When Debbi met Steve in 2011, she believed she’d “found her soulmate.” But soon, jealousy took over. Debbi was later diagnosed with Othello Syndrome, a rare psychiatric condition that causes obsessive delusions of infidelity.Her behavior quickly escalated. “I’d accuse him of cheating if he looked at a woman in a magazine,” Debbi confessed. She began checking Steve’s phone constantly and even demanded lie detector tests after simple errands. “I’d make him prove where he’d been. It was exhausting.”
Despite the strain, Steve stayed. “He never gave up on me,” she said. His patience and love helped Debbi recognize the severity of her condition. She eventually sought therapy, which gave her tools to manage her fears.Though the illness still affects her, Debbi now fights to control it. “It’s still a daily battle,” she admits, but she’s determined not to let jealousy ruin her life. With Steve by her side, she’s found strength and support.
