The LA fires affected every aspect of our community’s life. As disaster relief workers, your support has been invaluable and deeply appreciated. However, it’s important to recognize that those of you living in LA have also been directly impacted by this traumatic event. The loss of a physical place could come in tangible forms of losing homes, community facilities (e.g. parks, schools, and libraries), infrastructure (e.g. road, public transit systems, utilities, internet access). It is also important to consider the intangible losses such as the loss of relationships, community cohesion, past routines, identity, and belonging. Grief for both tangible and intangible losses may manifest in irritation, anger, numbness, guilt and other emotions, if avoided, could overflow and impact other areas of our lives. Identifying our losses is a healthy first step to healthy grieving and recovery. Below are 10 tips for navigating loss and grief of losing of physical place:
- Acknowledge Your Own Losses
- You’ve been helping others — but you’re also living through this. Give yourself permission to recognize what you’ve lost, whether it’s a home, a favorite neighborhood café, or a sense of stability.
- Name the Intangible
- Loss isn’t just about buildings or belongings. You might be grieving routines, a sense of place, social gatherings, or community traditions. Naming these intangible losses gives them weight — and you space to heal.
- Understand Grief’s Many Faces
- You might feel tired, irritable, numb, or even strangely detached — all valid. Grief doesn’t look the same for everyone, and it often shows up in unexpected ways, especially during ongoing crises.
- Create Time to Feel
- In the rush to help others, it’s easy to suppress your own emotions. Try to carve out even small moments each day to check in with yourself — journaling, deep breaths, a quiet walk, or simply naming what you feel.
- Lean on Peers
- Your fellow relief workers get it. Make space for informal conversations or structured support groups where you can share stories and emotions without judgment.
- Reconnect with Anchors
- Whether it’s a daily routine, a walk in a park that’s still standing, or a call with a loved one — small anchors can help restore a sense of normalcy and identity.
- Seek Professional Support
- Therapy, peer support lines, or even talking to a mental health coordinator in your org can be incredibly grounding. Caring for your mental health is not weakness — it’s resilience in action.
- Honor What Was Lost
- Consider writing, drawing, or creating something that honors what you or the community have lost. Rituals, no matter how simple, can bring meaning to grief.
- Practice Gentle Self-Compassion
- You may feel pressure to “stay strong” — but strength includes rest, boundaries, and kindness toward yourself. Recovery is not linear.
- Remember: You’re Not Alone
- The LA community is going through this together. Just as you’ve offered strength to others, let them offer strength back to you. Healing is communal.