Some of the Los Angeles wildfires may be waning, but in their aftermath, emotional and mental health concerns are growing.
‘That’s true for people experiencing the trauma of devastation and loss firsthand, as well as those following the news from a distance,’’ said Rabbi Jason Weiner, PhD, senior rabbi at Cedars-Sinai and director of the Spiritual Care Department. “This tragedy reminds us all of our vulnerability,”
he said.
Itai Danovitch, MD, chair of the medical center’s Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, said feeling distress and anxiety right now is normal, as is feeling numb or disconnected from emotions. Among anxiety-management tactics are maintaining daily routines and self-care while staying connected with supportive people, getting adequate rest and exercise, and practicing relaxation or meditation exercises. “Plan ahead for potential future evacuations and manage exposure to news and social media.”
For parents of kids who have experienced the fires, listening is key, said Suzanne Silverstein, MA, founding director of Cedars-Sinai Share & Care and a registered art therapist.
“Hear what they’re saying,” Silverstein said. “Instead of talking at them, validate their feelings by acknowledging that it’s scary, hard, or sad. Reassure them that they are OK as a family and will get through this together.”
Art for young children can be a beneficial coping mechanism: Children can draw things they miss, or items they would have gotten out of their home if they’d had the chance. Very young children may be better able to express feelings through play – using dolls or stuffed animals to act out scenarios and discuss emotions, or building forts with sheets and pillows to create a “safe space.”
“When adults can provide a safe emotional space for the child to take the lead in creative play, children will naturally work through difficult emotions without having to verbalize their feelings directly,” said Rebecca Hedrick, MD, child and adolescent psychiatrist at
Cedars-Sinai. “It helps them feel some control and be able to process grief.
“Older kids may benefit from a daily ritual of saying five things that they’re sad about, five things they’re worried or angry about, five things they’re grateful for, and five things they’re looking forward to,” Dr. Hedrick added.
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