What could this Mental Health Condition be?
By jennybianca
@jennybianca (12912)
Australia
February 12, 2010 8:42pm CST
I hope there are some mental health experts out there....
Last year my ex husband did something really odd. It was a few days after his 84 year old Mother had died after a long illness.
I was already in bed, and he came a bit later. Almost as soon as he got in bed he started making strange noises. It is really hard to describe. They were kind of like sharp, moaning sounds, but not crying. My daughter later said he sounded like he was laughing, but he definitely wasn't. I tried asking him what was wrong, but he couldn't or wouldn't reply. He was on his side, and continued these strange sounds. Then he started talking, just a few words here and there. Some didn't make sense, but a few did. At one stage he said:
" I'm so sorry; I'm so sorry". I dont know if he was saying this to me, or his deceased Mother (I think it more likely the latter).
He still didn't seem to be aware of anything, or of me trying to calm him down.
I tried rubbing him on the back to settle him.
After about 30 minutes this all stopped and he went to sleep.
He said nothing about it in the morning.
I thought perhaps it may have been an anxiety attack, although I have nver seen one in action.
I later told a friend who is an experienced Mental Health nurse, and she said it sounded far more than an anxiety attack.
Do My Lotters have any idea what this could have been?
5 people like this
9 responses
@cerebellum (3863)
• United States
13 Feb 10
I know nothing about mental health, but from things you have said about your ex it probably was more than an anxiety attack. He probably was talking to his mother. Some people handle grief in strange ways, and if he felt guilty which it sounds like he did, it would be even stranger.
4 people like this
@jennybianca (12912)
• Australia
13 Feb 10
What I wonder about is what he felt guilty about regarding his Mother?
@cerebellum (3863)
• United States
13 Feb 10
He could have felt guilty about so many things with his mother it is hard to tell and you will probably never know. I was reading some of the other responses and I agree with what Thoroughrob said. It sounds like he had a nervous breakdown.
It is good you are getting away from him. He'll probably only get wrose with the stress of the divorce.
2 people like this
@scarlet_woman (23463)
• United States
13 Feb 10
if he sat there staring off into space unresponsive at any time,he may have had a psychotic break.they get so overwhelmed they shut down.
i have a friend (well,now ex friend) who did this when highly stressed and scared the poop out of his wife.he'd just suddenly snap out of it after a couple of hours.
4 people like this
@jennybianca (12912)
• Australia
13 Feb 10
It would not surprise me that something psychotic is involved. To me, this was the beginning of the end of our marriage, although it didnt end until October.
1 person likes this
@webeishere (36313)
• United States
13 Feb 10
I think either an anxiety attack or a mild nervous breakdown.
But, I am not a therapiost or mental health expert.
As always.....
HAPPY POSTINGS FROM GRANDPA BOB!!~
3 people like this
@jennybianca (12912)
• Australia
13 Feb 10
My friend who is the Mental Health Nurse is convinced that he has had a nervous breakdown, and is still in the process of having it. Im inclined to agree.
1 person likes this
@whiteheather39 (24403)
• United States
13 Feb 10
Sorry without any medical knoweldge I would not even try to diagnose your ex. From previous posting you made I would say he has a lot of problems. However I would think that this example could be a part of mourning and he was perhaps just saying he was sorry to his mother for things he was sorry she is gone.
2 people like this
@jennybianca (12912)
• Australia
14 Feb 10
Yes, I guess he was saying sory to his mother, although he did appear to be genuinely apologising for something.
He does have a lot of problems and I wish he would visit a Doctor instead of taking out his deranged mental state on me.
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
13 Feb 10
It does sound like an anxiety attack. I've had a few happen to me and it's no fun at all. Being that it happened after his mother passed away, it does sound like a horrible anxiety attack. He probably thought he was ready to handle such a thing to happen but when it did, he found himself in such a tangle.
2 people like this
@jennybianca (12912)
• Australia
14 Feb 10
Yes, could be an anxiety attack, but most likely mixed up with some other condition.
@crystal2010 (2)
•
13 Feb 10
it sounds like a anxiety attack i used to get them all the time and the strange noises u were hearing sounds like he had shortness of breathe which u get with an anxiety attack or it could of been a panic attack aswell as an anxiety attack
2 people like this
@jennybianca (12912)
• Australia
14 Feb 10
He didnt seem to have a shortnesss of breath. The strange noises sounded more like he was trying to cry, but couldnt cry.
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
13 Feb 10
hi jennybianca I think its more than an anxiety attack, he sounded
like a man who has had a big attack of remorse, perhaps he has done something with his own mom he then felt really bad about, he sounded
to me like he needed a mental health expert to help him out. If I'
remember right your ex is an ex because he was abusive to you? Then he
has some real emotional and mental problems buried perhaps? I am no
'mental health expert but have worked many years as a nurses aide and saw a lot of people who were desperately in need of a psychiatrist and it
sounds like he is one of them. I am glad he is your ex now. I myself used to have anxiety or panic attacks and they are nothing like that.you just get panicked, you have difficulty breathing and you have to get away from the many people crowding the store or place where you had the attack.I got over it and am not subject to them at all any more. but he sounded much more serious.
2 people like this
@jennybianca (12912)
• Australia
13 Feb 10
I think you are entirely on the right path. It is more than anxiety. I dont know what he felt guilty about to apologise to his late Mother; I always thought they had a good relationship, but then he never told me everything. And yes, he was abusive.
A great pity he wont recognise he has a problem and get medical help, as I can see him getting much worse over the next few months, as this legal business drags on.
1 person likes this
@JenInTN (27514)
• United States
13 Feb 10
I don't know but it sounds like it was scary. I think that we all deal with things in different ways but it kind of sounds like a nervous breakdown. Those can be slight or serious depending on the person. Maybe he was sleepwalking or something. If he wasn't answering you, he may not have been awake.
2 people like this
@jennybianca (12912)
• Australia
14 Feb 10
The nervous breakdown idea occured to me. I suppose he could have been sleep walking, but he got in bed and stayed there & thats when this weird stuff happened.
@Genericbe (1376)
• Philippines
19 Feb 10
The incident about your ex husband actions in that time is that his mental subconscious mind is acting in a way his inner thoughts were delivered when they are not in their proper state of mind either in his dream and like those who are heavily drunk.
It is a stage where the body present condition cannot cope with the mental problems resulting in a form of disorder that had arrived from the severe stress, anxiety and depressions. It is also a product from unresolved issues that cannot give himself an alternate relief and remedy to accept the reality or resolution from unwanted fears.
Due to factors that contribute in having a moderate or severe mental stress, the actions, words delivered may somehow be seen as insane for others. But, it is a coping mechanism that they are able to set their fears, anxiety, depressions and feeling in a way they are unconscious from their actions and comparatively different from their normal behavior when he is an ordinary person.
The depression of a person can be released in different forms often are in dreams and activities which will put them not in the proper state of mind. Some alternate remedies can be done in present activities, outlet exposures, environment and continuous communication which will give them practical and inner thought realization in coping up with mental stress.
1 person likes this
