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Mental health

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Original poster

Drug induced psychosis

45 replies

HelpPlease112333 · 28/08/2020 21:25

Sorry if I’m a bit all over the place with this.

Last weekend Dh and I went out with one of his friends. Stupidly we got drunk and dh friend was all “I’ll get some coke”. We birh said “don’t” but he did and after quite a lot to drink - we both participated.

However dh since has gone - for want of a better word - crazy. He thinks I drugged him, he thinks life isn’t real and He seems to really hate me.

Firstly - I don’t think it was cocaine - I think it was something else. Secondly - dh has no mental health issues but suddenly has delusions (and as they are about me - I cannot persuade him to sag see a doctor

I’m stuck and have not a clue what to do - I have no experience in this

OP posts:

justchecking1 · 28/08/2020 22:42

If it's not treated, probably with antipsychotic medication, it could very well linger a long time. Short term annoyance is better than long term psychosis, believe me. Once on medication he will probably regain insight very quickly and will realise none of this is your fault

justchecking1 · 28/08/2020 22:44

Also, delusions are not static they are dynamic. What he believes today may develop into a more complex delusion tomorrow and this could put you at risk

Original poster

HelpPlease112333 · 28/08/2020 22:47

I’m just not sure how how to get him to get treatment. It’s hard to explain but he is functioning completely normally except for this delusion that I drugged him and am out to get him

I’m not worried for my safety - he’s not violent

OP posts:

Original poster

HelpPlease112333 · 28/08/2020 22:49

@justchecking1 his delusions seem to be almost “calming down” firstly he thought our whole life had been a lie. Now it’s calmed into “you drugged me to embarrass me”

OP posts:

Byallmeans · 28/08/2020 22:49

Try and get him to a GP. I was at a party about 12 years ago and a lovely friend of mine had been given ecstasy. He’s had quite a lot and wasn’t a drug user before.

He had a mental breakdown when he came down off it and hasn’t been the same again. Had to give work up and became a recluse. I seen him at the shops the other day and he is a ghost of himself. His ‘friends’ ruined his life that night.

justchecking1 · 28/08/2020 22:50

But what if his delusion develops and he begins to think you're still poisoning him? That you're trying to hurt or kill him? That you're not really who you say you are? This isn't a definite but it could happen. Would you still be safe then or would he try and defend himself against what he sees as a threat?

Seriously OP, if he won't get help then you need to force his hand. This may not get better in its own.

justchecking1 · 28/08/2020 22:52

It's up to you, if they seem to be improving then things may be ok as his brain recovers from the insult. A week is a long time though to still be under the effects of a drug, but like I say there are some really bloody horrible street drugs available at the moment, and I've seen some patients with very long lasting effects

Original poster

HelpPlease112333 · 28/08/2020 22:56

I’m not sure what to do here

While people are suggesting gp - I don’t think I would be able to get him there. And I’m guessing the reality is even if I could persuade him it will be a two week wait.

It sounds like anti psychotropics are the way forward. Am happy to pay for a private doctor to come out - and pay for the prescription - but worried dh will not e gage.

Has anyone here ever dealt with those with delusions - how do you get them to engage?

OP posts:

justchecking1 · 28/08/2020 22:57

If you ask for a MHA assessment they'll come to your house and do it

Original poster

HelpPlease112333 · 28/08/2020 22:57

I really don’t think he will agree to that!

OP posts:

justchecking1 · 28/08/2020 23:00

I'm a psychiatrist, I see delusions all the time.

If you are the subject of the delusions I wouldn't suggest trying to engage him on it. Reality orientation might be helpful, trying to get him to think critically about his ideas eg "why would you think that's true?" "What evidence do you have for thinking this?", "might there be another explanation eg xyz?"

Honestly, I wouldn't risk it though if I was the subject of the delusions, I'd get one of my colleagues to see the patient

justchecking1 · 28/08/2020 23:02

He doesn't have to agree to have a MHA assessment. If he won't engage with the assessment, that forms part of the assessment.

Most people will agree to talk, just to get rid of the team

DimidDavilby · 28/08/2020 23:02

Does he remember doing the drugs volunterily and think you drugged him seperately? What happens if you try to reason with him?

I think you should have someone he trusts come over and speak to you both about it. Brother or what about the friend you were with?

Original poster

HelpPlease112333 · 28/08/2020 23:03

@justchecking1 I’ve tried logically challenging it doesn’t seem to work.
To be honest I’d assumed once the drugs left his system he’d return to normal

OP posts:

justchecking1 · 28/08/2020 23:06

Sometimes people recover on their own, but a week is a long time for this not to have happened.

To be honest, because you're part of his delusions anything you say to challenge them will just seem to be proof to him that he's right and that you're against him. I really don't think you can deal with this alone.

At the very least, you need another friend or family member who he trusts to come in and talk to him.

I would have a very low threshold for involving the professionals here. Delusional ideation and psychosis are very unpredictable

justchecking1 · 28/08/2020 23:07

Some of these new drugs seem to actually change the way the brain works so they can keep causing problems even after the drug itself has left your system. It's almost like a delirium

Original poster

HelpPlease112333 · 28/08/2020 23:17

Ok so I could speak to his brother. However his brother has just gone though the death of a baby (late miscarriage) and I don’t want to bother him.

His other brother is on another continent - and not muc use.

My parents would usually be great but they are getting gilder (in their 80s) and are not going to be ok with the drugs angle

OP posts:

Cauterize · 28/08/2020 23:32

How was he before the drug taking? Was he under any particular stress, down or depressed at all?

I've had a rather frightening experience myself (some years ago now) from smoking some incredibly strong weed that I think had also been laced with something else. The after affects were very strange indeed, I felt as though I was seeing, hearing and feeling things that nobody else could. I wasn't having delusions about anybody else though, only with my own warped perception of the world. I'm afraid to say it took months for me to feel 'normal' again.

Original poster

HelpPlease112333 · 28/08/2020 23:40

@Cauterize he was I’d say fine. Obviously it’s been a stressful year / but he’s laid back generally

OP posts:

InDeoEstMeaFiducia · 28/08/2020 23:53

Any chance of getting back to the friend to find out exactly what it was?

It's been a long time since I've done any drugs and I never did speed or coke, but this sounds almost like (I'm dating myself here) PCP/angel dust. That completely whacked a few people I knew who took it.

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