I'm a Therapist Who Evacuated the LA Fires - Here's How to Get Emotional Support

Get the Full StoryIn the last month, the Los Angeles wildfires have devastated entire neighborhoods and have displaced thousands of individuals and families. As both a therapist and someone living in close proximity to the fires, I felt the weight of uncertainty at an all-time high. I voluntarily evacuated, trying to navigate my own concerns while also bearing witness to the fears of my community.

It's been incredible to see that, in the wake of the fires, the community has banded together to offer support, including identifying resources to address survivors' physiological safety and basic needs. If you're in Los Angeles, you might have seen the many spreadsheets that have been circulating during this time: lists of shelters, food banks, and mental health professionals providing therapy for those directly impacted. Survivors of natural disasters often experience an instinct to seek physical safety first, which makes sense - according to Maslow's hierarchy of needs, basic necessities must be met before addressing emotional and psychological needs. But in the aftermath of a natural disaster, it's essential to address the emotional impact as well.

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 out for in these weeks after the devastating disaster, plus when and how to get professional help.

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The LA Fires Are Taking a Toll on Mental Health - Here's How to Cope

What Is Fire Trauma?

Fire trauma refers to the emotional, psychological, and sometimes physical impact experienced by those who were exposed to a fire-related event, like surviving a wildfire, housefire, or bearing witness to a fire-related devastation. Fire trauma includes, but isn't limited to:

Witnessing the destruction of your home and belongings.

Evacuating and returning to see your hard work reduced to ashes.

Narrowly escaping or driving through flames.

Being trapped by a fire.

Losing a loved one due to a fire.

Recognizing Stress Response to Fires

After experiencing a natural disaster, it is a completely normal response to experience what we call acute stress. This refers to the temporary, heightened state of emotional and physical arousal that typically occurs immediately after a traumatic event.The signs of acute stress can begin immediately after the disturbing event and can last up to one month. These signs include but are not limited to:

Intrusive memories: Survivors and witnesses of fire trauma might have uncontrollable and distressing memories of the fire that are sometimes triggered by reminders of the event. For example, the smell of smoke from a family barbecue can trigger scenes from the traumatic event.

Flashbacks: This happens when survivors relieve the traumatic moments of the fire in their mind, making it feel as though it is happening all over again.

Emotional Numbness: Survivors might find it difficult to access their feelings after a fire. This response can offer a sense of protection due to the overwhelming circumstances, and also prevent someone from initially processing their trauma.

Irritability or Anger: Given the heightened stress that a survivor's body has just endured, this can make it easier to feel frustrated and angry at minor inconveniences.

Avoidance: This is a defense mechanism where people avoid reminders of the event. For survivors of fire trauma, this might look like avoiding events that have controlled fires like bon fires, fireplaces, etc.

Hypervigilance: Following a fire, survivors might feel constantly on alert for another fire or danger. This might look like constantly ensuring appliances are off, looking out the window, or being very suspicious of their surroundings.

Fatigue: This is the experience of feeling chronically drained, even when you haven't done much physical exertion.

Startle Response: In general, this is an exaggerated response to loud noise or sudden movements. However, for those that have experienced trauma this might look like feeling jumpy around hearing the sound of a fire truck or the smell of smoke. This response is rooted in survival and puts the body on constant alert.

Dissociation: Survivors of fire trauma might feel detached from their environment and feel like they're watching themselves from a distance. Many people who experience dissociative symptoms express feeling disconnected from their body or emotions.

Recognizing PTSD From Fires and Getting Support

Not only is it normal for a survivor of a natural disaster to experience any of the above symptoms, it's also expected, given the sudden change in their environment. The symptoms that are being experienced are the body's way of either trying to protect you from further harm, or from deep overwhelm. What differentiates acute stress from post traumatic stress disorder is the duration, intensity, and impact the symptoms have on your daily functioning.

Acute stress is the immediate and temporary response to a traumatic event. For some, the symptoms tend to subside once they reestablish a sense of safety and find themselves back in a steady routine. However, for others, PTSD develops when a combination of the symptoms above last for more than one month and have a significant impact on your daily functioning. This might look like having trouble focusing at school or work, experiencing an intense emotional reaction to triggers, or having difficulties in your relationships due to increase in irritability or detachment.

It's important to note that not all people who experience a traumatic event will develop PTSD or an acute stress disorder. But if these signs do arise, seek professional help to mitigate your symptoms.

If you or a loved one is experiencing any of the above symptoms, seeking professional help can provide valuable support in processing grief, trauma, and pain. Even if you have not been directly impacted by the wildfires, you might still find yourself in a state of emotional exhaustion and heightened anxiety, this is known as vicarious trauma. This happens when we are repeatedly being exposed to others' trauma and our mind and body internalize the emotional weight of the grief. There is support available if you fall into this category, too. While there are many therapists that are offering crisis interventions for those directly impacted, it is important to ask key questions during the initial 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 survivors of trauma or natural disasters? If you are looking for a provider to work with your child, consider asking: how do you tailor your approach to meet the developmental needs of my child and do you have experience offering therapy for children?

How to Support Kids Who Experienced Fires

Hundreds of the survivors of the wildfires are youth and young children. Many had to evacuate their homes and are figuring out the next steps as their schools also no longer exist. These are significant changes, especially during a developmental time where having healthy doses of routine and structure is critical.

Children express symptoms of stress and trauma differently depending on their age. Some children may act out their symptoms through play and drawing, or experience behavioral symptoms like an increased dependence on their caregivers and regressing back to previous behaviors. Emotionally, kids might exhibit nightmares, difficulties going to bed, and fear of being left alone in the wake of a traumatic event like an evacuation or fire.

Recognizing that our youth are making sense of this experience for themselves and are processing the grief of their own losses schools, toys, neighborhood hangouts is critical for facilitating their healing. Being gentle with their process, asking questions about how they're feeling, and practicing active listening is the first step to supporting kids affected by the fires. We can encourage their self-expression through art, journaling, or therapy as well. If any of these changes in your child's behavior lasts more than a few weeks - such as increased irritability, sadness, anger, or regression - as well as disruptions in sleep nightmares, difficulty sleeping or appetite, it's recommended to seek professional support. Even if there are no visible changes in your child's mood, it is a good idea to be proactive in seeking support.

Alyssa Mancao she her , LCSW, is a social worker, group practice owner, and keynote speaker. She received her master's in social work from the University of Southern California and has been practicing for well over a decade. She has contributed to various well-known outlets to address strategies for increasing self-connection and navigating conflict in relationships. Her recommendations for mental health strategies have been featured in Vogue, Elle, and Women's Health. Alyssa is a PS Council member.

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