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An Interview with Gary Brown, Ph.D., MFT, FAAETS, BCETS Disaster Mental Health Specialist January 15, 2025
Adapted and updated from a 2015 interview of Dr. Brown in the wake of the wildfires that year, which appeared in The Therapist, a publication of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists.
Q: We are currently experiencing a series of major wildfires in Southern California. Can you describe some common reactions that people may have?
Of course. Exposure to one or a series of traumatic events such as the current wildfires, can impact how we think, feel, behave, and physically respond to something that is traumatic. Certainly, the Palisades, Eaton Canyon and numerous other fires in Los Angeles are, understandably, having an impact on survivors and responders. Many of the pictures we are seeing of survivors standing where their homes use to be, are truly heartbreaking.
Although each of us reacts differently, some of the more common signs of trauma are anxiety and fear. We may find ourselves having difficulty falling or staying asleep. Distressing dreams are also common. Sometimes we also now find ourselves reliving prior traumas. This has certainly been the case for those of us who survived numerous wildfires here in Southern California and, again, should be viewed as normal emotions.
I cannot express that last point enough. Some people feel that they are going crazy. That is simply not the case. They are normal people, having normal reactions, to an incredibly abnormal and traumatic event in their lives.
Additional and quite common signs are feelings of helpless in the face of something that is so powerful. We may feel that we have lost control and that can be a bit of a shock for us. Many people also describe emotions of sadness, numbness, and despair. Persistent and intrusive thoughts, feelings, and images of the event are very common. Difficulty falling or staying asleep is quite common.
In addition to a wide variety of emotions, we can also experience challenges with our normal thinking. This is because our senses are being bombarded and the body is producing large amounts of adrenaline and cortisol – the “stress hormone”.
Given this level of neurochemical overstimulation, our brains are on overdrive and this, in turn, can impact our judgment, memory, and short-term problem solving abilities. Many survivors have reported a sense of confusion right after a major disaster, as they suddenly have to begin adjusting to the new life circumstances they are in.
I think we should again emphasize here that as distressing as you may think and feel right now, that you should view yourself and your loved ones as being normal people who are having normal reactions, to a very abnormal event.
Q. How long do these feelings tend to last?
The answer to that is going to be unique for each person and family that is impacted. Normally, I would say in most traumatic events that our reactions, in general, are most acute in the first few moments, hours, days, and weeks.
In addition to the fire itself, people may have more acute and chronic reactions if they have also experienced other recent stressful events such as separation, divorce, family illness, new to the community, a death in the family, medical disability, or loss of a job.
Most families will recover over time. The length of the recovery process depends on how well families cope with post-fire stresses and on the amount of support and resources available through the family, school, and community. For families whose homes were lost in the fire, rebuilding may be a long process and there may be a number of additional complications dealing with third parties such as insurance companies as well as local, state, and federal relief agencies.
The process of obtaining local, state, and federal aid may also be “complicated because some families had to evacuate so quickly – as in the case of what happened in Middletown - that their bank statements, mortgage statements, insurance policies, payroll stubs, and other identifying information needed to process claims. This alone can cause intense reactions many months after the fires are over.
Our responses to wildfires have some unique characteristics and particular for those who have lost a home in hilly or mountainous areas. The reason for this is that vegetation in these areas has also likely been destroyed. So once the fire season has ended, survivors then enter the wet winter months and for those who are trying to repair or rebuild, the prospect of mudslides can produce very understandable fear and, thus, impair and delay the recovery process. We call this the “disaster within the disaster”. This will be particularly true for those who reside in the foothills and mountains of LA County.
Try to imagine that you just repaired or rebuilt your burned out home and now you have to contend with rain and mudslides. These now become a potential secondary disaster. Even if they don’t materialize, living with the fear of mudslides can be very stressful.
Q: Are some groups more at risk for experiencing mental health struggles than others?
That’s a great question. The answer is “yes”. Certain groups of people are understandably at higher risk. For example: young children, families that have experienced a recent upset such as an illness or divorce, single parents or parents with fewer support resources, the elderly, people from underrepresented groups, people with pre-existing medical conditions or a prior history of mental illness. And of course people who have recently experienced a similar natural disaster or close call with a natural disaster, whose nervous systems were already on high alert.
Someone who has recently moved into the neighborhood may be especially at risk. Not speaking the primary language in your community can also leave someone feeling isolated. Ironically, the pre-fire homeless may be helpful to others who have lost their homes.
Q: Can you speak a bit more to parents who may be listening or watching right now?
Certainly. After a major traumatic event, younger children often experience fear of strangers, fear of separation from loved ones, and nightmares.
Younger children often become clingy and that is certainly a normal response. This is why we think it is so important for families to stay intact as much as humanly possible. We also need to make sure that they understand that the fire is over and that they are now safe.
Limit the amount of time you watch news reports about the wildfire. This is particularly true for young children who tend to become even more traumatized by repeated exposure to the devastating effects of wildfires.
It can also be very helpful to find some diversions for younger children who are even more vulnerable. Try playing videos, board or electronic games that they are familiar with, or read them a book that brings them comfort.
If possible, arrange to have family members and friends help in their care while you are beginning the physical and emotional process of recovery.
If your family members have been separated, make reunification a high priority. Prolonged separation can be additionally stressful for children as well as their parents.
Take the time to make sure you understand your child’s reactions. Don’t make any assumptions that they are “ok” just because they may not be showing any obvious signs of distress. Children are amazingly resilient but we don’t want to take that for granted.
Children and adults may also be fearful about injuries to their loved ones. If the fire was intentionally set then there will likely be additional anger, blame, and fear.
Parent’s reactions often set the tone for how their children may respond.
Younger children may also display what we refer to as regressive behaviors. An example would be of a two-year old who has just completed potty training in the last few months, may start soiling their diapers again. A young child that stopped sucking his or her thumb may start sucking their thumb again. Given time, these behaviors will typically disappear.
Older children such as pre-teens and teens may often display behavior that is similar to their parents. If the parents are relatively calm, older children will often mirror their parents. The opposite is also true. If a parent is highly tense and agitated, then it is certainly possible that their older children may reflect that as well.
Obviously this is an enormous tragedy. Having said that, I think that it should again be emphasized that all of these reactions to lie these destructive wildfires can hold some silver linings.
Such events, while distressing, can also serve to speed up the developmental process. This is particularly true in older children who may now find themselves working together with their parents to help begin the recovery phase. This can be empowering for the entire family.
Q: What can survivors do to help themselves to help them get through this traumatic event?
Having worked in the field of disaster mental health for almost three decades, I have observed quite a number of things that individuals and families can do to enhance their recovery. Here are some of the basics:
Q: What can someone do for family members and friends?
Here are some common things that you can do for others:
Dr. Gary Brown, LMFT. Ph.D. is a Disaster Mental Health specialist who has been working in the field of crisis response spanning five decades. He was born in Los Angeles and has a private psychotherapy practice in Westwood. One of the most experienced mass casualty responders in the nation, he has worked on-scene and post-incident for numerous Level 5 national level disasters including multiple wildfires in Southern California and Colorado and was the first disaster mental health specialist to work directly on The Pile of the World Trade Center in the aftermath of the attacks of September 11th. Currently, he is assisting those who have lost their homes or businesses; and healthcare providers who are also being impacted by these devastating fires.