Case no 1

On Friday of 17 July 2009, I was asked by a fellow colleague to see a patient in the ward who has been admitted for 'accidental over dose' of sleeping pills. The word 'accidental overdose' is a term used by doctors and other medical professionals to avoid any legal issues. But without saying, there must be a story behind the accidental overdose. So there I go preparing myself to meet a young,immatured adolescent who has fought with her parents/lover and tries to break through her stress by this 'accidental overdose'.
However, I was shocked to see a 55 year old lady, married to a 62year old man, who had children with ages 30, 27 and 25. She came from a stable family background with a good reputation. Moreover she was educated, employed in with the State Government and her husband is a seasoned politician.
From the few initial conversation it was clear that the husband loved her but did not show her as he was 'angry'. She had an obssessive fondness for her husband that was overshadowed with suspicions over his fidelity.
Here, I was posed with this big challenge... was she having a paranoic disorder (a mental disorder where one suspects another to no end) or was she insecure?
However hard her husband tried to reassure her that he has no other woman in his life, she would not just believe in him.
On the other hand, their children had no idea of the storm in their parents relationship until a year ago. Needless to say they're shattered to see their parents' life in different directions after believing for so long in their love and harmony.
It was a very tricky and trying situation for me and I didn't want to be mislead by emotions that was overpowering the truth. I couldn't believe the woman as she was crying and playing a constant blame-game. The man was a politicians with trained eye contact and body language.
Their children who lived away from parents for quite some time now don't seem to understand the real problem between the two and hence are helpless.
The couple on the other hand seem to have lost their belief in marriage and claim that they have led their lives only for the sake of their children. But both do not wish to separate formally. Living together was equally next to impossible. What do they do?
What do I do? Do I help them lead a distasteful life together or do I let them go their own ways?
Their children are not an issue here as they all have been married away. Now the couple live alone, got only each others company but they are not happy. The lady insists, she needs to be free atleast now after having suffered all her life for the sake of children. The man wants to be with the wife but is sick and tired of her suspicious spying and constant fights. He is old, a hypertensive and wants to live his old age in peace.
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Well, this is quite a common scenario in my life where I have to come across people leading
a scattered life and seem to remain together because they do not have an option to separate either because of family/societial norms or due to their dependant personalities.
But not having 'separation' and 'divorce' as a moral action seemed to have done good to many familes despite having unfavourable living conditions.
There are impossible living situation too, where living together alone can cause damage to one's life and property.
Do you think, such situations can be over come by working out issues or is separation a wise, hassle-free option?

As for this Case no 1, keep in track with the blog to see how this Case Process goes.