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21 May 2025 10:07 AM
21 May 2025 10:07 AM
Hi friends,
I am wondering if anyone here has had to make the difficult decision to enforce medical help on a loved one, perhaps by involving a mental health team or calling an ambulance? Or anyone who has had this happen to them, been sectioned etc?
My husband has been in psychosis for two years now. It is most likely he has delusional disorder - he has paranoid delusions that he is being spied on and monitored wherever he goes, and he is constantly 'hearing' strangers say things in passing like 'you're being set-up' etc. For more context, he's otherwise stable in the sense that he can present normally in society, do his job well and function fairly normally, and isn't a risk to self or others. I'm the only person who knows what he is struggling with, and that he isn't experiencing reality in a normal way. He 100% believes his delusions to be true, and won't get medical help.
I love him but it's an exhausting roller-coaster ride having to listen to the delusions on a daily basis. For instance, yesterday he was too scared to connect to the internet at work because he believed his computer was being hacked and used for incriminating ppurposes.I managed to calm his fears, and he was 'brave' enough to use the internet. On a good day, he'll just mention the delusions in passing and i'll succeed in changing the topic. On a bad day, he might be carrying on in an agitated way to me for ages, even hours if it's a really bad day.
I've been considering leaving temporarily to snap him out of it, but I was advised by a forum of people who have had psychosis that this is unlikely to help, as he won't suddenly stop believing his delusions. Those guys advice was that forcing help ie via trying to get him sectioned, is the best and kindest option.
I am terrified to take this big step, as I have no way of knowing how it may play out. I called the mental health support line and they said basically my main option is to call an ambulance, but again they may do nothing if he masks, may only hold him for a few days, may hold him longer, who knows. It's scary as we really need him to remain in his job (which he loves and is very talented at) so we can pay the bills and feed the kids.
Does anyone know how calling the ambulance is likely to play out, in my situation? I'm in Sydney and it seems I can't speak directly to a CAT team, I'd just have to call an ambulance or police (really don't want to do the latter, feels way too much). I guess I've realised after two years of trying that he is not going to see a doctor or even speak to a counsellor (they are all 'in on it') but at the same time,the illness is not going to go away by itself.
Any guidance gratefully appreciated!!
21 May 2025 10:43 AM
21 May 2025 10:43 AM
Hello @Lattepowered and hugs. It must be a scary situation for you and you're doing your best.
I've had a CATT team called for me several times over 20 years ago. They visited me at home - it was OK - they were liaising with my local public hospital but each time I ended up at a private psychiatric hospital I'd been to before as I had privatel health insurance.
I've also called a CATT team myself for someone else but they said they couldn't intervene under the mental health act as the situation wasn't life-threatening. That was a couple of years ago. I'm in Victoria.
I googled for you and found...
You can connect with a CATT by calling the NSW Mental Health Line at 1800 011 511.
Please take care of yourself and the kids, you need to know you're not alone and others have been there.
All the best.
21 May 2025 04:29 PM
21 May 2025 04:29 PM
I've had my husband call the Catt team on me and they were fantastic. They came to my home and I did not hold any resentment towards him for doing so if anything it made me realise just how serious the situation was.
I don't honestly know if they will accept you if it's not life threatening but I guess all you can do is try the worst that can happen is that they say no.
26 May 2025 10:50 AM
26 May 2025 10:50 AM
Hi @snowflake231 thank you for your thoughts and sorry for my slow reply. I have little kids so can barely type a message most days lol
That is SO wonderful how positive you are about your husband calling the CATT team. May I asked how it played out? Did you realise you were struggling, and agree to go to hospital with them? My huge worry is that my husband has zero insight he is unwell, his delusions are his reality, so if an ambulance shows up he will likely be outraged, like why have I done that to him when there's nothing wrong with him. I also have little kids, so I don't want them witnessing a distressing scene.
I also have no idea how long they'd hold him in hospital, if he'd lose his job, or if they'd take him at all. Too many unknowns. I think that's why I haven't actioned anything yet.
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