A very thoughtful piece in the Guardian on the impact of the violence on the younger generation on both sides of the border in Gaza-Israel.
As the article writes "Sleeping problems, fears, and fits of aggression are just some of the many symptoms of severe stress affecting the majority of children in Gaza and Sderot.
They live on the frontline of the world's oldest conflict, which in the past eight years has killed 5,848 people, wounded thousands more and traumatised countless families. Raziel has spent four years in therapy; Nour has been seeing counsellors for six months"
In addition, "If psychological symptoms are any indication, Gaza and Sderot could be in the throes of an emerging epidemiological disaster.
A study of children and their families in Sderot last October revealed an epidemic of severe stress.
Twenty-eight per cent of adults, three times the national average, and an even higher proportion of children, suffered post traumatic stress disorder. Children aged seven to 12 suffered most, with 74% experiencing extreme fear, 67% refusing to talk or visit places that remind them of an attack, and 57% enduring nightmares and other sleep difficulties."
Post Traumatic Stress is present at its most extreme level within warzones but for those who live and work in Western Countries and thankfully safer environments also permeates in many of our lives.
Lawyers will deal with in such cases as personal injury and workplace bullying. Many children exposed to bullying will experience it and will suffer consequences such as anger, lack of concentration and loss of self esteem for the rest of their lives which will have a massive impact on their lives.
The solution is the elimination of conflict to prevent the trauma arising in the first place. Can diplomats and politicians find the skill to solve the middle east problem? At a lower level can mediators, counsellors and lawyers exercise skill to help their clients and opponents resolve their traumas?
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