Teh One Who Knocks
11-15-2013, 12:16 PM
By Andy Wells - The Daily Star
http://i.imgur.com/FIeoFkw.jpg
Debbi Wood, from Leicester, doesn't stop at lie detector tests either - she also checks his phone, email accounts and bank statements several times a day to find any hint of infidelity.
But the 42-year-old doesn't just have a problem with trusting her partner Steve Wood - she is suffering from Othello Syndrome, a psychiatric disorder that causes sufferers to believe their partners have been unfaithful - even if they have no evidence of it.
The pair began dating two years ago after meeting through a friend, and despite Steve having to put up with being banned from watching women on TV or looking at pictures of them in magazines, he's stuck by her.
And now Debbi is relieved after being diagnosed with the disorder in September - but admits she has a way to go before she can overcome her issues.
http://i.imgur.com/tMsDDxk.jpg
She said: "I'm relieved to finally know what's wrong with me but I still have a long way to go.
"Even if Steve pops out for 15 minutes to buy a pint of milk, I make him take a lie detector test as soon as he gets home.
"I get so worried that he's been eyeing up the shop assistant that I just have to know the truth."
Experts think that Debbi's condition can be linked to an earlier relationship falling apart.
She spent 10 years in America before moving back to the UK due to her long-term relationship coming to an end.
http://i.imgur.com/8Vndjvz.jpg
The breakdown left her heartbroken and she swore she would never get into another relationship, until she met Steve, 30, on Facebook a year later.
She said: "I didn't mean to fall in love again after my last relationship but Steve stole my heart."
Steve was later discovered to have been seeing another woman around the time he met Debbi.
He claimed that his long-distance affair with Debbi meant he wasn't sure of they were an exclusive couple.
Debbi forgave him but began to wonder if he would ever remain faithful to her, and when they moved in together, she began to monitor his every move.
Childproof filters were installed on his laptop and mobile phone to stop any saucy pictures being viewed and his viewing habits were put under strict control.
Debbi, who also suffers from bipolar and body dysmorphic disorders, added: "One night, an advert for a women's razor came on television and I felt panicky thinking that Steve was eyeing the model up.
"The only thing that could put my mind at rest was banning him from watching any programmes that have women in them.
http://i.imgur.com/BG5RP1P.jpg
"Now, I won't even let him watch The Weakest Link in case he fancies Anne Robinson but I'm scared he'll have a sneaky look when I'm in another room.
"That's why I decided to order the lie detector online. It was my only way of knowing for sure if Steve's eyes were wandering."
Virtually housebound for six months because of her disorder, Debbi now takes anti-anxiety pills and undergoes therapy - and hopes to marry Steve once she deals with her issues.
Unemployed Steve admitted life with Debbi could be tough - but insisted she was worth it.
He said: "Sometimes, I get nervous and the lie detector test results come back inconclusive because my heart is hammering, which makes Debbi doubt me.
"I just have to tell her I haven't cheated and pray she believes me.
"I'm willing to put up with it, because I know we're soulmates.
"She's so special to me and a bit of jealousy here and there won't change that."
Othello Syndrome is named after the Shakespeare play, where the character of Othello murders his wife Desdemona after suspecting she is cheating on him.
http://i.imgur.com/FIeoFkw.jpg
Debbi Wood, from Leicester, doesn't stop at lie detector tests either - she also checks his phone, email accounts and bank statements several times a day to find any hint of infidelity.
But the 42-year-old doesn't just have a problem with trusting her partner Steve Wood - she is suffering from Othello Syndrome, a psychiatric disorder that causes sufferers to believe their partners have been unfaithful - even if they have no evidence of it.
The pair began dating two years ago after meeting through a friend, and despite Steve having to put up with being banned from watching women on TV or looking at pictures of them in magazines, he's stuck by her.
And now Debbi is relieved after being diagnosed with the disorder in September - but admits she has a way to go before she can overcome her issues.
http://i.imgur.com/tMsDDxk.jpg
She said: "I'm relieved to finally know what's wrong with me but I still have a long way to go.
"Even if Steve pops out for 15 minutes to buy a pint of milk, I make him take a lie detector test as soon as he gets home.
"I get so worried that he's been eyeing up the shop assistant that I just have to know the truth."
Experts think that Debbi's condition can be linked to an earlier relationship falling apart.
She spent 10 years in America before moving back to the UK due to her long-term relationship coming to an end.
http://i.imgur.com/8Vndjvz.jpg
The breakdown left her heartbroken and she swore she would never get into another relationship, until she met Steve, 30, on Facebook a year later.
She said: "I didn't mean to fall in love again after my last relationship but Steve stole my heart."
Steve was later discovered to have been seeing another woman around the time he met Debbi.
He claimed that his long-distance affair with Debbi meant he wasn't sure of they were an exclusive couple.
Debbi forgave him but began to wonder if he would ever remain faithful to her, and when they moved in together, she began to monitor his every move.
Childproof filters were installed on his laptop and mobile phone to stop any saucy pictures being viewed and his viewing habits were put under strict control.
Debbi, who also suffers from bipolar and body dysmorphic disorders, added: "One night, an advert for a women's razor came on television and I felt panicky thinking that Steve was eyeing the model up.
"The only thing that could put my mind at rest was banning him from watching any programmes that have women in them.
http://i.imgur.com/BG5RP1P.jpg
"Now, I won't even let him watch The Weakest Link in case he fancies Anne Robinson but I'm scared he'll have a sneaky look when I'm in another room.
"That's why I decided to order the lie detector online. It was my only way of knowing for sure if Steve's eyes were wandering."
Virtually housebound for six months because of her disorder, Debbi now takes anti-anxiety pills and undergoes therapy - and hopes to marry Steve once she deals with her issues.
Unemployed Steve admitted life with Debbi could be tough - but insisted she was worth it.
He said: "Sometimes, I get nervous and the lie detector test results come back inconclusive because my heart is hammering, which makes Debbi doubt me.
"I just have to tell her I haven't cheated and pray she believes me.
"I'm willing to put up with it, because I know we're soulmates.
"She's so special to me and a bit of jealousy here and there won't change that."
Othello Syndrome is named after the Shakespeare play, where the character of Othello murders his wife Desdemona after suspecting she is cheating on him.