"One evening two years ago, I was having a regular night sitting down watching TV at home, looking for something interesting to watch when I started watching a new TV Series called “Fauda”. To be honest, I was not prepared for what happened to me that evening. I was the first woman to go undercover in the IDF (one of only three in total). At the time, it was a big secret. Suddenly I saw a character playing this role, on TV, and everything confused me. For a moment I felt I was back in the Arab village bouncing between the names and identities I had taken on. I felt as I was back in the room where we prepared for field operations before we left and I could smell the car on the way to a special operation. The television screen showed an actress playing the role I had performed in real life 15 years before. From that moment I was no longer in the living room at home, but reliving my past. For many years I disguised myself as an Arab woman to gain valuable intelligence. I was in many extreme situations with life-threatening danger hovering over my head all the time, should I be discovered. When I saw the character 'Nurit' on the TV show 'Fauda' all the feelings I had suppressed for many for years suddenly powerfully rose to the surface. Since that day I have been lecturing in Israel and around the world about my personal story. I chose sharing as my way of coping and healing. I recently founded the "Fighter Brotherhood" Facebook group which is a place women soldiers with PTSD can share their feelings."
In collaboration with the Trauma4Good Association.

Photo: Shay Yehezkel