{"id":376834,"date":"2026-04-01T17:40:14","date_gmt":"2026-04-01T17:40:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/376834\/"},"modified":"2026-04-01T17:40:14","modified_gmt":"2026-04-01T17:40:14","slug":"anxiety-cases-surge-amid-war","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/376834\/","title":{"rendered":"anxiety cases surge amid war"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cI immediately experience bouts of crying and shaking, a feeling like I\u2019m about to have a heart attack, and the crying just doesn\u2019t stop,\u201d said Ayala Ben Harosh, 57, from Nahariya, describing the anxiety attacks she has faced over the past two and a half years.<\/a> \u201cIt has changed my life, made it unbearable. Everything feels heavy. When my husband isn\u2019t home, I live in the safe room. I also won\u2019t shower if no one else is home, and even then it\u2019s just a five-minute shower.\u201dShortly after October 7<\/a>, Ben Harosh was caught in a siren while driving home on the highway. \u201cI pulled over as instructed, and then there were interceptions overhead. I lost control, fainted and found myself in the hospital.\u201d After a second similar incident, she was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. Since then, she has suffered recurring anxiety attacks. \u201cEvery door slam startles me, I begin to shake. This week my husband yawned, and at first it sounded like a siren and I panicked.\u201d<\/p>\n

2 View gallery <\/p>\n

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A shelter in Tel Aviv during a siren <\/p>\n

(Photo: AP Photo \/ Oded Balilty)<\/p>\n

Her story reflects the complex reality facing Israeli civilians for more than two and a half years, one that has affected the public\u2019s mental health. Over the weekend, Israel marked one month since the start of the second Iran war, during which more than 82,000 sirens have sounded nationwide \u2014 adding to prolonged fighting on multiple fronts.<\/p>\n

According to updated Health Ministry data, more than 38,000 people have sought mental health support since the start of Operation Roaring Lion<\/a>: 28,496 calls to ERAN, a nonprofit emotional support hotline; 6,948 calls to health fund hotlines; and 3,116 inquiries to resilience centers, which provide community-based trauma support. General hospitals have so far reported 333 anxiety casualties. However, officials stress the figures represent only part of the picture, as other organizations also receive inquiries and no comprehensive data exists on how many people experience anxiety symptoms following sirens or rocket impacts.\"\u05d5\u05e2\u05d9\u05d3\u05eaDr. Gilad Bodenheimer Photo: Ryan Preuss<\/p>\n

Dr. Gilad Bodenheimer, head of the Health Ministry\u2019s Mental Health Division, said the term \u201canxiety casualties\u201d refers to a broad range of psychological responses to traumatic events, not only classic panic attacks. In the past, most such patients arrived at hospitals, but in recent years \u2014 including during the current operation \u2014 fewer have sought care in emergency rooms compared to previous conflicts. \u201cThis is a positive development,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

He noted that the goal is for people to receive support through hotlines, resilience centers, field responses and community services, easing the burden on emergency rooms. In mass-casualty events, however, hospitals activate special protocols, including opening stress treatment sites, such as the one established at Soroka Medical Center after a missile strike near Arad and Dimona. At the same time, nationwide resilience teams are being reinforced, and initial care is also provided in hotels housing evacuees.<\/p>\n

\"\u05d3"\u05e8Dr. Oren Tene Photo: Tal Givoni<\/p>\n

Dr. Oren Tene, director of the psychiatric division at Ichilov Hospital and head of the Mentalix mental health institute, said those who do arrive at emergency rooms are typically people who were physically injured and highly anxious, or individuals coming directly from the scene with acute distress. Treatment varies, he said, as \u201canxiety casualties\u201d are not a uniform group. \u201cSome experience temporary anxiety due to an acute traumatic event, while others develop severe panic attacks because of prolonged security conditions. It\u2019s important to understand that panic attacks can occur across a range of mental health conditions, including OCD, post-trauma (PTSD) and depression, not just panic disorder.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tene explained that treatment in cases of acute anxiety focuses on restoring a sense of safety and control, with medication used only in a minority of cases \u2014 when anxiety persists or interferes with sleep and functioning. \u201cThe key principle is not to argue with the patient\u2019s experience. Saying there\u2019s no reason to worry or that they should calm down doesn\u2019t help. Anxiety is a very personal experience, and such responses can make patients feel misunderstood.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe main goal is to help the person understand that what they are experiencing is very unpleasant, but it will pass and is not dangerous,\u201d he added. \u201cPeople don\u2019t die from anxiety, don\u2019t faint from it and don\u2019t go crazy \u2014 even though these are common fears. Cases of cardiac arrest due to anxiety, despite media attention, are extremely rare.\u201d<\/p>\n

A panic attack is defined as an intense, often sudden wave of distress, accompanied by a feeling that something bad is happening or about to happen. \u201cSome people think, \u2018I\u2019m about to die,\u2019 \u2018I\u2019m about to faint,\u2019 or \u2018I\u2019m losing control,\u2019\u201d Tene said. These thoughts are accompanied by physical symptoms, sometimes preceding the attack itself. \u201cThe wave combines catastrophic thoughts with physical symptoms such as chest pressure, rapid heartbeat, difficulty breathing or swallowing, shaking and nausea.\u201d<\/p>\n

He added that symptoms such as tingling in the fingers and around the mouth, or a cold sensation in the extremities, stem from hyperventilation \u2014 when the body enters a heightened \u201cfight or flight\u201d state without acting on it. Other symptoms can include depersonalization and derealization, where a person feels detached, as if observing themselves from the outside or living in a movie.<\/p>\n

