In the last month, Los Angeles Wildfires has destroyed entire neighborhoods and has displaced thousands of individuals and families. As both a therapist and someone living near the fires, I felt the importance of uncertainty at a maximum time. I voluntarily evacuated and tried to navigate my own problems while testifying to fear of my community.
It has been incredible to see that society in the wake of the fires has gathered to offer support, including identifying resources to meet surviving physiological security and basic needs. If you are in Los Angeles, you may have seen the many spreadsheets that have circulated during this time: lists of shelters, Food banksand Mental health staff Provide therapy for those directly affected. Survivors of natural disasters often experience an instinct to first seek physical security, which is meaningful – according to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, basic necessities must be met before meeting emotional and psychological needs. But after a natural disaster, it is important to also deal with the emotional impact.
Recognizing the signs of acute stress and trauma is important for seeking support. Let’s break down what fire trauma is and the signs and symptoms to look for during these weeks for the devastating disaster, plus when and how to get professional help.
What is fire trauma?
Fire trauma refers to the emotional, psychological and sometimes physical influence experienced by those who were subjected to a fire -related event, such as surviving a wildfire, house, or testifying to a fire -related devastation. Fire trauma includes, but is not limited to:
- Witness the destruction of your home and belongings.
- Evacuate and return to see your hard work reduced to ash.
- Narrowly escape or drive through flames.
- Caught by a fire.
- Losing a loved one because of a fire.
Recognize stress response to fires
After experiencing a natural disaster it is a completely normal answer to experience what we call Acute stress. This refers to the temporary, increased state of emotional and physical arousal that usually occurs immediately after a traumatic event. Signs of acute stress can begin immediately after the disturbing event and may last for a month. These characters include but are not limited to:
- Intrusive memories: Survivors and witnesses about fire trauma may have uncontrollable and disturbing memories from the fire that are sometimes triggered by reminders of the event. For example, the smell of smoke from a family grill can trigger scenes from the traumatic event.
- Flashbacks: This happens when the survivors relieve the traumatic moments of the fire in their mind, which makes it feel like it is happening again.
- Emotional numbness: Survivors may find it difficult to access their feelings after a fire. This answer can offer a sense of protection because of the overwhelming circumstances and also prevent someone from initially processing their trauma.
- Irritability or anger: Given the increased stress that a surviving body has just endured, this can make it easier to feel frustrated and angry with less problems.
- Avoidance: This is a defense mechanism where people avoid reminders of the event. For survivors of fire trauma, this may look like avoiding events that have checked fires such as bonares, fireplaces, etc.
- Hypervigilance: After a fire, the survivors may constantly feel for another fire or danger. This may look like constantly ensuring that appliances are turned off, look out the window or are very suspicious of their surroundings.
- Fatigue: This is the experience of feeling chronically emptied, even when you have not done much physical effort.
- Scary answers: In general, this is an excessive response to loud noise or sudden movements. But for those who have experienced trauma, this may look like feeling hopefully about hearing the sound of a fire truck or the smell of smoke. This answer is anchored in survival and puts the body on constant warning.
- Dissociation: Survivors of fire trauma can feel independent from their environment and feel that they are looking at themselves at a distance. Many people who experience dissociative symptoms express the feeling linked from their body or feelings.
Recognize PTSD from fires and get support
It is not only normal for a survivor of a natural disaster to experience some of the above symptoms, it is also expected in view of the sudden change in their environment. The symptoms experienced are the body’s way of either trying to protect you from further injury or from deep overwhelming. What distinguishes acute stress from post traumatic stress disorder is duration, intensity and affects the symptoms on your daily function.
Acute stress is immediate and temporary response to a traumatic event. For some, the symptoms tend to sink as they restore a sense of security and are back in a steady routine. For others, however, PTSD develops when a combination of the symptoms above last for more than a month and has a significant impact on your daily function. This may look like having problems focusing in school or working, experiencing an intense emotional reaction to triggers or having difficulties in your relationships due to increased irritability or unloading.
It is important to note that not all people who experience a traumatic event will develop PTSD or an acute stress disorder. But if these signs occur, seek professional help to mitigate your symptoms.
If you or a loved one experience any of the above symptoms, it may seek professional help to provide valuable support for processing grief, trauma and pain. Even if you have not been directly affected by the fires, you may still be in a state of emotional fatigue and increased anxiety, this is called this Democratic trauma. This happens when we are repeatedly exposed to other people’s trauma and our mind and body internalize the emotional weight of grief. There is support available if you also fall into this category. Although there are many therapists who offer crisis efforts for those who are directly affected, it is important to ask important questions during the first consultation to see if they can best support you during this time. For example: What therapeutic approaches do you use to treat trauma? Do you feel comfortable working with the survivors of trauma or natural disasters? If you are looking for a supplier to work with your child, consider asking: How do you tailor your strategy to meet my child’s development needs and do you have experience in offering therapy for children?
How to support children who experienced fires
Hundreds of the survivors of the fire fires are young people and young children. Many had to evacuate their homes and calculate the next step because their schools no longer exist. These are significant changes, especially during a development time where it is critical to have healthy doses of routine and structure.
Children express symptoms of stress and trauma in different ways depending on their age. Some children can perform their symptoms through play and drawing, or experience behavioral symptoms as an increased dependence on their healthcare providers and regress back to previous behaviors. Emotionally, children can exhibit nightmares, difficulties in bed and fear of being alone in the wake of a traumatic event such as an evacuation or fire.
Recognizing that our youth knows about this experience for themselves and processes the grief of their own losses (schools, toys, neighborhood hangouts) is crucial to facilitate their healing. Being mild with their process, asking questions about how they feel and practicing active listening is the first step to supporting children affected by the fires. We can also encourage their self -expression through art, journaling or therapy. If any of these changes in your child’s behavior last more than a few weeks – for example, increased irritability, sadness, anger or regression – and disorders in sleep (nightmares, difficulties to sleep) or appetite, it is recommended to seek professional support. Although there are no visible changes in your child’s mood, it is a good idea to be proactive when it comes to seeking support.
Alyssa mancao (She/her), LCSW, is a social worker, group practice owner and keynote speaker. She got her master’s degree in social work from the University of South California and has been practicing for over a decade. She has contributed to various well -known stores to manage strategies to increase self -connection and navigate conflicts in relationships. Her recommendations for mental health strategies have been presented in Vogue, Elle and Women’s Health. Alyssa is a PS council member.
