'Endless fears': Even if fighting stops, the damage to Iran's children will endure

The war is inside his head now. A slamming door or cutlery being dropped makes him jump. The ceasefire doesn't change that."Before the war, I had no stress at all," says Ali. "But now even the smallest sound causes my brain to react very badly." Although he is only 15, Ali – not his real name – understands how fear created by the sounds of US and Israeli airstrikes on Iran settle into the mind and won't let go. It triggers an automatic "startle response" to any loud noise."The sound of explosions, the shock waves, and the sound of fighter jets flying over the city can have a very serious effect," he says.More than 20% of Iran's population is under the age of 14 – approximately 20.4 million children. What Ali and many others are experiencing is what psychologists call "hyper arousal" and it can be an early warning of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).Ali watches his parents' reactions to what is happening. He looks for the familiar safety of home life but cannot find it. His father is out of work because of the war; his mother constantly apprehensive."My mother stays at home, and whenever fighter jets fly overhead, she becomes frightened and stressed and shows clear signs of anxiety and fear. As for myself, I am very afraid," he says."I have no contact with my friends… I should be able to study, to work and become an independent person in the future. [I should] not be constantly worrying about politics, living in stress, thinking about bombs falling…[with] endless fears."