst DH was working and was following him around watching him work from the door and DH had to do something in their bedroom and there is 2 axes by the side of the bed on the floor.

Am I being unfair to feel a bit uneasy about all of this?

I actually have an uncle who has schizophrenia and he is very unpredictable. He lives in a secure unit because of this.

I'm coming to this thread late, but I'm pretty shocked by it.

Glad to see people objecting to the idea that having a diagnosis of PS is itself worrying for others.

But the thing REALLY worrying me is everyone's judgment about the "won't take his medication" thing. I understand that the psychiatric establishments use terms like "medication non-compliant", and so on. There's increasing understanding, though, that these medications are often seriously, seriously problematic. The idea that we might demand someone take them to take part in society is frankly horrific. They don't do much, if anything, to "correct" the underlying problems. They essentially just dumb people down. They can have the most horrendous side effects. Their use is being scaled right back in some places (e.g., Norway).

Please, look into this before judging someone for not wanting to take "antipsychotics" (even this term has some serious problems).

In case this is of relevance, I'm saying this as someone with both professional expertise and close family experience.

Me too.

I am holding forth nonetheless am I? Watch out, the MN sentence police might come after you at some point with that one... pot, kettle, black and all that.

I think you are probably clutching a little by concluding that those two things are (1) correct and (2) the only thing that forms my opinion.

Very curious btw to hear all the qualifications that make you entitled to hold yourself forth (😂) on this thread.

I've worked with clients with MH issues for 16 years, and the presence of weapons easily accessible and knowing that a client is off their meds would concern me.

If he was a client of the service I work for, he would probably be "no home visits" or two workers to attend if a home visit was essential.

The Nazi paraphernalia is sickening, but plenty of people without MH issues are into that shite.

I think this thread is made up. Nazi’s, axes and a wife confiding in your DH about her husband’s medication. Throw in a heavily pregnant wife and a wholesome builder and you have a horror movie plot.

I've just seen the replies to these, I haven't been back as I posted this on Tuesday and the earliest response was this morning.

I can assure you that this is real and I'm a long term user who has changed username for the post @Srin, Mumsnet will confirm that.

To anyone that I have offended, I am sorry. I did not mean any harm by creating this thread. My Uncle is classed as a "paranoid schizophrenic" and that is the term used for him medically so I have never seen it as derogatory. I am in no way, shape or form saying that people with schizophrenia are dangerous, violent, scary, murderers etc. I was just giving the facts of THESE circumstances.

My DH is used to seeing all kinds of stuff in homes, he's worked across this region of the country in all different homes/buildings etc and for footballers, normal every day people like us, a Saudi Prince etc etc. His friend who is also in a trade, recommended my DH to do the work for him after he completed a job there.

DH has spoke to friend who carried out work there who did see the satanic symbols and nazi memorabilia but the man was never at home when he was there so he only met him a couple of times briefly and did not know that he has schizophrenia for which he refuses to take medication for.

To the poster who told me that I'm not DH's Mother, I'm fully aware of that. I am allowed to be concerned for my Husband's safety though or is that reserved for Mothers only?

Thankfully, DH won't be working on his own there from tomorrow as another trade is coming in to start some more work so at least I'll be able to relax a bit.

I have to reply directly to you @SquashAndPineapple on this one. Please don't comment on this thread making out that I am linking mental health conditions with being evil. Absolutely no way. For 30 years, I have adored my Uncle who is a paranoid schizophrenic, I remember him bringing crayons and magazines and tickling our tummies until we were red from laughing. I remember him singing Christmas songs and helping us build Lego on Christmas Day. I also remember my Mum getting the call from the mental health team to say he's been arrested for being a danger to public in a shopping centre. He is now in a secure unit and may well be until he dies and once a month, I visit and we chat and joke and I leave him with a cuddle. I love him but he IS a paranoid schizophrenic and that is the bottom line. It would not be safe for me to spend a prolonged amount of time on my own with him, regardless of how he loves me and how I love him, especially in medicated.

Why bring up somebody being gay or black? There is no correlation whatsoever.

I am the last person to preach to about mental heath issues. I have suffered terrible depression and anxiety since I was a child and have been medicated since 13 for it.

Especially unmedicated*

Ok. I suffer with Schizoaffective Disorder (Bipolar type) which is like a mixture of psychosis with a mood disorder- it's similar to schizophrenia & bipolar mixed together.

I also am really struggling with paranoia at present despite taking my anti psychotic medication.

Taking high doses of meds does not mean you don't get 'breakthrough symptoms' of psychosis at times of stress for example.

But - the main difference between me & the man in this thread title is that no-one except a select few people ever know about my illness, for example I work part time with the public who don't know about my illness.. and I have friends & colleagues who think I have a bit of anxiety & depression but have no idea of my real diagnosis... and I've had workmen in my house including one with a child who also had no idea about my illness!

I personally would not choose to work in that man's home- not because he's unmedicated (I've met plenty of unmedicated people) but he's a Nazi and I hate Nazis end of.

I've actually thought recently about telling my colleagues about my real diagnosis as I have been really struggling at work with being on such high doses of medication making me 'slower' at my job than them but thanks to this thread I'm reallly really glad that I didn't!!!

Sorry OP aside from anything else, are you really comfortable with the fact your partner is happy to take money from someone who is a nazi admirer?!

Erm not sure this is fair!! Being gay or black doesn’t mean you’re mentally unwell. Being a paranoid schizophrenic may mean you’re likely to act irrationally and harm someone and with weapons available this could easily happen!

How is being gay or black the same as being schizophrenic?!

I find your thread title particularly offensive in fact @jammidodger1

@ArianahX I'm sorry about your diagnosis and your current struggles with your illness. For what it's worth, in my work place, none of us would judge or do anything other than offer support to you if you were our colleague, maybe I'm just lucky to work with good people. I'm sorry that you feel that way from this thread. I was trying to explain that he is diagnosed as a "paranoid schizophrenic" who refuses his medication PLUS holds weapons in his home PLUS has a lot of disturbing "decor" around. It's the combination of all 3. I won't repeat again what I've already explained about my uncle but I know that some people with paranoid schizophrenia CAN be violent, I've witnessed it first hand within my family.

@jammidodger1 you are lucky to work with good people. My colleagues are lovely too but you just never know if they might hold those stigmatised views.

@ArianahX I didn't mean to offend you in any way and I hope you know that. I can't imagine what it must be like to deal with those thoughts, my depression and anxiety is bad enough, let alone knowing that some people will make assumptions and judgements based on your diagnosis. Sending you lots of love and best wishes x

Thank you for that post !!

I think to be fair, you can accept and understand the reasons why someone may decide not to take medication or feel reluctant to do so, or even struggle with routine in order to take it consistently. That's not the issue. The issue is that when someone is taking medication sporadically that can make it even harder for them to manage their day to day. Each case is different but op has no idea of the context so needs to make an assessment on safety for her dhs lone working. When I'm making that assessment when working in people's homes I'm not looking for the why behind them not taking their medication- that's something between them and their psychiatrist to agree on, I'm looking at safeguarding and risk. And if someone has been deemed as needing medication to manage their ps safely, then not taking that medication appropriately increases the level of risk. It doesn't mean that person will definitely do anything harmful to themselves or anyone else, but it means the possibility is higher.