Not sure what this could be...Any ideas?

I think my spouces father is suffering from some kind of mental illness (for lack of a better word...) but I'm not sure what exactly it could be...

From the first time I traveled to his house down south back when we were dating, his father struck me as a little odd. His parents had a terrible split up just one year prior (his mother had been cheating on his father for almost 5 years). He told me that his father was a great guy and working on cleaning up his act from no longer drinking to being a real father to his children (who at the time was in college). He and his siblings tell me they pretty much raised themselves. Now that you have a breif family history let me tell you the current problem.

One of the first discussions I had with the man was about how he felt his house was haunted. He assured me it was and that the house had a history to prove it. Now I don't feel strongly either way about ghosts so I let the man talk. He explained how he heard conversations between two men, footsteps going up and down the staircase and would on occation see a little boy running around in a costume. According to the lands history there was an accident by the traintracks on halloween where a little boy died but his father didn't start seeing the little boy until one of his children told him it exsisted. The noises he heard all on his own. I took this all with a "I doubt it but if you say so" additude (on the inside at least).

The entire week I stayed there neither myself nor my spouce saw or heard anything. I talked to my husband about the situation a few times and he told me one of his sibilings used to complain of hearing noises and seeing things. He also told me that this particular sibling had dangerous drug habit when he was living at home that also normally resulted in hallusinations. Aside from those incidents he couldn't think of a time he ever saw or heard anything strange.

The second trip a few months later when his father and I sat down to talk one night, he mentioned to me feeling like the little boy was under the table when he had dinner one night and that it touched his leg. A month previously he described sitting on the couch and having a blackness float towards him, he described shortness of breath and the feeling of being strangled. When this blackness came close enough to him he said he could no longer see anything and then it just stopped and everything was back to normal. Thank goodness I understand how my own mind works otherwise I would have been scared senseless to walk around that house alone. Still I stayed alert and approached my husband about the situation. He said he wasn't sure what his father saw or felt but he was sure he was just imagining things. He told me his dad was complaining about how objects were moving slightly from there positions ect... He told me he thought his father was lonely (because he lives alone with his two dogs) and had become very anti-social since the divorce secluding himself from society.

After the second trip I was more conserned about his father but I still just kept concious about the situation and tried to listen and notice my surroundings. Again nothing appeared odd to myself or my husband.

We visited a few more times that year each time at somepoint through our stay, both my husband and myself would have a conversation with his father about his "paranormal" sightings. After some time I met another one of his siblings who also believes strongly in this kind of activity. This sibling told me there were particular rooms of the house that they noticed things happening as well as heard and saw things. This sibling also described to me situations where a friend would see things before knowing that it was an occurance. After a while, I'll admit I psyched myself out and would see something out of the corner of my eye or hear a soft whisper that I knew wasn't there, but in the end I always knew I was seeing and hearing things because my brain convinced itself to hear them.

Anyway, a few days ago my husband approached me sounding very concerned about his father. He said he got a phone call from him saying that these ghosts were now attacking him, slamming doors and jiggling doornobs.

He and I both want to believe his father (he more than myself), and in many ways I do believe him but I can't help but be concerned about his mental health. I was wondering if there was a mental problem that could possibly relate to this? If so what is it? How can I approach my husband about it? and Whats the best way to help?

Hello and welcome to Psych Central.
I really dont think that a physical and mental health asessment would hurt at this time to find out if your father in law is having physical or mental health issues. There are many reasons your father in law may be having these issues. I would highly suggest if possible having your father in law move out of the house for a bit with relatives, until there is a diagnosis for your father in law. I dont feel that your father in law is safe living alone at this tim, and perhaps will need a live in care giver in the future for his safety and well being. I hope things get better and straightened out soon for all parties concerned. Take care and good day. Soidhonia

I agree that your FIL should have a complete physical at this time.

Not to scare you, but my aunty, who had full mental faculties until a ripe old age, began having flashbacks to her life and thinking they were happening in the present. It was the first sign that some dementia was setting in, along with some paranoia as well. She was certain that the nursing home was video taping her every move and listening in to her conversations. She also believed that what she didn't eat at a meal would be given to her at the next meal. Of course this was not the case. It was sad and scary to see her going through all this as there was no way to console her or comfort her.

I pray that you are able to get him to a doctor for a physical, and please tell the doc ahead of time what is going on so he/she can ask the pertinent questions of your dad.

Good luck with everything and keep us posted!

Hugssss
J