For the most part, the base’s spousal support group had been helpful for "Debbie,” a 34-year-old female whose husband’s unit had just been deployed for a third tour in Iraq. But that was all about to change. As usually happens immediately after a deployment, the spirits of the spouses became particularly low. But this time, that was not the case for everybody. One woman insisted that the war in Iraq had actually improved her marriage. "My husband has changed for the better since the war began,” she told the group.

She then said her husband had apologized for taking her for granted over the last several years of their marriage. He said he thinks of her for strength each day while in Iraq and vouched to be a much better husband once he returns home for good. "So I have to say, this war looks to be helping my marriage. I think everything is going to be fine.”

Debbie got up, put her hand over her mouth and began to head toward the door. "Why are you leaving?” asked the group facilitator. "Why don’t you stay and share your feelings with the group?”

Debbie stopped, turned around and wiped her eyes. She spent about 30 seconds collecting her thoughts. "What would like me to tell you about?” Debbie asked. "About while this stupid war apparently is great for this woman’s marriage, it is destroying mine because my husband is a zombie? Is that what you want to hear? Do you want me to describe how he said about three words to me and our kids during the time he came home before going back?”

Debbie had been dealing with undiagnosed depression and anxiety since her husband’s first tour or duty. Caring alone for her three children, one of whom has ADHD and a learning disability, had placed her under a considerable amount of stress. Services on the base for mental healthcare had been limited, and she and her needy child had not had psychiatric help for nearly a year.

She continued her rant to the group. "Should I tell you about the times when he is gone and I sit on the floor all day long feeling paralyzed by worry? I am overwhelmed trying to care for our kids alone. You want me to open up? I can talk all day about how bad our lives have become since we invaded Iraq.”

Debbie sits down and begins to sob. Others in the group approach her but she is inconsolable. She suddenly falls to the floor and faints. She is taken to the base infirmary, where it is determined she had a nervous breakdown. The base had recently been designated to be part of a telepsychiatry pilot program to help the family members of U.S. military personnel serving overseas. The woman was given immediate access to a psychiatrist. She was accurately diagnosed and prescribed appropriate psychiatric medication. Her anxiety and stress have greatly diminished. She has a positive outlook on the future and is able to concentrate on caring for her children while waiting for her husband to return home for good.