Fire Survivors

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Fire Survivors should know what to expect following a fire.  Although every situation is different, there are certainties you can count on, even with varying situations.

1.) Recovery is not going to be easy

There is no other way to drive the point, but RECOVERY IS NOT GOING TO BE EASY.  Along the way you will experience roadblocks, like insurance issues, which you think you will never be able to jump over.  However, don’t despair because there is hope out there.

Sometimes the roads that are easier are not always the best roads to follow, after all you lean more when you have to struggle over problems.  There are countless obstacles that can come in your way after a fire, legal issues, insurance issues, financial concerns, and mental sanity just to name a few.  However, you have to remember that these are temporary issues, and will pass in time.

2.) Healing will take time

Most people don’t want to hear that healing happens over time, but this statement is true.  When time passes you will find that you are more removed from the situation and the stress, therefore less involved.  When something is fresh in our minds we are more likely to remember the painful details, however as time passes we may forget all the little details about it.  Be patient and take this is a lesson in patience.

3.) You will experience some anxiety as a result of the trauma

Sometimes you may find yourself second guessing and questioning life situations.  Most people will have trouble sleeping in the beginning and could also experience flashbacks.  There is also the possibility of anxiety and fears related to fires in general or related to circumstances of your fire.  Some people may find themselves checking their homes before leaving, making sure over and over again that everything is okay.

You are not going crazy if you have little idiosyncrasies, they are just a part of the process.  The important part to remember is that if you feel like they are controlling your life seek help, whether it be talking to someone else about it, writing about it or utilizing some form of therapy to overcome your personal obstacles.

4.) Sometimes there is no justice in Fire

There is no justice in an injustice, especially when something is out of your control.  Throughout history there have been numerous fires where the victims received no justice.  For example, in the Hartford Circus Fire the victims received some compensation from the Circus, however no amount of money could cover the loss of a family member or burns that you have to live with for the rest of your life.  There is also belief that the true cause of the fire was an arsonist, who was never prosecuted in the court.  People who have been touched by the fire, have to deal with the fact that sometimes there is no justice.

5.) Everything happens for a reason

There is a saying that everything happens for a reason.  Some people say this to make light of a situation or because they hold onto to belief that all life circumstances have a greater purpose.  Whatever the reason, this statement is also true.  Sometimes, we undergo tragic experiences and wonder, “why is this happening to me.”  Then later on as time has passed, we realize that there was some purpose for it.  The answer for why something happens in life is extremely complex and there are indefinite answers.  We can only assume that life has a plan for us, and as painful as it may be, it’s our life plan.

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