My friend's husband is doing this, but he had a stroke and has bipolar disorder. Get him to a doctor.

(I agree that your posts have been vague and aren't making much sense. Maybe you should get checked out, too. I am serious, not being flip.)

People in mania can act like this.

21:20 here.

Ok, OP, your DH is exhibiting new and different behavior, and it's linked to blurring boundaries and it's potentially dangerous to your financial well-being.

IMO you need to talk to a mental health professional (or talk to your doctor) because if this gets worse, he might just buy some swampland in Florida with all your savings.

He could have had a little stroke and it's affected the judgement part of his brain. Or there could be some other kind of mental imbalance. Sounds like he needs to get checked out.
Good luck, OP!

OP here. Thank you to the helpful posters. The non helpful ones can go away and find a hobby other than trying to bully a poster that needs help. Grow up.

11:00 PP, thank you for your intelligent and insightful response. Yes, he is buying stuff from telemarketers. A timeshare? Really? And where are we getting this money, exactly?

I have tried talking to him about it, but it goes in one ear and out the other. Which I would understand if I were a nag (really), but I am not (really).

This wins the Most Annoying Thread Ever award.

Anonymous wrote:I keep clicking on this post thinking the op has come back and made some sense.

+1. No idea what she is talking about, and she refuses to give examples. Oh well.

I keep clicking on this post thinking the op has come back and made some sense.

Anytime someone exhibits a significant change in behavior, it's worth noticing.

That said, if the worst he is doing is listening to the telemarketer drone on, and not actively buying shit he doesn't need with money he doesn't have, well...it sounds like the only thing he's really doing wrong there is annoying you.

When he starts extending loans to strangers, check back. Until then, this post is a waste.

I still have no idea what exactly he is doing other than talking to telemarketers... ;-o

Anonymous wrote:OP, do you mean, for example, when people come to the door asking for money giving a sob story, he gives them money?

Do you mean, him offering strangers a lift home? Getting involved at homeless shelters but getting into their dramas?

Or getting involved with co-workers' dramas?

We need examples. Anyways it sounds like he's doing some weird boundary blurring….maybe that is why you are worried about mental illness? Because he's getting increasingly socially awkward vis-a-vis boundaries?

Thank you, yes! Gosh, this is embarrassing. The examples seem trivial, but when they are put together, they become a problem over time. Isn't this the behavior of a 10 year old? I mean, doesn't everyone know not to talk to telemarketers, etc.? We don't have money to give away, nor time to get wrapped up in others' lack of boundaries. OP here. I feel like it is a bunch of less than tangible examples that blow up after a time. Its exhausting.

Anonymous wrote:OP here (while cooking!). Greedy? Paranoid? Really?

I know my husband is a big boy, so to speak. I just fear his becoming nicer in his old age will lead to problems for him.

Most people I know get crotchety in their old age.

Avoiding the questions isn't helping us..or you. I still don't understand the problem.

Anonymous wrote:OP again, I forgot to explain I am concerned with mental illness. If naiveté is a mental illness. If he were like that before, I would feel differently.

If this is a new thing with your DH, then I would definitely be concerned. How long have you been noticing these personality/behavioral changes, OP?
The thing is, he's not old -- at least, he's definitely not old enough for you to attribute his behavior to "old age".

OP, do you mean, for example, when people come to the door asking for money giving a sob story, he gives them money?

Do you mean, him offering strangers a lift home? Getting involved at homeless shelters but getting into their dramas?

Or getting involved with co-workers' dramas?

We need examples. Anyways it sounds like he's doing some weird boundary blurring….maybe that is why you are worried about mental illness? Because he's getting increasingly socially awkward vis-a-vis boundaries?

Examples, please!