Wildfires and Emotional Well-being
With global temperatures rising and weather patterns changing, the number of out-of-control wildfires has significantly increased in recent years. The west coast of Canada, particularly British Columbia, has been severely affected. Wildfires in 2023 reached unprecedented levels, both in terms of the number of wildfires and the total hectares burned, which exceeded 2.8 million.
How Wildfires Affect Psychological Well-being
As the climate continues to change and wildfires become more frequent and intense, many of us are now impacted either through ongoing health concerns from breathing smoky air and particulates or from the fear of losing our home, perhaps multiple times. Losing your home to a fire can be a traumatic event, causing some folks to experience PTSD symptoms. Even if your home is spared, the need to evacuate and the associated fear and stress can also be traumatic. Lives are disrupted, with many people fleeing with only the clothes on their backs. Returning home, only to live in fear of experiencing the same thing again the next year, can cause tremendous stress.
Financial stress is another significant impact of wildfires. While fire insurance is mandatory for many homes, these policies often require rebuilding on the same site. In certain neighborhoods or towns, such as Lytton, BC, which face annual wildfire risks, property values can decrease. This poses a risk of significant financial loss for those wishing to sell their homes and move on. This can cause people to feel trapped or stuck in their circumstances, leading to feelings of helplessness and depression.
Immediate Reactions to Wildfire Threats
During a wildfire event, it is common to feel fear, anxiety, and worry for individual safety and that of loved ones. Panic and other trauma responses, like fight, flight, or freeze, are also common. Having a clear, practiced plan with a ready-to-go bag can help ensure you evacuate with all necessary items in the event of a fire. Relying on memory during an emergency is impractical, as stress hormones prioritize finding safety. Having a designated family meeting place or a plan for contacting each other can bring increased calm amid chaos if you do ever find yourself in an experience like this.
Long-term Emotional Effects
The long-term emotional impacts of wildfires can be significant, including PTSD symptoms. The extreme stress folks experience can cause a type of brain fog, making it difficult to focus and sometimes even leading to memory loss. These symptoms can last for years.
In addition, returning home can trigger fear and anxiety. Seeing destroyed buildings and hearing about lost lives can cause survivor's guilt. Even when nothing more could have been done, the intense guilt can be psychologically damaging.
Vicarious Trauma and Media Exposure
The extensive media coverage and live streaming of traumatic events across various social media platforms can cause viewers to experience vicarious trauma. Repeated exposure to distressing information or images can lead to symptoms of acute stress and psychological trauma, even if the events had no direct impact. First responders and those fighting wildfires all summer are particularly vulnerable to burnout and emotional exhaustion. Internalizing others' traumatic experiences can even alter your worldview and emotional experience. For this reason, it is important to have a safe space to process the impact of witnessing these events.
Community Initiatives for Wildfire Recovery
One of the best ways to work through anxiety and panic that come from fear of wildfires is to engage in something practical. Following a fire there are often community-led initiatives, such as clothing and furniture drives or fundraisers to support those who have been impacted. Folks can often also volunteer to provide temporary housing to those displaced by the fire, as has happened many times in BC.
Several organizations are available for support:
Reaching out for therapy to process your feelings can also provide the support needed to move through your emotions and begin healing from the traumatic experience you survived.
