In the heart of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, anxiety and sleeplessness have become unintended consequences of warfare. With the war now stretching into its third year, the psychological toll on the Ukrainian population is increasingly becoming apparent. Sofia Tsarenko, a 22-year-old from Dnipro, represents many young individuals grappling with these unseen scars of war. Initially, Tsarenko would turn to alcohol with friends to alleviate her anxiety, but as the emotional strain escalated, she found relief only through antidepressants and sleeping pills.
The palpable fear permeating Ukraine has been exacerbated by nearly nightly drone attacks, which have created a culture of unrest. Citizens lie awake in their beds in various towns and cities, accustomed to the sound of drones resembling buzzing lawn mowers followed by ominous explosions. Anxiety has surged as these strikes intensify, especially after a recent devastating attack in Kyiv, prompting civilians to live in a state of perpetual alertness.
Experts assert that chronic sleep deprivation, often referred to as "sleep debt," leads to heightened anxiety, irritability, and other severe mental health issues. The lingering effects of this psychological burden go beyond mere sleeplessness. It complicates recovery from the trauma of an ongoing war, adding another layer to the already complex mental health crisis faced by many Ukrainians. As the toll of the conflict continues to unfold, the focus now must shift to addressing the silent repercussions of war that plague the country's population.
The palpable fear permeating Ukraine has been exacerbated by nearly nightly drone attacks, which have created a culture of unrest. Citizens lie awake in their beds in various towns and cities, accustomed to the sound of drones resembling buzzing lawn mowers followed by ominous explosions. Anxiety has surged as these strikes intensify, especially after a recent devastating attack in Kyiv, prompting civilians to live in a state of perpetual alertness.
Experts assert that chronic sleep deprivation, often referred to as "sleep debt," leads to heightened anxiety, irritability, and other severe mental health issues. The lingering effects of this psychological burden go beyond mere sleeplessness. It complicates recovery from the trauma of an ongoing war, adding another layer to the already complex mental health crisis faced by many Ukrainians. As the toll of the conflict continues to unfold, the focus now must shift to addressing the silent repercussions of war that plague the country's population.
