"It's just been a heavy, heavy journey right now," said Collins.
Her experience is unique, as other parents cannot truly understand what it is like to have a child in a war zone at this moment.
Collins isn't alone in navigating the uncertainty military families are facing right now. It's an experience that Shannon Razsadin has been through. Her husband served 24 years in the Navy Special Forces.
Rocky Mount mom asks for prayers for son stationed in Bahrain
"Military families right now are feeling heightened stress, and that impacts every part of the family, the spouse, the service member, of course, and also the kiddos," said Razsadin. "It lands differently when you've been through moments like this."
Razadin is now supporting other spouses through the Military Family Advisory Network, a national organization addressing gaps in support for service members and their families, which provided assistance at Fort Bragg and Camp Lejeune.
"We really find that peer-to-peer communication is incredibly powerful, and so we're making sure that we get the information out that military families need. So they don't feel isolated in moments like this," said Razadin.
She also wants to make sure military families are aware of resources available to assist them with tasks such as discussing current events with children or communicating with their child's school to convey what the child might be experiencing.
Support in uncertain times
The North Carolina National Guard Association (NCNGA) has supported soldiers and airmen of the North Carolina National Guard for over 65 years.
Its mission is to serve those who serve our state and nation, including active members, retirees, and veterans of the Guard.
Christine Quante, Executive Director of the NCNGA, said during a phone call with Eyewitness News that in times of global uncertainty, such as the current conflict in the Middle East, their focus is on supporting the people behind the mission.
Quante provided this statement outlining the NC National Guard Association's support.
"The NCNGA works to advocate for Guard members at both the state and federal levels, while also providing programs and benefits that strengthen their readiness and well-being. Right now, we are focused on unit support activities both at home and abroad - ensuring deployed soldiers and airmen know their Guard family in North Carolina stands behind them, while also supporting the families who remain here at home. Our goal is to help maintain strong connections, provide resources where needed, and ensure our service members and their loved ones feel supported throughout any deployment or operational mission."
Follow Iran live updates
A moment this heavy may require the help of a licensed psychologist to navigate the fear and concern surrounding the conflict in the Middle East.
"What's going to happen? How are things going to evolve? What's going to happen to my parents as they're going off?" are questions Dr. Anthony Smith with theAlase Enrichment Center in Durham helps parents navigate. He advises creating a space of relief by lowing the emotional intensity.
Dr. Smith suggests limiting exposure to images of the conflict to avoid escalating anxiety.
"You don't want to overdo it. That heightens the level of anxiety that young people and just adults as well might have. So you want to find ways to detach from that, find things that are light-hearted, funny things to engage in, that bring the temperature down," he said.
And that's exactly what Collins is doing to ease her fears.
"I have some great people who surround me with prayer, uplifting words, and encouraging words. They pour into me. They gave me life. And I love it," she said.