"Fear is no longer a passing feeling. It has become part of everyday life, as repeated wars have created a constant state of apprehension and readiness for any sudden escalation."
With these words, Maryam Merhi sums up the reality facing many Lebanese, particularly those in the south, amid reports of a possible return to war.
"Every escalation takes us back into the same cycle of anxiety and uncertainty," she told Asharq Al-Awsat, explaining that her emergency bag remains packed and that one question constantly weighs on her mind: "If something happens, what will we do? Where will we go?"
She said the hardest part of life in Lebanon today is losing the sense of safety within one's own home.
"All I wish for is to return to a normal life, to plan for tomorrow instead of planning an escape, and to feel that our homes are safe places rather than somewhere we fear being forced to leave at any moment. All we hope for is simply a normal life."
Merhi is among thousands of Lebanese for whom any security alert or potential threat triggers what has become known as "Plan B": preparing to flee.
Such preparations are no longer confined to areas that have experienced military escalation. They have spread across much of Lebanon, where people increasingly treat any security development as an early warning.
Emergency bags, evacuation plans and the search for safer places have become part of everyday life as residents brace for another possible escalation.
From Breaking News to Escape Plans
Marwa Jaber said even reports suggesting that hostilities might resume are enough to revive the fear Lebanese experienced during the war, with anxiety often taking hold before the information can be verified.
She recalled how, whenever such news circulates, people immediately begin asking: "Will the war start again?"
Some employees even leave work in anticipation of the worst, only to discover later that the reports were inaccurate.
"I realized that we were thinking about only one thing: how to prepare for war again. We are still living with the effects of war, even when we are far from the fighting," she said.
Farah Samaha described a similar experience, explaining that any security development, even beyond Lebanon's borders, immediately brings back memories of displacement.
"Our thoughts immediately turn to how to protect our families, where we will flee and what we need to prepare," she said.
Samaha believes Lebanese have grown accustomed to keeping a contingency plan for war while people elsewhere make plans for their futures.
"Living with fear has become part of everyday life," she said.
War Does Not End With a Ceasefire
The consequences of war extend beyond destruction and loss of life, shaping how people think and navigate their daily routines.
The experiences described by these women reflect what psychotherapist Dr. Rima Haddad identifies as a lasting psychological consequence of repeated wars in Lebanon.
She said successive conflicts have not only left deep scars on people's memories but have also created a persistent state of psychological hypervigilance, leaving many Lebanese living as though they are waiting for the next war.
"Repeated wars in Lebanon have left profound psychological effects on the population," Haddad told Asharq Al-Awsat.
"Many Lebanese remain in a constant state of alert, even during periods of calm, because of accumulated trauma and the persistent fear that hostilities will resume."
Constant Psychological Hypervigilance
Haddad explained that communities exposed to repeated wars can develop a persistent state of psychological hypervigilance.
"The brain operates as though it is constantly on alert, monitoring every new sound or event and continuously checking whether danger is approaching," she said.
"This affects people's ability to concentrate, work and plan for the future. Many lose their sense of hope even after the fighting stops, while fear, tension and anxiety remain part of their daily lives."
She warned that prolonged exposure to these conditions can lead to chronic stress.
"Successive wars have pushed a large segment of the Lebanese population into a state of chronic anxiety. They remain constantly watchful for new developments, tense, easily irritated and deprived of a sense of stability," she said.
Haddad emphasized that the effects extend well beyond emotional distress.
"This condition affects productivity, the ability to work, decision-making and long-term planning. It also has negative consequences for physical and mental health, as well as social relationships."
Persistent Threats and Chronic Anxiety
According to Haddad, the enduring sense of insecurity stems from two interconnected factors.
The first is "the constant threat under which Lebanese people live," while the second is "the chronic anxiety generated by repeated trauma."
She warned that prolonged exposure to these conditions "weakens people's ability to develop plans for the future and make decisions because they become more preoccupied with anticipating danger than building their lives."
To help mitigate these psychological effects, Haddad recommended limiting continuous exposure to news as much as possible, avoiding sources of negativity, engaging in regular physical activity and setting small, achievable short-term goals to gradually restore a sense of control and stability.
She also stressed the importance of expressing emotions rather than suppressing them.
"Speaking with a mental health professional or trusted family members and friends can help ease fear and anxiety and prevent them from building up," she said.
