In Sickness and In Health
A Husband’s Story of Caring for a Mentally Ill Wife
by
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At one-point Susie began to experience even greater anxiety over her OCD. It would show itself in intensely evil thoughts which became more upsetting than she could handle. It was not the fear of germs that was so debilitating but rather the terrible intrusive thoughts she would get. These were thoughts of blasphemy or cursing God, hurting herself or one of our daughters or myself with a knife and other extremely upsetting thoughts that would just pop into her head. It is amazing to me as I reflect back on those day that I never actually felt the girls or myself were in danger. She loved us all more than anything else in her life and we knew that. Even when she was at her worst, I never felt we were in danger. We sought all sort of counselors and spiritual healers in addition to the doctors. We were so desperate that we would look for help in some rather odd places. We consulted internationally known healers and nationally known therapists. Some would help temporarily but we would still be back to square one after a period of time. We read books on all types of treatments that were not as mainstream. We went through so much money trying different vitamin supplements and organic healing methods as well as special tests.
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About the Book
Steve Zehr felt life couldn’t get any better when, at age twenty-five, he married a beautiful redheaded actress and model.
As part of their marriage vows May 28, 1982, he and Susan promised to stay together in sickness and in health. Of course, they meant those words, but the author never imagined that promise would be tested so fully.
Several years into their marriage, it became clear that Susan was suffering from psychological problems. Making matters worse, she was afflicted during a time when admitting you suffered from mental illness was a stigma.
Over the next many years, the author would find himself stretched to the limit as a father, husband, and even as a believer in God. At times, the burden simply seemed more than he could handle.
But God demonstrated His incredible faithfulness and strength to the author over and over, day after day, month after month, year after year.
This is one man’s story of how he believes God directed, sustained, strengthened, and supplied him with what he needed to care for his wife—as well as the toll it took on them both.