A house fire leaves a lot of wide-ranging damage for homeowners to deal with – from the emotional effects of being a fire victim to property damage, smoke damage and more.

Here are tips you can use to deal with both the physical (property) and emotional effects that house fire damage can cause and get on with your life.

First, you need to understand that house fire damage can leave you shaken psychologically. Anytime you lose belongings unexpectedly or see something as important to you as your home damaged it can be emotionally traumatic.

Don’t dismiss the feelings you have – talk about them with a loved one, or a pastor or even a professional psychologist.

It’s Important That You Deal With Your Feelings so That You Can Move Forward in Life.

You don’t want to get stuck in a place where you are constantly thinking about what happened and worrying that it could happen again.

That’s no way to live your life and it can result in significant stress and anxiety that can ultimately ruin your health and prevent you from experiencing real happiness.

Look at just some of the many negative health symptoms stress can cause:

• Allergies
• Indigestion
• Appetite problems
• Sleep problems
• Insomnia
• Asthma
• Depression
• Depression of the immune system
• Chronic illness
• Colitis
• Stomach cramps
• Heart attack
• Migraines
• Tension headaches
• Loss of memory
• Thyroid problems
• Ulcers
• Constipation
• Diabetes
• Stroke
• Fatigue
• Anxiety
• Panic attacks
• High blood pressure
• Alcohol abuse
• Drug abuse

So if you are feeling stressed after a fire, what are some things you can do to alleviate that stress? Here are some things to try:

Keep Your Schedule

If you are able to get on a schedule and stay on one then you’re going to find that life is a lot less stressful. It is very important to get on a daily, regular schedule. This will ensure that your body gets enough sleep and that your daily rhythms remain consistent.

Don’t Watch Television to Go to Sleep

The best thing you can do when you’re stressed is to relax your mind. TV keeps you thinking and doesn’t allow your brain to relax. Sleeping in the same position every night will help you as well. This will allow both your mind and body to relax. You also want to learn to breathe deeply and fully, pulling the air deep into your lungs. Take long deep breaths and consciously relax your muscles.

Take Breaks Throughout the Day

Don’t work hard and heavy all day long. Take those breaks for coffee or to walk around a bit. Many companies allow their employees to take two 15-minute breaks per day and these are something you should definitely take advantage of.

Try to Limit Changes in Your Life

Remember, rapid change causes you excess stress. Try to limit the amount of change in your life. Patterns are good and stress free. If you are able to keep your life as change free as possible the better. Don’t schedule any changes that are not absolutely necessary.

Pay Attention to the Time

Don’t overwork yourself if you don’t absolutely have to. For example, if you don’t have to stay late at work then don’t do it. Resist the urge to finish up before going home.

Eat Healthier

Try to eat as healthy as you can. If you can avoid eating fast food at lunch then don’t eat it. Try to get healthy foods such as fruits and vegetables into your diet.

Exercise

Exercise is one of the best ways to deal with stress. Many people resist exercise because they don’t feel like they have enough time, but if they tried it once they would be shocked at how much better it makes them feel.

Get Some Rest

When you think of resting, you need to think about the physical and mental aspects of rest. You may not necessarily need to sleep, but you need to give your mind a break. This will help keep your day from becoming a blur and you will be able to remain clear-minded and more efficient.

Spend Some Time with Your Pets

Pets are simplistic and they have an easygoing life. Psychologists report that pets can be very beneficial to our mental health. They provide unconditional love and they always seem to be there for you

Now What About the Physical (or Property) Damage That a House Fire Causes?

 Here are four steps for dealing with physical or property damage caused by a house fire:

1 – Contact your insurance company immediately after a fire

This is important to do to ensure the insurance company will reimburse you for expenses and property loss.

2 – Have the physical property damage thoroughly inspected by a licensed third party professional.

Someone experienced with inspecting fire damaged houses will be able to spot damage that may not be visible to the naked eyes, like structural damage.

3 – Use the inspector’s findings to determine if you want to repair the damage or sell the house.

Deciding whether to rebuild your property or sell your fire-damaged house is a big decision that you should not enter into lightly. Consider all the possibilities before making a decision.

4 – If you are going to repair the damage, hire a contractor.

Hiring the right contractor will go a long way in you getting back the house you love in a safe condition.

One more thing: when considering the house fire damage to your residence, don’t make the mistake of only focusing on visible structural damage.

Another major source of house damage from a fire is smoke damage.

The truth is long after a fire is gone, smoke pollution can linger in a home.

This is not good because prolonged exposure to smoke can lead to:

• Respiratory Issues – unfortunately, small smoke particles can become embedded in carpet and furniture and breathing them in over time can result in breathing issues and even more serious conditions like lung cancer.
• Skin Damage – Smoke residue can also irritate your skin and often the irritation can become so severe that regular skin lotion is not enough to get rid of it.
• Eye Irritation – Left over smoke particles can cause red, watery, itchy eyes and if left untreated more serious damage could occur.

As a result of all of this, you will need to hire a professional who is trained and experienced in ridding a house of smoke and smoke residue. Your – and your family’s – good health depends on it.

If you decide you want to avoid the hassles of repairing a home after a fire by selling a fire-damaged house, We Buy Fire Damaged Houses is a leading purchaser of fire damaged homes. Just fill out the short form below to contact us and potentially receive an offer for your house.