15
Jan

Surviving a wildfire is stressful, but everyone relates to that stress in a different way. For some people, it’s a case of getting on with it, but others can have PTSD, survivor’s guilt, and more.

Your neighbor may have lost everything, but you lost nothing. This can lead to guilt, but it can also lead to anger from the neighbor. Just remember that the way the fire hit wasn’t your fault.

Getting Back to Normal Routines

One of the best things people can do after a wildfire is to get back to their normal routines. This can be difficult if you’ve lost it all. You need to go through the process of rebuilding or relocating. However, once you’ve handled the initial issue, you can then get back to normal, such as going out with friends and getting back into the swing of kid activities.

Focus on a healthier lifestyle after the fire. It’s easy to fall into patterns of self-medication through alcohol or drugs as a way to cope. However, once you focus on better sleep, healthier food, and exercise, you’ll find that your mental health gets a natural boost.

Therapy Does Wonders for All

Finding a good therapist is also important, and not just for adults. Of course, as a parent, you are focused on getting the house back to normal. However, children will have a string of mixed feelings after the fire. They may be anxious about the fire happening again, and teenagers can start to focus on what could have happened or the bad that did happen.

It’s important for people to have a healthy outlet to talk about the problem. A lot of children may not want to talk to their parents in fear of bringing up the bad memories. Children can worry too much about their parents’ mental health, but they need you. So, if they can’t talk to you, find a trauma-informed therapist who even has experience or knowledge in wildfires to help you and your children.

Counseling and therapy can be expensive. A lot of health benefits will cover this, but if the wildfire affected the whole area, there are a lot of times that the region will offer free vouchers. There are even therapists in the area who will offer their services for free. Ask around and look out for resources.

Come Together as a Community

The wildfire may have hit every home in the area, or it may have only affected a few homes. Either way, this is the time for a community to come together. Encourage neighbors who were hit hard to spend time with you. This can help them recover from the rubble and find support in the people around them.

The people of Fort Collins got together for a “Stone Soup” party before the holidays after the High Park Fire. This helped people have dinner together, enjoy some music, and give gifts to the children. The sense of community brings a sense of belonging and support.