Posted by danieljohnson18 on March 11, 2004, at 12:07:07
In February, 2003, my 33 year old wife began taking paxil for post-partum depression after the birth of our first child. What followed can only be described as a nightmare. Within a month of starting treatment, she started drinking excessively with her co-workers. At first I was oblivious, but when she started coming home at 2, 3, 4 in the morning it dawned on me that something was wrong. During this time she became hyper-sexual, insisting on sexual behavior that became farther and farther from our typical behavior. If I confronted her about her behavior, she would rant and rave about me trying to "control" her.
Eventually I decided I wanted to observe what went on with her co-workers. What I saw was devastating. After consuming an extreme amount of alcohol, my wife took off her bra and underwear and gave them to a co-worker right in front of me (after 6 years of happy marriage....) She then leaned over the table and showed him her breasts. I was in shock - I couldn't believe what was happening. Then she propositioned the co-worker's wife, who seemed more than willing to participate (my wife has never demonstrated any bisexual tendencies).
Deciding enough was enough, I got my wife out of the bar and took her home. The entire way home she yelled at me, pouring out language that I cannot reproduce here.
Now even more alarmed at her behavior, I started digging deeper, and I discovered that she had started extremely sexual email affairs with several male co-workers. At this point I about lost my sanity. Fortunately (or unfortunately) I am BP-II, and I eventually recognized her behavior as being manic. She was taken off the paxil, and after about 6 months she returned to her pre-paxil state (I think?).
Unfortunately, as a result of all this, our marriage is in shambles and it is only through intense psychotherapy and a tremendous love for our daughter that has allowed me to remain in the marriage. Even though she has "returned to normal," I'm not sure I'll ever be the same.
There is no point to this story other than the fact that SSRI's can induce mania, and that the effects can be devastating on a marriage, a family, a career. I wish I'd picked up on the symptoms sooner. Instead, I'm just
crying in Indiana
poster:danieljohnson18
thread:323260
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20040308/msgs/323260.html