Living Hell

Never in a million years did I think my wife would have a breakdown … she had a good job, happy family life, holidays, nice car and a fantastic husband; well I would say that wouldn’t I?

The first sign of the breakdown was my wife losing lots and lots of weight, I thought she looked good so I thought carry on … One morning I walked into the lounge and she said she couldn’t stop crying, neither of us knew why. Then out of the blue she said take me to the Humber Bridge – I want to jump off it. What do you say to that? Then floods and floods of tears burst out of her. She simply wanted to die! What do you do?

I rang the doctor and told him everything and within minutes two doctors appeared on the doorstep. They listened to my wife and calmed her down. I went to work; I had a big meeting on that day. I texted her, rang her, and when she picked the phone up it was the loudest noise you could make when crying. When I got home I cuddled and assured her, but she still wanted to go to that bridge. Next morning I had to go to work, she assured me she was OK.  I texted often and I rang as often as I could.

It took months before she would come out in the car. For a woman who had been half way round the world, and on several cruises, she would not travel more than 30 miles in any direction for at least a year. There are lots of little stories I could mention. It is 3 years after the breakdown and she will only go to familiar places. She will go on a cruise providing it’s the same ship and  same room and same journey. To get to Southampton from Yorkshire her knuckles are white and sweaty as she walks into the cruise terminal.

What she has been going through these past 3 years is no fun for me. Both of us are in our sixties – I hope she gets well soon.