On March 30, a forest fire broke out in Muli County, Liangshan Prefecture, Sichuan Province, killing 31 people. On April 5, the local forest public security bureau confirmed that the fire was a lightning fire. The fire was a Yunnan pine.
But the heart-wrenching thing still happened -
Li Xiaojing, an expert from the Institute of Psychology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said that the assessment found that there was a certain degree of acute stress response among firefighters who survived the Liangshan fire.
“This is normal. The experts have initially developed a one-year plan to provide them with targeted psychological assistance.”
Fear, flashback, sleep disorder
In the study room of the Xichang Brigade of the Liangshan Prefecture Forest Fire Brigade, Li Xiaojing saw six forest firefighters who came back from the fire scene.
Li Xiaojing has not asked questions yet. Team member Zhao Yibing (pseudonym) first said that he had participated in the search and rescue work of the Ya'an earthquake and the Tanggu explosion. He saw many bodies on the scene, but he felt that the situation was very different from this (muli fire).
"I am very scared. I also handled a lot of dead bodies when I was in Tianjin for search and rescue. At that time, I was not afraid of it. But this time, now I am sitting here, I always think about it, and I want to be more and more afraid."
Zhao Yibing said that he was not afraid at the time when he was on the mountain, even if he found the body of his teammates and transported them down without much fear. But after a few days, I was afraid that I would slowly come up. I was shaking my hand from the cigarette case.
He fears that the extent of his fear may grow larger and larger in the next few months, even beyond what he can afford. Team member Sun Shan (a pseudonym) also has similar feelings.
"I was at the top of the mountain, I saw the fire, there was smoke, and my heart was slamming. I didn't know if I wanted to run. The teammates were still there for the first time, suddenly no one was there, and later I saw the body being I can’t recognize it, but I’m afraid to tell the truth, because I have never experienced such a thing.” Sun Shan said that after returning, he was always afraid of his teammates.
The team member Qian Renli (pseudonym) feels deeper. "When standing at the whistle, it was okay in the first half of the night. In the middle of the night, I always felt that they followed us. One person sat there in the thoughts. Sometimes, at night, I will wake up and feel They are back, and the fragments of the fire are in the brain like a movie, and they are released over and over again."
Li Xiaojing said that this situation is called "flashback" in psychology. It is normal to see this situation, but it depends on whether this emotion is within the controllable range.
When Zhao Yibing was still on the mountain, he could fall asleep when he was tired. But after returning to the brigade on the third night, it is reasonable to say that it should be very sleepy and very tired. It is very comfortable lying on his bed, but he can't sleep at all. Sun Shan went on to say, "Especially yesterday, I really couldn't sleep, I felt my heartbeat was fast, I couldn't sleep well, I thought about some good things, and I immediately turned back."
He said that he didn't feel comfortable lying down. Sometimes he felt that even breathing was difficult. "If you let me sleep during the day, I still have peace of mind, but I have to find something at night, such as looking at the mobile phone. Otherwise, I will only lie deeper and deeper." ”
Sleep disorders are common in firefighters who come back from the fire. Li Xiaojing explained to them that the period after the incident was called "heroic period". Participating in memorial service, interviewing, and receiving family members would keep their nerves tight and ready for battle, just like playing stimulants. But when it comes to rest, sadness and nervousness are not alleviated, which can affect sleep.
"Like the highway car, it is normal to go to the service area. It is normal. The incident has a great impact on us. The high tension has lasted for such a long time. It must be slow for a while." Li Xiaojing suggested that the players can Practice breathing deeply, pay attention to the rhythm of your inhalation and exhalation, slow down your heart rate, and turn your attention to your breathing.
Talk to each other and face negative emotions
In the conversation, Li Xiaojing found that the firefighters felt very accurate about the situation that appeared on themselves. He believed that the first appearance of these conditions was normal, and they were able to express them, which was also a positive signal.
When asked if the players would talk to each other about these situations, Sun Shan said, “It’s a shame to say that fear is awkward. To be honest, I can’t say to my teammates that I’m really scared.”
