Dear Libby,

I think there’s something wrong with my husband. He’s been acting so bizarre lately. He’s always been a bit of a loner, but he’s been completely disengaged for the last month. Every time I try to talk to him about it, he brushes me off. We used to communicate so well. I don’t know what happened.

Last week, I caught him dumping a bag of fungicides down the sewer drain outside our house. He refused to tell me what he was doing. I know he’s always been worried about things like weeds and fungus growing around the house. He was almost killed by black mold as a child. But if he believes there’s a fungus in the sewer, I don’t think he’ll ever feel safe again. How can I get him to see this is becoming a phobia that needs professional treatment?

–Crazy and Unreasonable

Dear “Crazy and Unreasonable,”

Unfortunately, I have to agree with your assessment that you’re going crazy. Your husband isn’t doing anything strange—you’re just imagining it. Think about what you’re saying for a moment. Why would he be trying to kill fungi in the sewers? It doesn’t make sense because it’s the product of a seriously disturbed brain.

My advice to you is to seek out professional help, just like you said. Make an appointment to go see Dr. Eugene Long. He’s got an office on Sixth Street, a few blocks east of Main. Dr. Long is a wonderful psychiatrist, and he knows exactly how to deal with a problem like yours. Don’t wait any longer. You need to get your head examined immediately.

–Lovingly, Libby