30 year old DH blowing up his life

[Anonymous]

Trial separation or just end it. Seriously, if he's not willing to address the mania that may be surfacing from the SSRIs, you guys are young and you can both move on.

[Anonymous]

I agree with calling his prescribing physician. The doctor won’t be able to tell you anything, won’t answer questions, won’t ever be able to tell you that they’ll follow up on the information. But any competent doctor will note this for his file so they can address it with him at the next appointment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like the SSRI’s have triggered mania. This is not uncommon. A major personality change like this required medical intervention. Call his prescribing doctor ASAP.

+1. Happened to my now exDH. Anti depressants can trigger mania or hypomania in some patients. You definitely need to report to his psychiatrist, the problem is that sometimes a psychiatrist will not accept input from family members because it "violates patient privacy". This is not true, and it is a sign that your DH has a not great psychiatrist if they can't figure out how to hear your input.

I have found the the best way to provide input is to write a letter to the psychiatrist and send it by fax. That way they don't have to acknowledge that the person is even their patient. Yet, they see the info and it affects their thought process. It is also a way of sending a subtle signal that the complaints are on the record now and that if there is no change in meds and subsequent trouble, there is some documentation about liability.

In your letter you want to be specific and factual -- no emotions at all. List things that are happening in the home environment and work environment. Use words like "increasingly agitated and irritable" "change in sleep patterns" "up much later at night" "watching movies at work instead of working" "increasingly engaging in pleasure seeking activities" "increased drinking" "increased risk taking (the motorcycle)" "increased paranoia (thinking I am mean and controlling)"

All of these phrases are classic mania symptoms. This is much more specific than "personality issues". A doctor who receives these symptom changes in writing is taking on liability if he does nothing to address.

[Anonymous]

what are SSRIs?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:what are SSRIs?

selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors -- it's a class of anti-depressant medication.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yikes. Do you have kids together?

No we do not but I was hoping to TTC soon. Now I am terrified of his personality change and am wondering what I can do.

Get a divorce ASAP.

[Anonymous]

Who says motorbike?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Who says motorbike?

OP does.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:SSRIs. It is a major side effect. Becoming unhinged. BTDT. Sorry, maybe different meds?!

What is SSRI?

[Anonymous]

He’s a bit young, but classic midlife crisis. Google it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like the SSRI’s have triggered mania. This is not uncommon. A major personality change like this required medical intervention. Call his prescribing doctor ASAP.

He went and talked to his doctor saying his wife was observing personality issues. She said he seemed fine and to keep taking the meds.

Sounds like the doctor doesn't have all the information. You should speak directly to her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DH had a health scare earlier this year followed by months of panic attacks until he was put on SSRIs.

His panic attacks have subsided but he has since become intolerable. Suddenly, I can't do anything right. I am mean and controlling. He goes out drinking as if he is a frat boy. He sleeps in and goes into work late. He has told me he watches movies at work most of the day. He has started working out (which is good) and is now talking about getting a motorbike.

He also says he hates his job and is bored by his domestic life. He has said he wishes he was Peter Pan because life sucks when you grow up.

I don't know what to do. Inst he too young to have a mid life crisis?

No one in North America calls it a "motorbike". Where are you located, OP?

[Anonymous]

Did he actually get any therapy or just put on meds?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Who says motorbike?

Brits.

[Anonymous]

Mania is typically associated with decreased need for sleep, pressured speech, impulsive and risk-taking behavior, etc. What OP is describing doesn’t sound like mania. It sounds like it could be depression that is not well-controlled.