“My mother-in-law lives in a shambles”: should we intervene?

The point of view of Marcel Rufo, child psychiatrist

Your mother-in-law, Anne, shows great discomfort through these somewhat surprising behaviors. These have to do with a loss of bearings. With her books, her magazines, her objects, she accumulates signs, clues that allow her to find her way in time.

You don’t specify whether she lost her husband or, more mundanely, a pet, but that could explain her disorder. It would be in your interest to take him to see a psychiatrist who will look for the causes of this attitude and can offer him psychological or medication follow-up. We should not overlook the onset of cognitive deterioration.

Apart from this approach, simple solutions consist of offering him a dog or a cat to break his isolation; encourage them to take part in outings, mini-trips, or even take a cruise. Or receive it at home if you can.

From the moment you are going to shake up his defense system, you will have to make suggestions to him. Your mother-in-law stopped the clock of her life, she set the time, but you can help her recreate a rhythm.