House fires come unexpectedly and can quickly throw your world into disarray. This is particularly true when you are faced with an important decision whether to rebuild your property or sell a fire-damaged house. The stress after a house fire can significantly affect your ability to make clear decisions, as you navigate insurance claims, temporary housing, and the emotional toll of loss. Recognizing and addressing the stress after a house fire is essential for moving forward and making the best choice for your future.

Then you may also have to deal with insurance companies and contractors and nosy neighbors who want to know what happened.

It can all become overwhelming very fast. That’s why it is important to be mindful of your stress level following a house fire.

If you do find that your stress is high and you are feeling anxious a lot of the time, there are things you can do.

How to lower stress

If you are feeling stressed after a house fire (and honestly who wouldn’t be) here are some things you can do:

1. Set a Routine and Keep to It

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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. Eat Healthier

Try to eat as healthy as you can. If you can avoid eating fast food at lunch then don’t eat it

7. 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.

8. 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.  If you are fatigued, you will lose your short-term memory and feel exhausted.

9. 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.

What else can you do to relieve stress?

Many people have reported experiencing stress-relieving benefits from taking CBD. What is CBD?

CBD stands for Cannabidiol and it is a cannabinoid that is derived from the cannabis plant. There are two types of cannabis plants – marijuana and hemp. There are also two main cannabinoids – THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, and CBD.

THC is the psychoactive chemical compound that gives marijuana users a “high.” CBD, on the other hand, has long been associated with producing a calming effect in users. It does NOT have any psychoactive properties. In other words, CBD use will not make a person feel “high.”

So now that we better understand what CBD is, let’s take a look at how it supposedly works.

How CBD may reduce stress

In our bodies, there is a series of receptors that make up what is called the Endocannabinoid System.

CBD is thought to interact with these receptors, more specifically it is thought to interact with the CB1 and CB2 receptors, which are mostly found in the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system.

Scientists, while still not fully understanding CB1 receptors, believe they may play a role in the release or serotonin, which is a neurotransmitter that is important to our mental health.

For example, low serotonin levels are common in people with depression and it is also thought that low levels of serotonin can cause anxiety.

The current popular treatment for low serotonin, or basically for stress and anxiety, are prescription drugs known as Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs). However, these drugs have a whole host of bad side effects such as:

• Sexual problems
• Diarrhea
• Headache
• Nausea and vomiting
• Insomnia
• Dry mouth
• Drowsiness
• Dizziness
• Nervousness and agitation
• And more

CBD, on the other hand, is a natural substance that currently is associated with very few and very minor side effects (dry mouth, possible light dizziness).

In other words, CBD may offer those suffering from stress and anxiety a safe, all-natural way to relax and feel better.

But is there any proof of CBD’s effectiveness?

CBD research is limited but new studies are being conducted. There are some past studies that showed it may have benefits in treating stress and anxiety. Among those studies were:

In a study on Generalized Anxiety Disorder, the National Institute on Drug Abuse found that CBD reduces stress in animal subjects (rats).

In yet another study entitled, “Cannabidiol as a Potential Treatment for Anxiety Disorders” scientists found that “Evidence from human studies strongly supports the potential for CBD as a treatment for anxiety disorders … CBD reduces experimentally induced anxiety in healthy controls, without affecting baseline anxiety levels, and reduces anxiety in patients with SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder).”

In the end, choosing whether to take CBD or not is a personal decision that only you can make. You will need to weigh the limited research against current-day testimonials from people using the substance and decide if it is for you.

The Bottom Line …

Whatever you decide about CBD and the other stress relieving techniques revealed in this article you should be sure to pay close attention to your stress levels after a life-disrupting event like a house fire.

Stress contributes to heart disease, high blood pressure and strokes. It also affects the immune system, which protects us from many serious diseases. Stress also contributes to the development of alcoholism, obesity, suicide, drug addiction, cigarette addiction and other harmful behaviors.

That means you need to reduce stress to protect your health!

Another way to reduce stress

Another way to reduce stress is to sell your fire-damaged house to We Buy Fire Damaged Houses. You’ll avoid the often stressful repair process and can move on from the house fire faster.

We Buy Fire Damaged Houses pays all cash and buys fire-damaged houses in “as is” condition. To see if your burned house qualifies for a free quote, fill out the form below.

Photo by Usman Yousaf on Unsplash