Need support, schizophrenic husband relapsed

Bluebird95 · Oct 11, 2016 at 06:33 AM

Hello I'm new here, I came on this forum cause I'm lost, overwhelmed and exasperated. My husband has schizophrenia. In the past 3 years he relapsed twice, once cause he reduced the dosage of risperdal in 2015 and about a month ago his voices came back and is delusional. He has been on 6 mg since his first relapse, he functioned the best on 3 mg. He hasn't been able to hold a job for more than 2 months since his first relapse. In April of this year doctor prescribed 3 mg Ablify together with 6 mg Risperdal but it didn't do anything for his depression.
In june he started working a new job but it was very stressful for him, in August i was visiting my home country for one month so he was alone. When I came back he had already quit his job, and started hearing voices occasionally.
Last month we tried to taper off ablify, first by cutting 1.5 mg and then half of that in 3 weeks. his condition worsened, he also lost his appetite. Dr said he should resume 3 mg ablify but my husband continues to take 1.5 mg.
he smokes more than before almost 2 packets a day, sometimes he can't hear me talking to him, he thinks he is an actor and that he is working.
The doctor doesn't know why he relapsed, he hasn't changed any medication.
Now I'm trying to convince his parents to look for another doctor.
Please note i live in a foreign non-english speaking country, so I don't understand the language etc. it's very hard for me. I'm trying to understand my husband but sometimes I get so emotional, it is hard to see him in that state. Also I don't understand why he relapsed while taking his medication especially such a high dose.
Sometimes I think I can't do this and just wanna escape, i'm reaching my limit, I don't see a future like this.
Sorry for the long post, I don't have anyone to talk to, I haven't told my family about my situation just my sister in law. This forum is the only comfort I get also when reading other similar experiences.
Thanks for reading and i look forward to your feedback.

leomama · Oct 11, 2016 at 07:53 AM

Have you looked up NAMI to see if they have any international connections?

rechu · Oct 11, 2016 at 08:02 AM

I am so sorry to hear you are dealing with this. My situation has some similarities. Fortunately, my husband doesn't have schizophrenia, but he's been battling severe anxiety and work stress for the last year, and I think he is back on the verge of having major panic attacks like he had last year. He currently doesn't want to go back to the psychiatrist, although he probably should.

Unfortuntely, when he gets like that, he picks fights with me over stupid stuff, which then stresses me out. When that happened last year, it was awful. I don't want to deal with a repeat.

I am also an expat. Although I speak the language and it sounds like I am more integrated than you, it can be isolating at times. I quit my job in April and haven't been able to find anything else, which makes me feel more isolated and dependent.

I don't discuss these things with my family either, they live far away and we won't have the greatest relationship as it is. My mother would just make me feel worse about things.

Would you be able to find an English-speaking therapist for yourself? I wish I had more advice. I am still trying to figure things out for myself right now, but I wanted to let you know you're not alone.

leomama · Oct 11, 2016 at 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bluebird95

Hello I'm new here, I came on this forum cause I'm lost, overwhelmed and exasperated. My husband has schizophrenia. In the past 3 years he relapsed twice, once cause he reduced the dosage of risperdal in 2015 and about a month ago his voices came back and is delusional. He has been on 6 mg since his first relapse, he functioned the best on 3 mg. He hasn't been able to hold a job for more than 2 months since his first relapse. In April of this year doctor prescribed 3 mg Ablify together with 6 mg Risperdal but it didn't do anything for his depression.

In june he started working a new job but it was very stressful for him, in August i was visiting my home country for one month so he was alone. When I came back he had already quit his job, and started hearing voices occasionally.

Last month we tried to taper off ablify, first by cutting 1.5 mg and then half of that in 3 weeks. his condition worsened, he also lost his appetite. Dr said he should resume 3 mg ablify but my husband continues to take 1.5 mg.

he smokes more than before almost 2 packets a day, sometimes he can't hear me talking to him, he thinks he is an actor and that he is working.

The doctor doesn't know why he relapsed, he hasn't changed any medication.

Now I'm trying to convince his parents to look for another doctor.

