Imagine the shock. How would you feel if you drove onto your acreage to find your house had burned down to the ground? This is what happened to Eberhard Seifert. Our thoughts and prayers go out to you, Eberhard, in this emotional time for you.
After a house fire, you may feel all is lost. It may seem impossible to make a fresh start. After a fire, it will take lots of time before things return to normal, but everybody recovers and gets back to their normal lives in time.
House fires are traumatic. They cause you to feel you've lost everything in the world, and that nobody can understand what you've been through. You may feel depressed, anxious or afraid. It is especially hard on kids, whose feeling of safety in the world can be totally destroyed. It is more important now than ever to see the future in a positive light.
This may sound tough when your house and everything you own has been reduced to ashes. But remember, you and your family are alive and well. Things will get better and someday return to normal. Remember also, the way you react to the situation will influence your kids. Keep on the positive side and always tell them everything will be all right.
Things will be busy but make sure you get plenty of rest. Accept any and all help from others. This is the time when you need it, so don't let your pride stand in the way of you and your family's needs. The help you will receive is well-deserved, and there are no strings attached. You would do the same for someone in your situation.
Spend time with loved ones. Just like the clothes, food and financial support you will need from the community, you will need emotional support from friends and family. They may help out with material things but, most of all, you need them to just be there for you. Make sure you have a good listener to help you in times of trouble.
Being surrounded by loved ones also helps you feel you're not alone. A feeling of isolation, as if "this only happens to me" is common when there is a fire that destroys everything. The love and support you receive from those who care about you is important for recovering emotionally.
Do the paperwork. There will be lots of practical things to do, including cleaning up and filling out endless paperwork for the insurance company. Many people who are depressed after a fire drag their feet about these mundane things but getting them done is important. First of all, they need to be done, but also they give you a feeling of accomplishment. Many people find finishing their house cleanup was the beginning of really getting back to normal.
Be patient. It takes lots of time to get over a house fire. Cry and mourn when you need to. Let it out and look forward to the day when you'll be back into your routine. You won't recover overnight, but there will come a day when things will return to normal. And always remember that you're not the only one it's happened to.
