In Los Angeles, almost everyone knows at least one person who lost their home inthe recent fires.
And thats being conservativemost of us know many more.
These feelings can ebb and flow in intensity and sometimes come on with powerful intensity.
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Or we can feel numb and have trouble identifying any feelings.
Read on for advice on how to do just thatin the short term and beyond.
Allow yourself tofeel your emotions, says Closson.
What you are feeling is a natural response to unexpected loss.
And, remember that not everyone copes the same way.
There is no one right way to process, Closson adds.
These emotions can occur months or even years afterward, Closson says.
you better give yourself time to grieveand this will not happen overnight.
Dont attempt to suppress your emotions or tell yourself that your response is unnatural.
Establish a sense of safety
In the meantime, rebuilding a sense of safety is crucial.
Trauma disrupts our sense of security and predictability, notes Los Angeles-based psychotherapistJanet Bayramyanof Road to Wellness Therapy.
Participating in rituals and routine has beenshownto provide solace against anxiety and grief.
so you can heal from this trauma, you must become reconnected to who you are.
From that connection, you might rebuild that which is external.
To do that, engaging in mindfulness can be a helpful tool.
Focus on the present, says Bayramyan.
Take it one day at a time.
Worrying about the long-term can add to the burden.
That also means emphasizing the tried-and-true wellness basics, like eating healthy meals, exercising, andgetting enough sleep.
Elizabeth Bengeof Harvard Medical School.
Its during sleep that the brain processes emotions, consolidates memories, and restores itself.
Instead, seek out techniques that help ground and soothe.
Michelle Dees, a board-certified psychiatrist at Luxury Psychiatry Clinic in Chicago.
Moreover, it induces a drop in cortisol levels, which aids the body in battling trauma-induced physical stress.
People often cannot process trauma-induced emotions in a vacuum, Gorter says.
Manylocal trauma counselorsmay even offer free or a sliding-scale for services.
Invariably these statements come off as trite or uncaring, even if not intended that way.
True helping involves much more listening than it does talking, Gorter says.
And, for those who want to be better at offering support?
