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What Causes Delusional Jealousy?
Question: hello, My husband of 5 years is going through what I think is a psychosis. He was always leveled handed and handled stress well. Since september, he has been accusing me of cheating on him with mulitple partners and claiming he has seen me on various dating sites. This is not true. I have always been faithful to him, anyways, he has these outbursts in which he says all kinds of strange and untrue things about my supposed affairs, after his explosion his is remorseful and tries to go back to normal with be. He is quiet for a few months and then has these explosion again. What is going on with and how do I help him?
Brief Answer:
This is delusion of infidelity
Detailed Answer:
Hi, thanks for writing through HCM.
I have read your query and understood your concerns.
Your husband is believing that you have affairs but actually you do not have. So, these are the false beliefs in which your husbands believes firmly and when you deny it, he has severe outbursts.
So, this is apart of psychosis with delusion of infidelity. Actually once started it is continuous. You have said that he has episodic symptoms and after that behavior, he is remorseful. Actually patient of psychosis do not have insight, so they are mostly not remorseful. I feel that he may be a case of delusional disorder in which mild form of symptoms [here delusional ideas of infidelity] comes and goes episodically with less functional impairment with some insight into the illness.
Does he work properly in between episodes? Is there any occupational, social, functional impairment?
I think you should take him to a psychiatrist. Antipsychotic drugs are effective and his illness will be under control. If he is not willing to meet a psychiatrist then you can alone visit a psychiatrist and discuss the case with him.
Hope I have answered your query. If you have any further query then I shall be happy to help.
Wish you good health.
This is delusion of infidelity
Detailed Answer:
Hi, thanks for writing through HCM.
I have read your query and understood your concerns.
Your husband is believing that you have affairs but actually you do not have. So, these are the false beliefs in which your husbands believes firmly and when you deny it, he has severe outbursts.
So, this is apart of psychosis with delusion of infidelity. Actually once started it is continuous. You have said that he has episodic symptoms and after that behavior, he is remorseful. Actually patient of psychosis do not have insight, so they are mostly not remorseful. I feel that he may be a case of delusional disorder in which mild form of symptoms [here delusional ideas of infidelity] comes and goes episodically with less functional impairment with some insight into the illness.
Does he work properly in between episodes? Is there any occupational, social, functional impairment?
I think you should take him to a psychiatrist. Antipsychotic drugs are effective and his illness will be under control. If he is not willing to meet a psychiatrist then you can alone visit a psychiatrist and discuss the case with him.
Hope I have answered your query. If you have any further query then I shall be happy to help.
Wish you good health.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
Hello
Thank you for the reply.
He is functional in between episodes. He runs his own small business very well, socially he is well. He goes to gym and no one would think any thing his wrong with him. Except with me. He seems to have taken on this fascination that I wronged him. Even in between episodes, he tells me that he is in emotional pain with me and that he is trying his best to forgive me for cheating on him. We did have marital problems five years in which we have resolved, but I never cheated on him. I have been also faithful. He had become obsessed with the idea that not only that I cheat, but I have multiple lovers! i have a toddler that I take care of all the time due to his work and also I am pregnant. I have spoke to him about getting help, but he refuses. He thinks he is okay, but he is open to marriage counseling. He also told he had a nervous breakdown last year due to work. I did not notice that he did as he was carrying on okay. he also lost about 80 pounds in the last 6 months. As I said, I have known him for 10 years and never did I see such behavior from her, so I am at a loss at what is going on and most importantly, how do I help him? Do I stage an interventation with his parents?
If he refuses to get help on his own, how can I help him?
Thank you for the reply.
He is functional in between episodes. He runs his own small business very well, socially he is well. He goes to gym and no one would think any thing his wrong with him. Except with me. He seems to have taken on this fascination that I wronged him. Even in between episodes, he tells me that he is in emotional pain with me and that he is trying his best to forgive me for cheating on him. We did have marital problems five years in which we have resolved, but I never cheated on him. I have been also faithful. He had become obsessed with the idea that not only that I cheat, but I have multiple lovers! i have a toddler that I take care of all the time due to his work and also I am pregnant. I have spoke to him about getting help, but he refuses. He thinks he is okay, but he is open to marriage counseling. He also told he had a nervous breakdown last year due to work. I did not notice that he did as he was carrying on okay. he also lost about 80 pounds in the last 6 months. As I said, I have known him for 10 years and never did I see such behavior from her, so I am at a loss at what is going on and most importantly, how do I help him? Do I stage an interventation with his parents?
If he refuses to get help on his own, how can I help him?
Brief Answer:
He needs help
Detailed Answer:
Hi, thanks for writing again.
I have already told you that you can visit a psychiatrist alone [without taking him with you and without his knowledge because he is already suspicious over you] and discuss his symptoms and behavior. Doctor will understand immediately about his illness. Most of the psychotic patients do not have insight in their illness, so that they refuse to visit a doctor and say that they are completely healthy and do not need help, it is you that needs help.
Obviously, you have to tell his parents about his behavior. Do not directly tell them that he is having psychiatric illness but inform them regarding his behavioral problems and suspiciousness over you. Tell them it is now becoming intolerable.
It may be possible that he will completely deny for any illness and refuse to take any kind of drugs and in that case you might have to give him drugs without his knowledge like in food, beverages etc.
When you shall visit a psychiatrist, discuss his denial of illness also, because how to convince him to take drugs because he is psychotic? If the illness becomes severe, he may need hospitalization.
Hope I have answered your query. If you do not have further clarifications then close the discussion and rate the answer.
Wish you good health.
He needs help
Detailed Answer:
Hi, thanks for writing again.
I have already told you that you can visit a psychiatrist alone [without taking him with you and without his knowledge because he is already suspicious over you] and discuss his symptoms and behavior. Doctor will understand immediately about his illness. Most of the psychotic patients do not have insight in their illness, so that they refuse to visit a doctor and say that they are completely healthy and do not need help, it is you that needs help.
Obviously, you have to tell his parents about his behavior. Do not directly tell them that he is having psychiatric illness but inform them regarding his behavioral problems and suspiciousness over you. Tell them it is now becoming intolerable.
It may be possible that he will completely deny for any illness and refuse to take any kind of drugs and in that case you might have to give him drugs without his knowledge like in food, beverages etc.
When you shall visit a psychiatrist, discuss his denial of illness also, because how to convince him to take drugs because he is psychotic? If the illness becomes severe, he may need hospitalization.
Hope I have answered your query. If you do not have further clarifications then close the discussion and rate the answer.
Wish you good health.
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
Answered by
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