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DH is psychiatric clinic - did I do the right thing?

31 replies

WelcomeToMonkeyTown · 13/04/2024 07:39

I've posted about my DH before and had a lot of support, thank you. I'm sorry if this isn't the right place for this thread but I am full of guilt about my ND husband & I need a handhold.

He was diagnosed with ADHD 10 years ago but only started medication last year.

Previously his coping mechanisms have been to let me do everything & whilst I had my reasons, I feel I let myself by enabling him.

Since I stopped, and have been pushing him to actually do something himself; he has just spiralled. He cannot cope with being a half-decent father, an equal partner, an employee and living overseas. In the past what's fallen down is the father/partner element but since I put my foot down on this we have come to realise he just can't do all of them.

He's had time off work which helps short term but once back he can't cope. He's been pushing me to move back to the UK but I'm loathe to uproot our young kids from all they know, when I genuinely don't think he'd be any better there.

He started Ritalin in October but the mood swings were just horrific & it culminated in an episode where he was hitting himself in the head saying he wanted to die. In front of our 8yo.

He stopped the Ritalin and tried another medication but it's starting to go the same way. His anxiety is through the roof (checking blood pressure very hour, rattling every window and door every night to check it's locked, waking kids up to check they're breathing..) and he's just totally overwhelmed by simple tasks.

He has a psychiatrist for meds & 3 different psychotherapists, but he "doesn't feel they're helping". I feel this is because any time someone asks him to actually DO SOMETHING he can't. He's overwhelmed. But he doesn't tell them that. He just goes away and doesn't do it. And constantly complains to me that they aren't giving him the support he wants. But he isn't telling them what he wants. For example starting meds he didn't have a proper titration process - but he didn't ask for one! He also masks very well sometimes so I think a lot of the time they don't realise how bad he can be.

He is at the point where he is angry with me all for "not supporting him" but he can't tell me what that looks like. It feels like if I disagree with anything he says I am "starting arguments" and "not understanding his condition".

He hates himself. He hates the country we live him. He hates all the people in it as "no one will help him". He hates his job. I think he probably hates me and the kids sometimes, although he hasn't said it.

I came with him to our GP yesterday and said all this. I told the GP that he's twice said he wants to die. And both times I've had to physically hold him down to stop him hurting himself. But I'm getting to the point where I don't want him around my kids, and if he has one of these episode again when I'm not there, what will happen?

The GP has sent him straight to a residential psychiatric clinic. I don't know how long he'll be there. I feel torn between relief that he isn't here, thrilled that he might actually get some help, and also a huge guilt feeling that I'm locking him up. I keep thinking "is he really that bad", but he must be or they'd have sent him away.

Please someone tell me it will be ok

OP posts:
WelcomeToMonkeyTown · 15/04/2024 12:34

MILTOBE · 15/04/2024 12:20

I'm sorry your husband is so ill. I can't imagine he'd have such swift treatment if he was here in the UK - it sounds as though they will get to the bottom of what's going on. I hope he makes a good recovery. Flowers

Ironically he has been very very vocal about how much he hates Germany and hates the German healthcare system and has repeatedly said he wants to go back to the UK.

I refuse to uproot my kids when their life is here. And, other than the language, nothing will be better for him there.

Part of his issue is he doesn't ask for help. He says many many times "no one wants to help me" but he isn't telling the drs what he wants. I came with him to the GP last week and I asked for this. The GP just said "OK I'll call them and see if they'll take you". He called them, there and then, and after a 5 min conversation they just said "ok, come now"

The GP spoke very fast & in German on the phone but I understood the words "the wife is begging me". Part of me feels like he did this for me as much as for my husband.

But I feel very lucky that we have this. It's a lovely location- at the top of a hill in the middle of the forest - and they are looking at everything: his sleep apnoea, his heart murmur, his depression, OCD etc. I just hope he is being honest about it all. Especially with the OCD as he doesn't think it is a problem

OP posts:
LipstickLil · 15/04/2024 12:44

That's amazing that the GP was able to get him admitted to an inpatient facility so quickly and just after one phone call. I can promise you that the same would be very unlikely here, where MH services are stretched to breaking point and wholly inadequate for what seems to be an epidemic of mental ill-health in the population since Covid.

DPotter · 15/04/2024 13:14

You absolutely have done the right thing. Someone that overwhelmed needs a complete break from everything to be able to even think about healing.

If you are concerned your DH may not share everything he has been experiencing, would you think about talking / writing to his psychiatrist ? They may not be able to talk to you about his diagnosis, but they would listen to what you have to say.

coffeeisthebest · 15/04/2024 13:52

I think in this situation you have taken him to the right place (GP), they have assessed and made the decision that he isn't safe so he has been taken somewhere to hopefully look after him until this crisis has passed. I agree that for now you need to focus on you and your kids. Experiencing their Dad saying he wants to die sounds hugely traumatic for any child so I would try and get them talking about that, if that is too huge (no judgement ) I would get therapeutic support for you and them. Take care of all of you.

Hoppinggreen · 15/04/2024 13:56

It sounds really tough OP but I think you being in Germany is a very good thing.
FIL was German and had severe MH issues, the NHS was useless and it wasnt until he returned to Germany that he got the help he needed.
I hope you are the DC are ok

StopStartStop · 15/04/2024 13:57

You have done absolutely the right thing.

Have you seen the meme stating 'Son, this book tells the history of our family.' And the father proffers the DSM-V? That could be me. AuDHDers, depressives with suicidal ideation, bi-polars, schizophrenics and probably more. Trust me, if a person needs to be in-patient care, you do absolutely the right thing to make that happen.

Don't expect a miracle cure, though. x

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