Wildfires can cause overwhelming stress: The red-orange hues beyond the plumes of smoke seemed so far away, but now threaten the only place some have ever called home. Communities of people told they’re not in danger one moment are put on high alert the next. There’s not always time to grab family photos, your grandmother’s ring or your beloved pets. It only takes a few minutes for fires to grow at an incomprehensible velocity, forcing people out of their homes, says Scott Vest, spokesman for the Red Cross’ Ogden, Utah, Northern Chapter. He was stationed in Middletown, California, which is about two hours north of San Francisco, for about two weeks — just days after emergency officials announced on Sept. 15 that 23,000 people had been displaced by wildfires in Northern California this year. More than 300,000 acres have burned in California so far in 2015, and the fires continue.
“When everything has been destroyed and all you have is a pile of ashes, you don’t really have anything to hold on to,” Vest says.
The notion that there’s a specific wildfire season is a thing of the past, says Merritt Schreiber, an associate professor of clinical emergency medicine and director of psychological programs at the Center for Disaster Medical Sciences at the University of California–Irvine Medical Center and School of Medicine. “The last few years, fire season has become all year long. It’s seriously aggravated by the drought, and the drought is a big stressor in the area,” says Schreiber, who’s also director for pediatric trauma psychology consultation services there.
When Distress Gets Serious
Grant Marshall, a senior behavioral scientist at the RAND Corporation in Santa Monica, California, has focused his research on trauma resulting from wildfires and other disasters. In August, he and other researchers published a study in EcoHealth that examined the psychological distress faced by 1,387 of the 6,000 households displaced by wildfires that burned 733 square miles in Apache County, Arizona, from May through June 2011.
“We found relatively high rates — 35 percent — of people who were still experiencing emotional distress that could be indicative of a mental health problem even months after the event took place,” Marshall says.
Those experiencing such an event might feel more irritable, nervous or anxious or even depressed, Vest says. They might have detailed memories of the evacuation or witnessing the fire raging toward their community.
Schreiber adds there are two trajectories people tend to take when they’ve experienced a wildfire or similar disaster that displaces them: distress with resilience and distress without resilience.
“Many people have distress, and many people who have distress are going to have resilience. They’re going to bounce back to how they were doing before in a relatively short period of time,” Schreiber explains, adding that the other group who can’t seem to deal may have a greater risk for developing a condition such as depression or post-traumatic stress disorder.
How a person responds may depend on whether he or she had a chance to prepare to evacuate their home, whether the evacuation was during daylight or in the middle of the night and if there was an opportunity to collect belongings and pets.
You may need help if you’re experiencing prolonged feelings of physical and emotional strain; having difficulty staying focused at work or with everyday decision-making; feeling overly sad, numb or on edge; and noticing changes in diet and sleep patterns.
“If you have a mental health problem to begin with, you’ll perhaps be more fragile to something else that comes along to knock you off your feet,” Marshall explains, adding that positive coping strategies like talking to family and friends upfront can play a major role in returning to normalcy.
How to Cope
There are a number of steps individuals and families can take to help alleviate some of the emotional instability wildfires bring, despite the devastation:
Be proactive. Schrieber says that before the wildfire occurs, it’s important to assess your risk. “Know your evacuation plan and how you’ll be notified,” he says. Most communities have an emergency alert system you can subscribe to by text or email. This may not stop the fire from coming, but it can perhaps lessen the stress associated with being unprepared.
Vest adds that knowing you’ve made your house safer by trimming trees during a fire risk situation or having a “go kit” in the office and car may ease some distress when an emergency happens. The American Red Cross recommends packing the kit with these items: medical supplies, baby supplies, games or activities for kids, pet supplies, two-way radios, an extra set of house and car keys and a manual can opener. Download its mobile app by searching for “Red Cross Wildfire” in the Apple Store or Google Play.
Give yourself time. Marshall says the ways to cope vary based on the amount of time that has passed since the wildfire. “In the very early stages, I would say that just understanding what you’re going through is a normal thing. People aren’t having a mental breakdown or anything like that,” he says. “It’s a normal part of coping with extreme stress.” It’s helpful to acknowledge that what you’re going through is normal, he adds. Anticipate that recovery is an ongoing process that should be taken one day at a time. If feelings of distress extend beyond a few weeks or even a month, Schreiber recommends seeking help from a professional.
Eat well and exercise. Make sure you’re not forgetting about your physical needs, Vest explains: “The biggest thing is a lot of people neglect their physical needs, like food and water, because they’re too upset. And [volunteers] have to encourage them to do that, because just like the mental part of the body needs healing, so does the physical.”
Ask for help. Vest says sometimes all you need is to vent to another person about your story. Support from family and friends is important. However, if those family and friends have also experienced or witnessed a wildfire, they may not be able to be as supportive. The Center for Disaster Medical Sciences at UC Irvine provides the Listen, Protect and Connect guide for family and neighbors. The American Red Cross offers a free 24/7 Disaster Distress Helpline for those who are having difficulty with emotions after a wildfire, and SAMHSA’s Disaster Distress Helpline is similar. Consider seeking professional psychological help from a mental health provider if your stress persists.
If your community has experienced a wildfire or any disaster, think about registering on the American Red Cross’ Safe and Well website to let your family and friends know about your welfare.
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Coping With Wildfire Stress originally appeared on usnews.com
