Doubting spouse: How to deal with delusions affecting marriage

Delusion is a mental disorder that affects some people deeply and which leads to severe problems in life, especially in marriage. One day a man whose wife showed symptoms of this condition came to me and said that his better half considered our neighbours as her enemies. She felt that they were always plotting to humiliate her. Each and every action and conversation of theirs was intended to achieve this goal, she thought.

As a result, the woman never spoke to the neighbours. She also did not make friends with any one in the locality. Worse, she refused to cooperate with the neighbours in any way.

The husband thought that there was something wrong with the neighbourhood and shifted to another place. However, that did not bring about any change in the wife’s behaviour. She suspected her neighbours in the new place too. When she saw a woman in the next house changing dress without closing the curtains, she said that it was intended to lure her husband. As a result, the husband was forced to block the view of that window.

Later, the wife approached the police with a complaint which said that somebody had planted spy cameras in her bathroom. However, an investigation proved that there was no such device there.

The man tried to convince his wife that she was having illusions. However, she responded angrily and accused her husband of plotting with others.

When a person displays such symptoms, we should understand that he or she might be suffering from a psychiatric condition called psychosis. Such people may develop beliefs which are far from reality; in other words they would have delusions. The cause of this condition is damage to certain areas of the brain related to thought.

Relatives of people suffering from this condition should first of all realize that it is a medical condition, and not a misbehaviour. People with such disorder should be approached with compassion.

Meanwhile, when delusion affects marital life, the couple should consult a psychiatrist. Alongside, they can also meet a marital counsellor. Drugs and counselling can indeed solve the issue to a great extent.