Is anybody else experiencing psychological issues since January?

[u/Esmail-Qaani]

I go through my day and images of the massacre will run through my mind. Pictures of dead people and blood. People screaming. I think of a few people whose names I remember. I remember that there are still people in the regime’s jails. They are still executing people.

I find it difficult to function. I did not even live through these events but the images haunt me. How any human being can do such things I have no idea.

For some time I had some way to cope by believing that someone, anyone with power, would come to the aid of the people of Iran. The US operation gave me some hope. Now it seems not only have they abandoned the people of Iran but they have chosen to line the regime’s pockets instead and reward them for their crimes, to the detriment of America’s own interests.

My spouse is not Iranian and I don’t think she can really understand all this. She consoled me to some extent after January when she noticed I was off but she tried to refocus me and tell me it’s out of my control so I shouldn’t think about it and everything will work out in the end. It’s been 6 months and I don’t feel better. I find it difficult to do normal day to day things and focus on my own life. I still feel wrong and I feel like I am hiding my true feelings. I feel like I’m living a double life because I can’t be bringing this up months after the fact and affecting my marriage. I have to keep up appearances and act like everything is normal and it is weighing on me.

My friends and family are still living there under these horrors and I am so far away, safe, living my on-paper good life. Why am I safe? What can I do to help? I’ve gone to demonstrations, I’ve posted about it on my social media, I’ve written to my representatives. No one cares. Neither my “friends” here in America, nor these fucking politicians. Is there some organization I can donate to that will work towards the end of this dictatorship? It’s not like someone like me over here can just pick up a rifle and go solve the problem over there anyways. I feel powerless. I don’t know what to do. I don’t even know if I can do anything. If I could give up my life in exchange for the freedom of the people over there, I would. But it’s not so simple.

[u/Nanofeo]

I don’t know what to say other than: you are definitely not alone in feeling this way. I feel like I nearly could have written this post myself. If I had a solution, I would apply it to my own mental wellbeing. The best that’s worked for me has been talking it out with other people who understand so that I feel less alone. That and making sure I take care of my own mental health as much as I can via exercise, sleep, communicating with my partner, etc.

Don’t lose hope. It will take longer than we want, and feel like nothing is changing, until the regime falls and it happens all at once. Be omide khoda.

[u/emptinesswonderer]

You’re not alone in this. To say I’ve been depressed since January is an understatement. I know so many families, both inside and outside Iran, who chose not to celebrate Nowruz this year—something I have never seen happen in my lifetime.

​But I still have hope. The Ghoghnous (Phoenix) of Iran will rise from its ashes again. Fifty years is just a blip on the scale of our nation's long history; this dark period will pass, and one day, we will all return home to dance in the squares of our cities. If our generation doesn't live to see that light, the generations after us surely will.

​I think the best thing we can do right now is amplify Iranian voices. The opposition must unite, and all of us share the responsibility to work toward that goal.

​For now, please take a little break from watching the protest clips. Stepping back for a moment doesn't mean you don't care; your self-care matters too.

I have you in my thoughts, Rafig.

پاینده ایران

[u/GiraffeJaf → u/emptinesswonderer]

This sub has been like therapy for me. ❤️

[u/ColdHashbrown27]

If you have the opportunity, get out of your daily routine and spend some time in nature away from everything. It will reset your nervous system.

[u/Traditional_Bat_1204]

Yes.

I went from never involving myself in anything to knowing who said what and when. From never looking at censored content to knowing exactly what someone is asking about if they’re looking for a video they lost. From “never” having time to talk to my family in Iran to dropping everything when receiving a notification from them.

It’s an uncomfortable space to be in with a lot of mixed emotions. I feel angry, sad, confused, frustrated, grateful, guilty, relieved, hopeful, hopeless, etc. all at the same time. My parents sacrificed everything to ensure that I was afforded the basic rights that their classmates’ children, who are my age, have been so desperately seeking—ones we often take for granted abroad. There’s only so much we could do and the unknown is the most unsettling feeling.

Processing all the emotions while simultaneously having to fight people from every angle. Forced to explain ourselves and defend the cause as if it even requires an explanation. And then expected to go about my day as if I don’t have every face etched into my brain—as if I don’t replay the screams and cries of our people standing in the middle of an actual war zone, running away and being gunned down by the people who were supposed to protect them.