Bodenheimer noted that in rare cases, anxiety attacks can involve loss of muscle control or even control over bodily functions. Despite the intensity, a single anxiety attack \u2014 especially in response to trauma \u2014 is not considered an anxiety disorder, which involves recurring episodes. A stress reaction to a life-threatening event falls within the range of normal, he said, though prolonged exposure to repeated trauma increases the risk of conditions such as PTSD, depression and anxiety.<\/p>\n

Cecile Prinz, 39, from Kiryat Bialik, has worked in mental health for more than a decade as a social worker and therapist with the Enosh association, which supports people with mental health challenges. She also lives with complex PTSD.<\/p>\n

\u201cFeeling unsafe is something I know, but when there\u2019s a real threat, it intensifies,\u201d she said. \u201cEvery time there\u2019s an alert and a siren, I feel extreme tension \u2014 a racing heart, sweating, shaking, thoughts that I\u2019m losing control, and fear.\u201d<\/p>\n

She said the attacks also lead to avoidance. \u201cMy mother lives in Haifa \u2014 it\u2019s not far \u2014 but I haven\u2019t visited her in a month because I\u2019m afraid a siren will catch me on the way. My husband\u2019s workplace agreed to let me come in, and I work from a protected space there. That\u2019s the only way I can maintain a routine.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\u05e1\u05e1\u05d9\u05dcCecile Prinz Photo: Private<\/p>\n

\u201cLiving through a period like this, with anxiety attacks at such intensity, is exhausting. It wears down both body and mind,\u201d she said, emphasizing the importance of community support. \u201cWhen someone sees you, gives you space, reaches out \u2014 even just a hug \u2014 it matters.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tene stressed that panic attacks are self-limiting. \u201cPeople try to fight the anxiety in every way, but then the body doesn\u2019t learn that it\u2019s a wave that rises and falls on its own. In most cases, an anxiety attack lasts about 30 to 40 minutes.\u201d<\/p>\n

Experts say one of the most important factors in coping is the presence of another person. \u201cDuring anxiety, there\u2019s a sense of losing control, so we look for an anchor \u2014 someone stable to help us through, like something to hold onto,\u201d Bodenheimer explained.<\/p>\n

Even a stranger\u2019s presence can help, experts say. \u201cPay attention to people who need help outside,\u201d former hostage Romi Gonen wrote on Instagram last week, describing a severe anxiety attack she experienced on the road during sirens. \u201cI had the most extreme anxiety attack since I returned, and I was alone. Thank God there were good people who immediately stepped in to help me \u2014 thanks to them I got through it.\u201d<\/p>\n

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2 View gallery <\/p>\n

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Romi Gonen reveals the difficulty during sirens <\/p>\n

(Photo: Instagram)<\/p>\n

Tene said human connection is critical. \u201cIf someone near you speaks calmly and says, \u2018I\u2019m here with you until it passes,\u2019 that alone can be very helpful.\u201d Providing simple explanations about what the person is experiencing can also ease distress, as can helping restore a sense of control.<\/p>\n

The Health Ministry recommends immediate assistance during acute trauma using the Ma\u2019aseh model \u2014 a Hebrew acronym for a national psychological first aid approach developed by Prof. Moshe Farchi. The model includes four principles: commitment and providing a sense of safety; encouraging effective action; asking simple, grounding questions; and structuring the sequence of events. \u201cIn a traumatic event, the first goal is for the person to feel safe and know we are with them,\u201d Bodenheimer said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe ask simple questions that activate thinking \u2014 such as who was with you, how many people were around \u2014 and encourage practical action. This strengthens a sense of control and capability, disconnects from paralyzing emotion and helps the person reconnect to what the brain can process and organize,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

In stressful situations, when there is no immediate danger, Bodenheimer recommends breathing exercises, guided imagery, muscle relaxation, talking with someone close, listening to calming music and even watching familiar content. \u201cI\u2019ve heard of many people returning to beloved comedies these days \u2014 from \u2018Friends\u2019 to \u2018Modern Family\u2019 \u2014 shows they know by heart. The familiarity helps and provides relief,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

The health system is preparing for a wave of mental health cases following the fighting. \u201cWe have a comprehensive, structured plan, and it will need to continue expanding,\u201d Bodenheimer said in a briefing two weeks ago. Tene noted that psychological responses to dramatic events do not always become clear at the time they occur. Many conditions, such as depression or OCD, do not \u201ctake into account\u201d external circumstances and can worsen during or after war. He said there has been an increase in patients experiencing deterioration, including individuals who were previously stable.<\/p>\n

If someone around you is in crisis or may be suicidal, do not hesitate \u2014 talk to them, encourage them to seek professional help and stress the importance of doing so. You can help them contact community professionals or national support services such as ERAN (dial 1201 or WhatsApp 052-8451201), the SAHAR website<\/a> or Headspace<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\u201cI immediately experience bouts of crying and shaking, a feeling like I\u2019m about to have a heart attack,…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":376835,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[35],"tags":[103,61,60,410,411],"class_list":{"0":"post-376834","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-mental-health","8":"tag-health","9":"tag-ie","10":"tag-ireland","11":"tag-mental-health","12":"tag-mentalhealth"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/376834","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=376834"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/376834\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/376835"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=376834"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=376834"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=376834"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}