Recovering from the Southern California wildfires: Mental health, training, and community support

For a lot of athletes, sport is more than something they do a few times a week. It can be a source of structure, community, stress relief, and a sense of purpose. For some people, it is also one of the ways they take care of themselves.

So what happens when something outside of your control suddenly makes it difficult, or even impossible, to do the thing that usually helps you feel better?

That was one of the questions Lidia Garcia and I talked about on this episode of The Mentally Fit Athlete as we discussed what happens to athletes and performers in the aftermath of the Southern California wildfires.

Lidia is a longtime runner, and at the time we recorded the episode, she had gone 25 days without running outside. She had adapted by using an indoor bike, treadmill, elliptical, and strength training. She noticed that strength training was helping her mood, but it was also giving her something else she was missing: being around other people.

That got us talking about something that can be easy to overlook when we talk about athletic training. Sometimes the activity itself isn't the only thing we miss. We also miss what that activity gives us.

When your usual coping strategies aren't available

Athletes often get a lot of their self-care and fulfillment from their sport. If you run, play baseball, lift weights, dance, or perform music, those activities can be an important part of your life.

So when you suddenly can't do them, it can be pretty jarring.

It can also be difficult when you don't know when you'll be able to return. In the aftermath of a disaster, there may be legitimate reasons to avoid certain activities. Air quality, damaged facilities, displacement, and other safety concerns can all affect whether it makes sense to train.

And sometimes you just don't feel ready.

That's okay.

There is a difference between being appropriately cautious and letting fear make every decision for you. In the immediate aftermath of something frightening, it makes sense to pay attention to safety. But eventually, it can be useful to ask yourself whether you're still avoiding something because it's unsafe or because you're having a hard time feeling safe again.

Those aren't always the same thing.

At the same time, you don't have to rush yourself back just because someone else is ready to return. If taking some time away from your sport is what you need right now, that's a reasonable choice, too.

Sport can help you process emotions

One of the things I liked about our conversation was that we didn't frame exercise and sport as something that athletes need to get back to as quickly as possible.

Sport can be part of recovery, but it isn't a requirement for recovery.

Lidia shared a story about a musician whose home was destroyed in the Eaton fire. She had been able to save her violin, and when she performed again, she found herself crying while she played. By the end of the performance, much of that emotion had passed.

For her, playing music was a way of expressing something that was difficult to put into words.

Athletes can experience something similar.

You might go for a run, lift weights, practice, or compete and suddenly find yourself feeling sad, angry, scared, or overwhelmed. You don't necessarily need to stop what you're doing because you're having those feelings.

You also don't need to push them away.

Sometimes that's just what happens when you start doing something that matters to you again.

What about student athletes?

This can be especially complicated for younger athletes.

Some student athletes affected by a disaster may have lost their homes, their schools, their athletic fields, or the equipment they use to participate in their sport. They may also be dealing with other difficult experiences from the past few years.

And younger athletes don't always have the words to explain what they're going through.

Instead, you might see it in their behavior.

They may stop doing homework. They may argue more. They may joke around constantly. Their athletic performance may change. They may stop showing up to practice.

That doesn't automatically mean they're being difficult or that they suddenly don't care about school or their sport.

Sometimes behavior is how distress shows up.

This is where parents, teachers, and coaches can be particularly important. Pay attention when someone's behavior changes. Ask questions. Be patient. Don't assume that a struggling athlete is simply being lazy or disrespectful.

A simple, "I've noticed you've seemed a little different lately. How are you doing?" can go a long way.

And sometimes the appropriate next step is helping that athlete connect with a mental health professional.

Sport can be meaningful and therapeutic in the everyday sense of the word. But it isn't a substitute for therapy when someone is dealing with significant trauma or loss.

Finding your "why" again

Eventually, athletes may have to figure out what returning to their sport means for them now.

Your reasons for participating may not have changed at all. Or they may have changed quite a bit.

Maybe you want to get better.

Maybe your teammates are an important source of support.

Maybe going to the batting cages or getting on the track is one of the ways you take care of yourself.

Or maybe you realize that you need some time away.

There isn't one right answer.

We also talked about something that can come up after a disaster: survivor's guilt. You might see friends who lost their homes while yours is still standing. You might feel guilty because you weren't affected as much as someone else. You might even feel guilty for feeling depressed when you think someone else has a better reason to be struggling.

Those feelings can happen even when you know, logically, that you didn't do anything wrong.

You don't have to minimize what you're experiencing just because someone else experienced something worse.

At the same time, you don't have to feel guilty for continuing to care about your sport or your goals.

Sometimes the question is simply: Why am I doing this right now?

If the answer is that you need a break, take a break.

If the answer is that being at practice gives you some normalcy and connection, then it's okay to practice.

And if you aren't sure, that's okay, too. You can figure it out as you go.

The important thing is to pay attention to what you need rather than assuming that there is one correct way to respond.

And remember that recovery doesn't necessarily happen on the timeline that everyone else expects. People may check in a lot immediately after a disaster, and then, as time passes, those check-ins may become less frequent. That doesn't mean the grief or trauma has necessarily gone away.

Keep checking in with people.

Keep asking for support when you need it.

And if you're an athlete or performer struggling with anxiety, grief, trauma, or getting back to what you love, you don't have to figure it all out on your own.

Looking for support?

I provide clinical sport psychology for athletes and performers dealing with concerns such as anxiety, OCD, performance anxiety, and difficulty getting back to performing at their best.

If you're in the Los Angeles area, you can learn more about working with me through my Los Angeles sport psychology page.

If you're in Long Beach, you can learn more about my approach and telehealth services through my Long Beach sport psychology page.

I also work with athletes throughout the South Bay, including Torrance and surrounding communities. You can learn more through my South Bay sport psychology page.

If you're not sure whether working with a sport psychologist is the right fit, you can also schedule a free consultation to talk about what's going on and what you're looking for.