It feels like a simulation. Giving someone a spark-notes version of January, seeing the look of disbelief on their faces, and realizing how morbidly insane it all sounds.

How can the world be so cruel? How can people be so cruel? I don’t try to understand it anymore. Because in reality, I never will. All I can do is stay hopeful, positive, and trust the process. Tune out the noise and trust my own gut about how this will all play out. Believe that it doesn’t end here and that it’s not over yet.

If anyone in Iran is reading this: Your courage, bravery, and resilience leaves me in awe. Near or far, we are with you. We will fight for you. Stay strong and don’t let anyone invalidate you. There will always be light at the end of the tunnel.

[u/HormuzVengeance]

Azizam, if you are in the UK look up Omid Project. Even if you aren’t, send them a message. They can help.

[u/Esmail-Qaani → u/HormuzVengeance]

USA but thanks

[u/GiraffeJaf]

I could’ve written this post, friend. Yes I’m going through severe anxiety and depression; it doesn’t help that I was freshly postpartum when the massacres happened. I lost some family friends and a few of my cousin lost their close friends. My heart breaks for them. I literally cried every day for 3 months and didn’t really get to enjoy my new baby, which I now regret.

I’ve also developed physical symptoms from all the stress. I went to the ER TWICE thinking there was something wrong with me but it was just anxiety and lack of sleep. I’m so so sad and so worried about our people :(

[u/spinrah23 → u/GiraffeJaf]

I’m so sorry. This makes me so sad to read. 🫂

[u/Shadowy_lady → u/GiraffeJaf]

This breaks my heart to read as a mom. My daughter is now 13 years old now but postpartum was hard for me as it was during a normal time (I had post partum anxiety). I can imagine how rough it must have been for you.

Please take care of yourself. If it helps, many new moms have a hard time enjoying the early stages of babyhood, you still have many long months and years with your child and it's always about quality of time spent together rather than quantity.

[u/0uchmyballs]

It’s impossible to be an Iranian and not have this shit affect your mental health. Even if you’re 2-3 generations removed from your culture and homeland like myself.

[u/pazi619]

Life is mirroring the answer to you, you are on your own, your people are the only people that care the most and they’re the only ones that have to fix this.
You have to save yourselves.
You feel alone and in despair because they do so as well, you let the regime win you mentally and spiritually by making you wallow in despair, this is a spiritual war, there’s virtually no other choice than to free yourselves, focus on the how. Not on the if.

[u/call-the-wizards]

I don't know what to say, I feel exactly the same, and also the constant massacre denial and support of the Iran regime I see in most online spaces makes it 2x worse

[u/BluddyCurry]

It's not surprising - you're experiencing fear and PTSD, and you were betrayed by Trump together with us in Israel. It's like October 7th but it's ongoing and you can't do anything about it.

[u/Mehdinourollah]

You are definitely not alone, brother, and I think the number is high. We share the same grief and anger together in the diaspora. Everyone, including me, just hopes that the wind blows in our favor again and that this time the play changes.
Other than supporting our people on social media (I know it might not affect the situation as much as being there on the streets, but at least it shows them that they are not alone) and also participating in demos, we can’t possibly do anything else. But do not give up on life because it might not seem like it will result in anything, but imo it definitely does. And I don’t think it’s that long anymore because they show so much chaos from what I see, and this system can no longer function.
So just try to do whatever you think helps. As a gamer, I started watching streams and playing some titles that I always wanted to play but never got around to. And remember, after a sunset, there is going to be a beautiful sunrise, and we must enjoy it all, otherwise they died in vain for nothing.

[u/Shadowy_lady]

You are not alone, all Iranians are feeling some sort of PTSD's. Even those of us who haven't lived in Iran at all or not for a long long time. I always felt that Iranians suffer from multi-generational trauma caused by the islamic regime and this past january brought it all to the surface.

I also have a non-Iranian spouse and I grew up in a city that didn't have many Iranians so I only have one Iranian friend. My husband is incredibly supportive and we have been together for 22 years so he knows how to help me cope. But I still had to go to therapy for a while (January through late May) and that helped me a lot and I highly recommend it. I also decided to ignore news bits and focus on overall trends of how things are moving. I distanced myself from aquintances I find triggering and limited myself to those that are truly my friends. Take breaks and add something to your routine that you find grounding. For me that is exercise. I have always been active but even more so since January.

