Disasters Can Trigger Stress, Anxiety

In the wake of the San Bruno fire, anxiety and stress are sure to hit survivors – even those who didn't experience harm or loss directly but who witnessed injury to their neighbors or their properties.
 
"Whenever there's a traumatic experience – such as acute injury or loss of life -- most people tend to have some type of stress reaction," said Dr. Victoria Lemle Beckner, of the San Francisco Group for Evidence Based Psychotherapy.
 
Beckner, author of the book "Conquering Post Traumatic Stress Disorder," said people's symptoms tend to fall in three categories. Those are:

• intrusive thoughts and memories, such as flashbacks of upsetting images that come up in dreams or during the day;
• generalized anxiety and stress, including sleep problems and inability to relax;
• avoidance symptoms, including being numb and inexpressive, or deliberately avoiding triggers such as fireplaces or the smell of smoke.

"Some people may not want to talk about or remember the event, or they may not want to return to the area," Beckner said.  Symptoms may last a few days or weeks and then go away on their own, she said. Or, they could persist for months or longer.

In the latter case, sufferers could benefit from two or three months of therapy targeted for PTSD, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, she said.

Beckner said the local Red Cross has sent mental health volunteers to offer temporary help for San Bruno fire victims.

"They are providing support and information for people having an immediate stress response," she said.

Resources for longer term assistance include Beckner's San Francisco Group for Evidence Based Psychotherapy (415) 771-9999 or the San Francisco Bay Area Center for Cognitive Therapy in Oakland (510) 652-4455.