Some years back my friend's husband had a heat stroke. A neurologist some ordered test as a precaution, said everything was normal, except for an "abnormal signal in his brain". (He's always been pretty reserved, "flat" personality, helps with nothing, does nothing unless asked.) Lately, he's started accidentally breaking her things. Not his things, just her things, which concerns me, usually things that have high sentimental value to her. IE Grandmother's dishes, vase, glassware, etc. Oh, and her car that she keeps real nice. Dents and scratches it up all the time in the garage, accidentally leaves nails and screws in garage and driveway when tinkering on projects. Her last car, (also very nice car), had 3 different brands of tires on it from this. (?) She phoned me over the weekend kind of upset, found the second flatted tire on this new car. Also had to take down and put away a curio cabinet, he was accidentally banging into it all the time while walking past. I know he's been told and told don't string nails around the garage, don't bang into that cabinet, it just doesn't register. Said she finally gave up and put it away to keep it/contents from further damage. (?) I'm left wondering about the "abnormal signal", wonder if it's getting worse with age? I know nothing about Alzheimer's/dementia, but am betting lots of you guys do. Wondering if this could be what's going on? I mean, that does seem pretty weird, needed to dismantle house, fix yet another tire. Ideas? (He's early 60's)
When you think about it, the glass wear and china are breakable no matter what, and a house is normally decorated by the woman so it will be her things that are presented. Her husband is probably also bumping into things in his workshop, too, but tools don't shatter when dropped.
If I were your friend, stop parking in the garage. I rather have to scrap ice off the windows than having to deal with yet another flat tire.
My point is that sometimes things that seem to be aggression aimed at a spouse are really a problem in the brain.
What you describe is either passive-aggressive marital problems or a problem in the brain that may or may not be related to the the earlier heat stroke.
My bet is on a problem in the brain. If you have enough influence with your friend, I'd encourage her to get medical attention for her husband, and the sooner the better.
After getting two flats, I'd be looking for nails myself - she's crazy to keep doing the same thing with him being so careless or unable to see what he's leaving around.
He could also have a drug-induced tremor from the caffeine. This is from Medline Plus: Drug-induced tremor is a simple nervous system and muscle response to certain medications. Drugs that can cause tremor include the following:
Stimulants such as caffeine and amphetamines
Regarding the soda, sounds like your friend's husband could be dehydrated as soda isn't water. Dehydration can have a variety of different symptoms. And drinking that much soda, even though hubby had cut back, still has a terrible effect on one's mind and body. Soda is THE worse thing to drink when it is hot outside.
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