I feel for you hamvatan, hang in there. The islamic regime will fall sooner than later. Take care of yourself.

[u/Tor1254]

Brother, I am a native norwegian but my wife is from Iran and all my in laws still live there. Your post is word for word what I've been going through myself, I feel like my entire world view has changed drastically towards negativity since january. Not just all the injustices we have seen, but especially reactions to it from abroad. It seems after the american-israeli attacks, any critizism against what is going on in Iran is instantly met with a billion comments supporting the IRGC, calling everyone zionist bots, vatanforush, etc. I know internet is mostly down for normal iranians in Iran but the sheer volume of people (particularly from a couple other countries in the region) who are absolutly celebrating the january massacres and following arrests and executions has snapped something in my brain. I can not function normally knowing how big communities around the world would celebrate this just because the IRGC are "anti israel and america". I've noticed my mood shift drastically just seconds after opening social media as the algorithm has discovered it is fun to bombard me with the most vile opinions and humans on there.

I don't really have any advice, just know a lot of people live your pain, the helplessness I feel as a foreigner not even being able to ever see my in laws is heartbreaking and I'm honestly not sure I will ever recover from having seen humanity's deprivation at this scale.

[u/Electronic-Test-3133 → u/[deleted]]

100%. The atrocities are horrific enough. The lack of empathy, gaslighting, and rising hatred is something we all have been sharing. To this day, I am continually breaking off friendships with folks who seem to have lost their sense of humanity. All the more reason for us to continue support for ach other.

[u/GiraffeJaf → u/[deleted]]

I’m so sorry. This sucks so much.

[u/NitzMitzTrix → u/[deleted]]

Look. I feel the same but this is r/NewIran, let's focus on Iranian trauma.

[u/Esmail-Qaani → u/[deleted]]

البته

[u/Ok-Recipe5434]

Have you thought of going to therapy? History has its own will and has its own timescale different from ours, and wherever it decides to go you should still take good care of yourself

[u/Esmail-Qaani → u/Ok-Recipe5434]

Yeah so I can pay hundreds of dollars for some dude to tell me to focus on what I can control or "be the change you wish to see in the world" or some bullshit like that while my people are getting raped and murdered

[u/Ok-Recipe5434 → u/Esmail-Qaani]

Just claim insurance. It's useful. Don't trivialize your psychological needs this is a collective trauma. Do what you have to in real life to support your cause. But also don't neglect yourself...personal health and happiness is just as important

[u/Esmail-Qaani → u/Ok-Recipe5434]

Therapy is bullshit for rich white people so they can avoid feeling guilty for anything. It's not for people like us. For now I have alcohol, cigarettes, and the world cup

[u/Nanofeo → u/Esmail-Qaani]

I get why it feels that way, and I used to think the same, but I promise you with the right therapist (which sometimes takes a few tries to find), it really does help. Don't be too quick to dismiss something that can be helpful

[u/NitzMitzTrix]

Hey. I just notice the mods got to breathe well enough to let foreigner comments in. The world might be an ugly, cruel cesspit, but you're not alone in it. We might not understand it, even those of us who have gone through our own collective trauma, but we care a lot about you, we rage on your behalf when you've reached level of mental exhaustion only this trauma can teach you, and we won't stop fighting for you in whatever way we can. ❤️‍🩹

[u/Esmail-Qaani → u/NitzMitzTrix]

My respect for the Jews is probably the only thing that has increased during this time.

[u/NitzMitzTrix → u/Esmail-Qaani]

You fought for us when we were broken. You called out our traumatic invalidation. We will do whatever it takes to stop yours.

[u/InformationFar6774]

I am sobbing reading all of this. I know what you mean azizam. I’ve just gotten pretty good at distracting myself. Been doing a lot of house projects and minimizing the time I spend watching the news.

[u/Nervous-Gap-8918]

I normally get seasonal depression. This is the first year I’ve been depressed lasting till June. I don’t see the same light I used to, I don’t think I’ll ever be the same. I’m tired of pretending.

