Israel is a strong country. I’m not just talking about people who are boisterous in a cute and familiar way, but in all cases, and it’s not always positive.
Politically, we are at a major crossroads right now. Together judicial reform Being in the public sphere a constant source of tension, there is a sense of constant conflict with the person standing next to you. Protests have spread across the country for both those who oppose judicial reform and those who support it.
This, at a time when our security tensions have also increased Rockets fired from Gaza StripLebanon and Syria, and there have been numerous terrorist attacks in which civilians have been injured and even killed.
And there is noise at each and every one of these events. Not just any noise – not just voices – but sirens. Police sirens accompany every protest, ambulance sirens accompany every terrorist attack, and rocket sirens accompany every renewed attack in Israel.
This status quo exists as we approach Holocaust Remembrance Day, followed by Remembrance Day, the latter of which is spent mourning those who gave their lives in terrorist attacks and military operations, as opposed to those who have been in news headlines over the past few weeks. We mourn for these lives to the background of memorial sirens blaring, bringing the whole country to complete silence, heads bowed.
The Siren State: A nation of collective anxiety confronts complicated times (illustrative). (Credit: IDF Spokesperson’s Unit)
This, naturally, is not a quiet place to live. Israelis panic at the sound of loud noises, thinking they must run to a bomb shelter or that a terrorist attack has occurred nearby.
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political panic
The political sector is capable of creating so much trouble. For example, the Community Stress Prevention Center (CSPC) in Israel has reported a 40% increase in applications to its treatment centers for distress in the past year alone. This unprecedented rapid and trending rise in distress in a short span of time has led the Center to open a hotline for those feeling anxious and feeling the pinch due to the political tension in the country.
When it came to the hotline, dozens of calls came in from both sides of the political spectrum at more or less the same rate. According to the CSPC, people on all sides feel distressed, threatened or even attacked because of a position they identify with politically or because someone in opposition thought of them as “the other side”. Nevertheless, the increase in calls is across the board.
“The surge is an ongoing phenomenon that has now reached a new peak, with people who never called us for help, even during the long COVID-19 lockdown, fear, anxiety, Depression and above all, calling with helplessness and anxiety when it will all be over.
yiftach benbenisti
“The surge is an ongoing phenomenon that has now reached a new peak, with people who never called us for help, even during the long COVID-19 lockdown, fear, anxiety, Depression and above all, calling with helplessness and anxiety when it will all be over,” explained CSPC director Yiftach Benbenisti. magazine,
He added that these fears, in many cases, “resemble victimized customers domestic violence“Those who feel that” the struggle is inside, not outside. That is, the upheaval is emotional.
The real surprise, he explained, is the number of newcomers to the Centre, who earlier believed themselves to be resilient and able to manage their concerns, who are now facing the reality of the country’s political situation and find themselves helpless. have been
According to Benbenisti, distress can be exacerbated by spending too many hours on social media, a general negative trend in one’s thinking, and an inability to fall asleep.
This massive increase has led organizations such as ICSPC to struggle to meet the demand for support and those seeking help.
security tension
Various studies conducted in Israel and abroad over the years have shown that there is a continuum in life exposed to terrorist attacks Harmful to body and mind. In fact, according to a Hebrew University of Jerusalem study conducted in 2014, fear induced by frequent exposure to the threat of terrorism can have negative health consequences and increase the risk of mortality.
Post-traumatic stress disorder as well as heightened stress in the public sphere can also be launched or triggered. during which was known as “knife intifadaFollowing a major wave of terrorist attacks in 2015, approximately 8,000 Israelis developed PTSD as a reaction to the events happening around them every day.
Lest we forget, just two years ago, Itzik ChenA former paratrooper in the IDF in Lebanon and Nablus committed suicide after being recognized as a disabled veteran but fighting to receive additional recognition for mental illnesses stemming from his service.
The Defense Ministry denied that Chen’s suicide was related to post Traumatic Stress Disorder He developed during his IDF service, but at the time the IDF Disabled Veterans Association said, “This is precisely the outrage we’ve been raising the whole time. There are disabled IDF veterans who have been waiting for recognition for years, time and again.” falling through the cracks and not receiving proper treatment.
“That is exactly the outrage that we have been raising the whole time. There are disabled IDF veterans who have been waiting for recognition for years, falling through the cracks over time and not receiving proper treatment.
IDF Disabled Veterans Association
Now, as Israel enters another round of security tensions, everyone is on edge. fear that the waves of mental health crisis Will return with rockets and terrorist attacks. Yet these emotional crises, professionals say, have hardly been addressed.
Learn the breathing technique: Meditation in Lifta. (Credit: Nati Shohat/Flash90)
tips for stress
Benbenisti offered several suggestions for dealing with the anxiety and distress caused by the current tensions.
“Be mindful of yourself and your stress,” he said. It helps to “learn to manage” the pressure. Awareness is key.
According to Benbenisti, “It’s important to find ways to recharge, relax, and focus on the things that help you feel good.”
He explained that for those who want to go out and protest but are concerned about potentially triggering a crisis, it is best to stick with people they know. “If you feel distressed, go to the side,” he said.
- learn breathing techniques
Breathing techniques are methods of calming the breath as a method of bringing the heart rate under control, thereby reducing feelings of stress and anxiety.
An example of this is the 4-7-8 method: Close your eyes and breathe deeply through your nose for four seconds. Hold your breath for seven seconds, then exhale slowly through your mouth for eight seconds.
As mentioned, spending excessive time on social media can be quite harmful. Monitor how much time you’re spending online, as well as watching television. This can further increase the tension.
- sleep, drink, eat, repeat
“Be mindful of your bedtime and make sure to drink fluids — not alcohol — and eat,” Benbenisti said.
we will be fine
Many different situations can lead to stress and unfortunately, Israel’s nature doesn’t help prevent this. That being said it is an amazing country with resources.
And remember: Eventually, the sirens fall silent.