Please note i live in a foreign non-english speaking country, so I don't understand the language etc. it's very hard for me. I'm trying to understand my husband but sometimes I get so emotional, it is hard to see him in that state. Also I don't understand why he relapsed while taking his medication especially such a high dose.

Sometimes I think I can't do this and just wanna escape, i'm reaching my limit, I don't see a future like this.

Sorry for the long post, I don't have anyone to talk to, I haven't told my family about my situation just my sister in law. This forum is the only comfort I get also when reading other similar experiences.

Thanks for reading and i look forward to your feedback.

Another organization you can look up is world health organization or who, they might be able to help you find local help as NAMI is American .

Dk2016 · Oct 16, 2016 at 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bluebird95

Hello I'm new here, I came on this forum cause I'm lost, overwhelmed and exasperated. My husband has schizophrenia. In the past 3 years he relapsed twice, once cause he reduced the dosage of risperdal in 2015 and about a month ago his voices came back and is delusional. He has been on 6 mg since his first relapse, he functioned the best on 3 mg. He hasn't been able to hold a job for more than 2 months since his first relapse. In April of this year doctor prescribed 3 mg Ablify together with 6 mg Risperdal but it didn't do anything for his depression.
In june he started working a new job but it was very stressful for him, in August i was visiting my home country for one month so he was alone. When I came back he had already quit his job, and started hearing voices occasionally.
Last month we tried to taper off ablify, first by cutting 1.5 mg and then half of that in 3 weeks. his condition worsened, he also lost his appetite. Dr said he should resume 3 mg ablify but my husband continues to take 1.5 mg.
he smokes more than before almost 2 packets a day, sometimes he can't hear me talking to him, he thinks he is an actor and that he is working.
The doctor doesn't know why he relapsed, he hasn't changed any medication.
Now I'm trying to convince his parents to look for another doctor.
Please note i live in a foreign non-english speaking country, so I don't understand the language etc. it's very hard for me. I'm trying to understand my husband but sometimes I get so emotional, it is hard to see him in that state. Also I don't understand why he relapsed while taking his medication especially such a high dose.
Sometimes I think I can't do this and just wanna escape, i'm reaching my limit, I don't see a future like this.
Sorry for the long post, I don't have anyone to talk to, I haven't told my family about my situation just my sister in law. This forum is the only comfort I get also when reading other similar experiences.
Thanks for reading and i look forward to your feedback.

Hello,
I'm sorry to hear abou your difficulties. How do you take care of your health and needs in these circumstances?

Dk2016 · Oct 16, 2016 at 09:45 AM

Dear bluebird95,
When I was very young, I married, without knowing it, a schizophrenic husband from abroad and had a baby and went abroad to his (third world) country.
In that poor country, resources and awareness for mental health problems was non existent. We lived there, together, for years until at some point, there was nothing's else left for me to try or give.
I took my young son and left. I think I understand pretty well what you are going throuh. In my case, I still feel very bad about abandoning this good man, but I know that this is what I needed to survive and give my son and my self a better life. I'm immensely grateful and happy that my son (now almost 28) doesn't show any signs of schizophrenia. I do, however, at times worry for any future children of my son that might have this cruel condition.
As a result of the very stressful and painful reality of schizophrenia, I have a PTSD and am currently working with a great therapist, undergoing an EMDR treatment.
I can't stop feeling guilty for not being able to help my ex husband. This is still affecting my life now.
I know I should never give you any advice, so I'm not going to do it, even if, honestly, I want to.
What I can say is this, I know that in my case, I made the best decision for MY SON AND MYSELF. Life now is thousandfold better, but I still deal with the emotional consequences of being there and living this reality for years, in a poor, foreign country, with no family or economic support.
Sometimes, we are faced with impossible choices and not choosing is still a choice.
Take care of your physical and emotional health, the best you can. This is not going to be selfish from your part. It's the logical and sensible thing to do.

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Need support, schizophrenic husband relapsed

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leomama Grand Magnate Member Since Feb 2014 Location: USA Posts: 4,703 10 172 hugs given	Oct 11, 2016 at 07:53 AM #2 Have you looked up NAMI to see if they have any international connections?
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