20/05/2025
How We Can Manage The Fuego Within Us
With the Democrat Fire in the Kern River Valley marking the ongoing threat of California's fire season, it's essential to be mindful of how this current blaze can be triggering for folks who have survived past wildfires.
As a licensed psychotherapist living in the Kern River Valley (KRV) who specializes in trauma, I have experienced numerous incidents (Borel, Erskine, French, etc), and understand how these disasters not only devastate our physical land, property, livestock, and structures, but may also ignite emotional turmoil within ourselves. Therefore, I am re-publishing my article that provides tips from the American Psychological Association about how to start the healing process. Please consider these guidelines if you or someone you know is affected by the current fires. If you need resources beyond this article, please seek professional services.
When disaster hits, a sense of community emerges, cutting across all racial, economic, social, and political lines. For example, many residents in our Valley helped each other during the Borel Fire, supporting their neighbors whichever way they could. Acts of giving are psychologically therapeutic because when a natural disaster strips us of our power, we can help restore this imbalance by doing something within our control. (Incidentally, that's how I got my dog, Fuego. During the Borel Fire, KRV residents, including myself, went to the shelter to help displaced animals.)
Fuego is a Carolina Dog. This unique breed has been described as undomesticated because man did not breed it. Instead, the dog evolved naturally in the United States' Southern and Eastern plains/prairies, retaining its wild characteristics of its extreme pack mentality and hunting instinct. Sorry for the digression, but it is difficult to curb my enthusiasm for discovering an obscure dog ideally suited for the KRV. Now, back to the fires.
So, whether you are a victim of the fire or a resident who just wants to assist those affected by the fire, it may be helpful to recognize that recovery extends beyond our physical landscape into the terrains of our minds.
-Understanding The Emotional Impact-
Fires can alter people's perceptions, as they may think, feel, and act in ways that are outside their character. Understanding the human emotions and behaviors that follow a disaster is helpful.
According to the American Psychological Association (APA), "it is common for people who have experienced disaster to have strong emotional reactions." The APA states it's normal for people to feel stunned, disoriented, or unable to integrate distressing information. After the shock wears off, people can experience intense or unpredictable emotions and feel overwhelmed, anxious, grief-stricken, or moody.
If you or somebody you know affected by the fire is acting unusual, please remember their response is typical for an abnormal incident (fire). The APA states that it is common for natural disaster victims to experience:
-- Repeated and vivid memories of the event. These memories may occur without reason, leading to physical reactions such as rapid heartbeat or sweating.
-- It may be difficult to concentrate or make decisions.
-- Sleep and eating patterns also can be disrupted—some people may overeat and oversleep, while others experience a loss of sleep and appetite.
-- Sensitivity to environmental factors. Sirens, loud noises, burning smells, or other environmental sensations may stimulate memories of the disaster, creating heightened anxiety. These "triggers" may be accompanied by fears of a repeated firestorm.
-- Strained interpersonal relationships. Increased conflict can occur, such as frequent disagreements with family members and coworkers.
-- People often become withdrawn, isolated, or disengaged from social activities.
-- Stress-related physical symptoms. Headaches, nausea, and chest pain may occur and could require medical attention.
-- Preexisting medical conditions could be affected by disaster-related stress.
According to the APA article, "research shows that most people are resilient and, over time, can bounce back from tragedy." But if you, or someone you know, is experiencing these symptoms, it can be helpful to use these APA tips below:
-- Give yourself time to adjust. Anticipate that this will be a difficult time in your life. Allow yourself to mourn the losses you have experienced and try to be patient with changes in your emotional state.
-- Ask for support from people who care about you and who will listen and empathize with your situation. Social support is a key component of disaster recovery. Family and friends can be an essential resource. You can find support and common ground from those who survived the disaster.
-- You may also want to reach out to others who are not involved and may be able to provide greater support and objectivity.
-- Communicate your experience. Express what you feel in whatever ways feel comfortable to you, such as talking with family or close friends, keeping a diary, or engaging in a creative activity (e.g., drawing, molding clay, etc.).
-- Find a local support group led by appropriately trained and experienced professionals. Support groups are frequently available for survivors. Group discussion can help you realize you are not alone in your reactions and emotions. Support group meetings can be constructive for people with limited personal support systems.
-- Engage in healthy behaviors to enhance your ability to cope with excessive stress. Eat well-balanced meals and get plenty of rest. If you experience ongoing sleep difficulties, you may find some relief through relaxation techniques. Avoid alcohol and drugs because they can be a numbing diversion that could detract from as well as delay active coping and moving forward from the disaster.
-- Establish or reestablish routines, such as eating meals regularly, sleeping and waking on a regular cycle, or following an exercise program. Build in some positive routines to have something to look forward to during these distressing times, like pursuing a hobby, walking through an attractive park or neighborhood, or reading a good book.
--Avoid making major life decisions. Switching careers or jobs and other vital decisions tend to be highly stressful in their own right, and can compound the stress.
By understanding how disaster can impact us, a family member, or a friend, we can better manage the embers that a wildfire leaves behind.
