FWIW, when my H walked out he was VERY manic.....seriously.....I thought he was having a real manic episode. I've been a health care provider for 30 years, so I've seen a lot even though I am not a psychologist. I changed the locks 3 weeks later when H e-mailed to tell me he'd decided to D me. I retained an attorney right away and he affirmed my decision. Said he thought I should change the lock. My only regret was that I didn't tell H right away that I had changed the lock. He discovered it one day before I could tell him. I can imagine how hurt he felt then.
About 6 months later, when H was clearly out of his manic phase (this lasted about 5 months) I gave H a key to the house as a good will gesture. He had the key, but didn't use it. On the day that I bought the house from him he brought the key to the closing.
XH and I went biking for 2 1/2 hours on saturday and I'm going to visit his mom in the Alzheimers unit this evening.....so changing the locks doesn't necessarily mean the end of friendly interactions in the future.