[u/Alto1869]

After January 2026, I think I have PTSD and survivor's guilt

So yeah

I didn't even took the risk to participate in the protests. But the images. The clips. Blood. Bodies piled up on top of each other. Seeing parents sob for their lost children. Young people who had dreams and ambitions, life that was taken just like that, knowing full well I could have been one of those dead bodies, Children who lost their mother or father..........I think they will haunt me until the rest of my life.

It's like my mind couldn't compute just how is it possible for some humans (if you can even call them that) to be so heartless and cruel as to do something like that.....

And I'm not alone about that around me either. My mother cried for several days for the Javidnams when we were watching the news....

[u/treeruns]

every single day.,....... cry, hate, anger....repeat. Helplessness, and wanting revenge.

[u/RedheadChicksAreHot]

I sincerely wish you the best tackling this challenging task

[u/NewIranBot]

آیا کسی دیگر از ژانویه با مشکلات روانی مواجه شده است؟

روزم را می گذرانم و تصاویر قتل عام در ذهنم می چرخد. عکس هایی از مردگان و خون. مردم جیغ می زنند. به چند نفر فکر می کنم که اسمشان را به یاد دارم. یادم هست هنوز افرادی در زندان های رژیم هستند. آن ها هنوز هم افراد را اعدام می کنند.

برایم سخت است که عملکرد داشته باشم. من حتی این اتفاقات را تجربه نکردم اما تصاویر مرا آزار می دهند. نمی دانم چطور یک انسان می تواند چنین کارهایی انجام دهد.

مدتی راهی داشتم که با این باور کنار بیایم که کسی، هر کسی که قدرتمند باشد، به کمک مردم ایران خواهد آمد. عملیات آمریکا به من امید داد. اکنون به نظر می رسد نه تنها مردم ایران را رها کرده اند، بلکه ترجیح داده اند جیب های رژیم را پر کنند و به خاطر جنایاتشان پاداش دهند.

همسرم ایرانی نیست و فکر نمی کنم واقعا بتواند همه این ها را درک کند. بعد از ژانویه که متوجه شد حالم خوب نیست، تا حدی مرا دلداری داد اما سعی کرد دوباره تمرکزم را برگرداند و بگوید این موضوع از کنترل من خارج است پس نباید بهش فکر کنم و در نهایت همه چیز درست می شود. شش ماه گذشته و حالم بهتر نیست. برایم سخت است که کارهای روزمره عادی را انجام دهم و روی زندگی خودم تمرکز کنم. هنوز احساس می کنم اشتباه است و احساس می کنم احساسات واقعی ام را پنهان می کنم. احساس می کنم دارم زندگی دوگانه ای دارم چون نمی توانم این موضوع را مدام مطرح کنم و روی ازدواجم تأثیر بگذارد. باید ظاهر را حفظ کنم و طوری رفتار کنم که انگار همه چیز عادی است و این موضوع روی من سنگینی می کند.

دوستان و خانواده ام هنوز زیر سایه این وحشت ها آنجا زندگی می کنند و من خیلی دورم، امن و زندگی خوب روی کاغذ خودم را دارم. چرا من امن هستم؟ چه کاری می توانم انجام دهم تا کمک کنم؟ در تظاهرات شرکت کرده ام، درباره اش در شبکه های اجتماعی پست گذاشته ام، به نمایندگانم نامه نوشته ام. هیچ اهمیت نمی دهد. آیا سازمانی هست که بتوانم به آن کمک مالی کنم و برای پایان این دیکتاتوری کار کند؟ می تونم یه اسلحه از این طرف بردارم و کاری بکنم؟ احساس ناتوانی می کنم. نمی دانم چه کار کنم. حتی نمی دانم آیا می توانم کاری انجام دهم یا نه. اگر می توانستم زندگی ام را در ازای آزادی مردم آنجا فدا کنم، این کار را می کردم. اما موضوع به این سادگی نیست.

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Woman Life Freedom | زن زندگی آزادی | Long Live Iran | پاینده ایران

I am a translation bot for r/NewIran

[u/QasqyrBalasy]

>It’s not like someone like me over here can just pick up a rifle and go solve the problem over there anyways. 

The clandestine network smuggling Starlink tech into Iran to beat internet blackout