Maybe your wife broke down because she couldn't cheer you up? I let my husband know when there is nothing he can do for me, that it just need to shut myself off from the world temporarily and ride it out. It has to be so difficult being the spouse for all of us. I can relate a little bit. My husband has severe Chron's disease and I have had to sit back time after time and watch him suffer and there was absolutely nothing I could do for him. I have watched this disease break him down to nothing not only physically but also mentally. Just like BP, you never know when it is going to strike. What we have both found out thru the years together and handling these illnesses is that you can't hide stuff from each other be honest at all times they will understand.