IT’S a miracle that Retired Husband Syndrome is only just being acknowledged because it’s been driving women mad for years.

Perfectly normal males leave working lives for what they believe will be an idyllic retirement, only to turn into dependent moaners who insist on knowing their wife’s every movement.

Small wonder that academics have now discovered that the problem accounts for stress depression and sleeplessness – in wives, the men are either oblivious or snoring.

Being forced to spend large amounts of time together in retirement is basically not normal. Everyone needs space, and time alone. Retirement, just like everything else, needs a proper plan – and women need an effective escape route.