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Even though she’s been given a diagnosis, I honestly have my doubts. That whole PMS thing sounds bizarre—being perfectly fine all month and then suddenly crashing for three to five days? I've never heard of anything like that before.
Although her symptoms were intense at first—she was practically carrying knives around with her—I wasn't scared. I've known her my entire life and just didn't think she was capable of hurting anyone. You’re incredibly lucky to have your husband; her own father completely cut her off.
And he won't stop talking trash about her because of it... acting like she somehow disgraced the family name or some other bullshit.
I just finished reading your posts, and honestly, I have so much respect for you!
About a year and a half ago, my cousin suddenly hit a breaking point. She started saying
things that had absolutely no connection to reality, carrying knives around, just acting completely erratic. She was about 18.5 at the time. Her thought distortions were extreme, and her behavior was
totally bizarre. It took everything we had just to convince her to see a doctor, and once she did, he gave her a diagnosis of schizophrenia (some non-specific type of SCH).
He prescribed some medication, but she refused to take it.
Then things would settle down, only for the cycle to repeat. After a few months, we realized this was happening just a few days before her period. Every single time. I couldn't believe it. She never wanted to touch the pills.
She’s perfectly fine now—zero symptoms (even though she never took the meds)—but because she lives in a tiny rural town, she's been branded for life. People call her crazy, and her own family continues to mess with her head constantly. It's horrific. She's facing total harassment from everyone around her, and I truly admire her strength in enduring it.
I actually went to the psychiatrist with her recently (her family refuses to go), and even though she tells him everything is fine and that she isn't acting strange, he just sticks to his guns and insists it's all because of the lack of medication. Unbelievable...
I even brought up the connection to her PMS, but he didn't give it a second thought...
Anyway, kudos to you. It is disgusting how people target those who are struggling, and the stigma that comes with it is relentless. Best,