Many people endure a stressful ordeal in their lives, and while they survive, what happens after it is over?

Many Moodscopers know that close to 6 years ago my house and beloved book and gift shop were destroyed by the black summer fires of 2019 to 2020.

I do not want this blog to be about me but rather people sharing how they coped afterwards. It can be anything that was significant to you, whether it happened recently or when you were a child. Only share what you feel comfortable about telling others.

I find I do not know when words or an image will produce a major emotion that upsets me so much that I may sob uncontrollably.

I wonder if anyone knows what may trigger a strong response. I seem to know after and am often surprised.

I was watching a documentary about a zoo in the town where I lived. It was all about the animals and how they were cared for. Suddenly the screen changed from cute animals to scenes of bushfires and destruction near my old town. I was disturbed I could not turn off the television or move away until my partner turned off the television while I cried with my head on the table.

Do people avoid things they know will trigger them or do they have ways of coping?

I have read that time can be a healer but how much time. I know I will not be the same as I was before the bushfires.

As people have told me over the years how lucky I was that I only lost things. I agree as people lost family in the fires. It helps me if I acknowledge how seeing the burnt remains of my shop the day after it was burnt down affected me and the photographs can still make me cry.

Many people reading this will have lived through and dealt with an ordeal that may affect them for a long time.

I would like  to hear how you cope, how you stop feeling sorry for yourself, how you try to be tolerant when people say it has been 5 years?

I find it hard to talk about how I feel as people may be tired of me talking about how I miss my shop.

I hope people will share their thoughts about what happens afterwards.

Leah 

A Moodscope member