The war is inside his head now. A slamming door or cutlery being dropped makes him jump. The ceasefire doesn't change that.
"Before the war, I had no stress at all," says Ali. "But now even the smallest sound causes my brain to react very badly."
Although he is only 15, Ali – not his real name – understands how fear created by the sounds of US and Israeli airstrikes on Iran settle into the mind and won't let go. It triggers an automatic "startle response" to any loud noise.
"The sound of explosions, the shock waves, and the sound of fighter jets flying over the city can have a very serious effect," he says.
More than 20% of Iran's population is under the age of 14 – approximately 20.4 million children. What Ali and many others are experiencing is what psychologists call "hyper arousal" and it can be an early warning of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
