Experiencing a devastating natural disaster can trigger a wide variety of intense emotions, including shock, terror, disbelief, and helplessness. The fires in the Pacific Palisades, Pasadena, and Alta Dena have not only impacted the mental health of residents whose neighborhoods were in the path of the fire, but the mental health of residents across the entire city who witnessed the devastation from afar but could not take action to help.
We have yet to see what the exact mental health impact will be on residents throughout the city, as many people are still in a state of shock after experiencing a life or death situation, and others are in shock due to witnessing this immense tragedy. This shock will last weeks or even months. We are seeing groups of people organizing and gathering to help provide resources, housing, and support which will play a key role in the healing of the city. The helplessness many people felt and continue to feel is now turning into action, and action is incredibly empowering and can be the antidote to despair.
There is a collective sense of sadness and grief permeating Los Angeles. People heal in community, so it is very important to talk about the way you’re feeling with the people around you, and to spend time with people who you feel safe with and supported by.
People may show signs of post traumatic stress disorder including intrusive memories like nightmares, unwanted memories, and flashbacks. These distressing thoughts may lead to avoidance of people, places, or things that remind them of the event, and will likely be experiencing what is known as “emotional numbing”. Disconnection and dissociation from one’s emotions is a coping strategy and survival instinct that allows a person to compartmentalize traumatic experiences in order to function.
If you have a friend or a loved one who was impacted by the fires, you may notice negative changes in their mood and cognition.
After trauma, many survivors feel self-blame, shame, and guilt, and they may no longer see the world as a safe place. Other symptoms of depression may begin to manifest, including social withdrawal, isolation, and loss of interest in activities that once mattered to them. They may also experience memory problems which can also be a dissociative response to trauma. On the other hand they may become hypervigilant- this could look like irritability, difficulty sleeping, seeming “jumpy”, and trouble concentrating.
Survivors of the fire may begin to experience physical symptoms as well. This might include headaches, stomach issues, muscle tension, and fatigue. The toll of living in a hypervigilant state often manifests psychologically and physically.
Processing these experiences and emotions will take time. Although many people feel the desire to find normalcy as quickly as possible, we need to recognize that the normal we knew before is not the same normal we will build moving forward. The emotional aftermath of a natural disaster is not linear. Be patient and gentle with yourself and your loved ones as they move through the grief and disbelief. Some days will be more difficult than others, but there are also brighter days ahead.
About the Author
I am a licensed clinical social worker and owner of Victoria Smith, LCSW, Inc., an online and in-person therapy practice in California focused on helping young professionals heal from anxiety and burnout, and quiet the critical internal voices of perfectionism. If you’re a California resident, schedule a free consultation call to learn more!
The one tip I would most recommend if you are struggling right now is to lean on your support system, and reach out for extra support when you need it. People are not meant to process these types of events alone. We need each other and we will be the most important part of one another’s healing
Therapy is another resource to lean on when you need extra support. Please know that there are therapists all across LA who have come together for our amazing community. We are here to support you!
Resources:
https://www.cdss.ca.gov/disaster-help-center
https://lafla.org/fire-referral-list/
https://www.ca.gov/LAFires/