For years, Gush Katif civilians lived in a war-affected area, where they were exposed to traumatic events and
The expulsion from Gush Katif tore from them that deep sense of purpose.
confronted with war-related stress. Many attribute their resilience and determination to a strong religious belief, a deep sense of purpose, and Zionist ideology. This allowed them to persevere and maintain their mental wellbeing as Arabs targeted them with mortars, road-side bombings and shooting attacks.

Residents of Gush Katif held fast to their convictions despite sustaining or witnessing the injury or death of a family member, neighbor or friend. The expulsion from Gush Katif tore from them that deep sense of purpose. Also, in addition to the trauma of the expulsion, it seems the stress that had once been manageable, including dealing with past events experienced in Gush Katif, has been rendered difficult to cope with and sometimes intolerable after the horrific uprooting.

There is growing research suggesting that war-time stress may show up years later in a civilian population, as evidenced in a connection between post- traumatic stress syndrome and physical health problems (Sibai, Fletcher, & Armenian, 2001; Sabioncello, et al., 2000). Moreover, stress may affect an increased risk of epilepsy (Christensen, Li, Vestergaard & Olsen, 2007). To this end, research studying the occurrence of epileptic seizures in war-affected areas among children indicates that "stressful life events can be provocative factors for the occurrence of epileptic seizures." (Bosnjak J.; Vukovic-Bobic M.; Mejaski-Bosnjak V., 2002)

One of my children was recently diagnosed with Juvenile Myclonic Epilepsy (JME). She is sensitive to epileptic drug side-effects and continues to search for a drug to control and manage seizure activity. Once a self-confident and in-control person, she has had her self-confidence eroded; she no longer trusts her judgment, as she presently suffers from anxiety, panic attacks and depression.
She has come to truly comprehend the magnitude of her loss.

And now, three and a half years after our Gush Katif expulsion, she has come to truly comprehend the magnitude of her loss of land, house and community by living in the temporary Nitzan "caravilla" relocation site. She yearns for the stability she had in Gush Katif, where she thrived. Suddenly, the whistling sound of the end of the washing machine cycle alarms her, as it reminds her of the whistling sound of a mortar overhead back in Gush Katif. Post-traumatic stress syndrome complicates her epilepsy; she is now medicated to alleviate anxiety and depression; thank G-d, she is doing better.

Now, Operation "Cast Lead" is underway, as Grad Katyusha rockets fly overhead. We have a mere 30 seconds to seek cover in one of the concrete sewer pipes that the government has provided in lieu of shelters capable of protecting us from missile attacks. And Israel National News reports that an Ashdod child's epilepsy was triggered after a rocket fell nearby.