Coping with Anxiety and Depression During Wartime

The war in Israel has led to a sharp rise in the number of patients seeking help for anxiety. Prof. Yossi Levi-Belz, a clinical psychologist, and psychiatrist Dr. Sheli Santo explain that many patients are breaking down under the current situation and are unable to function. How can one get out of depression? They explain what has changed in recent months and what can be done.

"In psychology, we usually talk about direct exposure- about those who have experienced events firsthand," says Prof. Levi-Belz. "But the intensity of the events has caused a very sharp rise in anxiety and despair among Israeli citizens."

"Let’s start with anxiety," he continues. "I don’t think there’s a person in Israel- no matter where they live or how old they are- who doesn’t sometimes imagine a white Toyota driving around their neighborhood, or what they would do with their kids if terrorists came to the door or broke in, or where they would run if their town was attacked. This anxiety, even when we’re not fully aware of it, greatly heightens our alertness and sense of insecurity. It also reduces our tolerance. The mental space we normally have to respond with restraint and make rational decisions has significantly shrunk. Because the war is ongoing, we’re also experiencing a real erosion of our ability to hold on."

Levi-Belz, who serves as a reserve-duty psychologist in an intelligence unit, adds: "The strongest feeling is the ongoing gloom and lack of hope. We're in a constant state of being under attack. Core beliefs we all hold about how the world operates have been dramatically shaken. Alongside the despair, we’re also experiencing hopelessness- the inability to lift our eyes, look ahead, and say, ‘This will pass, and things will be better afterward.’ That sense of hope is usually what keeps people going in times of crisis."

“The most helpful thing right now is to look forward and plan,” he says. “It helps people manage daily life. Saying, ‘Next week we’ll do this and that,’ or ‘In two weeks we’ll take a trip,’ is a way of saying, ‘Tomorrow will be better.’”

Dr. Sheli Santo adds: “What I tell my patients, friends, and loved ones is that in times like these, many people have a tendency to engage in escapist behaviors. It’s important to be aware of this and try to reduce avoidant behaviors.”

“Many people feel like they’ve lost control over their lives,” she explains. “Something has happened that’s completely out of our control. Big decisions are being made by people far more powerful than us, and many feel they can no longer fully trust those in charge. Precisely because of those feelings, it’s very helpful to focus on things we can control. For example, now is actually a great time to focus on maintaining a healthy lifestyle.”

“The political and social crises we’re going through are also having an impact,” she continues. “There are people whose political stance has been deeply shaken by this massacre. It has so many layers- it’s not just about the hostages. There’s also a sense of ‘What did we do for the past 20 years?’ ‘How did we let this happen?’ These are questions everyone’s asking.”