After tragedy, joy can feel suspicious. Laughter sounds too loud. Music feels misplaced. Even a moment of calm can trigger guilt — how can I enjoy this when others are still grieving?
Across Israel, as the months after October 7 stretch into years of rebuilding, this quiet guilt has become widespread. Survivors, soldiers, and families often describe feeling torn between gratitude for life and grief for what was lost.
Mental Health First Aid Israel calls this stage the return of joy anxiety: the uneasy, unfamiliar experience of pleasure after trauma. It is a sign of healing — but also a challenge to accept.
Healing begins when people learn that pleasure is not betrayal — it's recovery.
MHFA facilitators reframe the question. Instead of "Who am I to feel joy?", they invite participants to ask, "Who am I not to — when life itself is sacred?"
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