Overcoming Grief During Loss of Personal Items
In light of the recent wildfires throughout the Los Angeles communities, a small panel of psychologists contributed their recommendations for overcoming the grief that often accompanies the loss of personal items during such disasters.
In particular, psychology professor and author of the Grieving Body, Mary-Frances O'Connor, stresses the need to recalibrate the body when mourning.
She encourages both movement and rest to help the body establish a new sense of normalcy and routine when things feel upended. You can also refresh the mind by creating new memories and redefining what the next chapter of your life will look like post-disaster, and documenting old memories of those precious items that are now gone.
For more on grieving and what psychologists say may help the process:
Updated: 01/24/25