Li Xiaojing encouraged him. "First of all, many people dare not say fear. They may say that they want to be teammates. It is not easy to express fears. Secondly, you can face the ‘throwing’ emotion, which is even more remarkable.”
He explained that firefighters would not easily express a fragile or painful side because of their occupation and identity, so they put this sentiment in their hearts and gave birth to bigger problems.
Sun Shan said frankly, "For example, if we go to the mountain next time, we will definitely go up with a heartbeat, and we will definitely be afraid. Including yesterday’s whistle, I really bite my teeth. If I don’t go, no one, the squadron will have so few people left. When I go, I will watch and watch. I am afraid that there will be something next to me, but there is a psychological shadow. But I still persist."
Li Xiaojing told him that expressing fear is not a shameful performance, but a self-acceptance. Players can talk to each other and use each other as their own export of emotions. They support each other in collective life and help the negative emotions to subside.
Li Shifeng (a pseudonym), who had not spoken for a long time, spoke up. "I want to go home now, I don't know if this is an escape."
Li Xiaojing said that as a firefighter, he has a strong sense of responsibility and a sense of mission. He believes that going home at this time is an escape, a violation of the image, a moral constraint and an instinctual emotion will conflict.
He suggested that whether you go home or stay behind, it would be helpful to be brave. Both loved ones and teammates belong to a social support system, and returning to the family is also a way to seek social support.
But he also found that the players have problems with material dependence.
Zhao Yibing mentioned that it is a long sigh that he can’t move, and smoking is much more frequent than before. "I used to feel that I couldn't stand it. When I was bored, it was not enough."
Li Xiaojing suggested that he pay attention to it. Smoking is an alternative satisfaction. It may be very cool at a time, but it can never solve the problem. For example, hungry should eat, but there is no meal, only drink water. And smoking is harmful to the body.
He suggested that teammates communicate with each other and understand that fear is not a sign of weakness. Many people are only concerned with the hero side, but few people have noticed that there are many realistic responsibilities, pressures and fears behind the hero. This is inevitable.
Muli fire martyrs relics. Source: 澎湃News Reporter Wang Xin
Long-term planning for psychological assistance
On April 3 and 4, family members of the martyrs went to the brigade camp to bring back the relics of the martyrs. The teammates of the same squadron are accompanied by the help of the family members.
A Forest Fire Department leader is worried that after these days, the future attention to forest firefighters will be less and less, and it will be a rapid decline, which will cause a gap in attention.
Sun Shan mentioned that in the past two days, many veterans came from all over the country to see the martyrs and went to the brigade camp to visit their former teammates. The scene was very warm.
"The two days of the big team are crowded with people. It feels more lively. If the people are going on today, there will be a few people left in this group after a week. What will I face? Before I played basketball, I suddenly saw a big team. More than 20 people are gone, the veterans are gone, I don’t dare to think about the things behind.” Sun Shan said.
When Li Xiaojing distributed psychological science materials, he gave a hand to Sun Shan. Sun Shan said that there is not much to use, the squadron has few people.
Qian Renli mentioned that in the future, everyone will still play basketball, but it will not be as lively as before. Many people are definitely not the same. "You may not accept it. At least half a month, if it is not adjusted, it may be followed by a lifetime. At the time, I watched so many teammates lying down, from the mountain to the foot of the mountain, all lying down, at first it was sad, then I was afraid."
There are forest firefighters who have dizziness, headache, and limb weakness due to lack of sleep. In this regard, Li Xiaojing's suggestion is to organize more group activities to help the team decompression, such as shouting and sports. At the same time, he also introduced some psychological tests, decompression games and quick sleep methods to the players.
However, he also mentioned that it is normal for the players to have a certain degree of acute stress response. The initial recommendations will not be effective immediately, and long-term planning is needed.
“We plan three phases, which are currently in the first phase, which is the stress period, usually within the first month after the accident.” Li Xiaojing introduced that at this stage, the main task of the psychologist is to help appease all kinds of stress. Emotional problems, and gradually carry out systematic interventions, including post-disaster psychological knowledge, mental health screening and establishment of archives, group and individual psychological counseling. ”
The second phase is the placement period, usually the second two months of the stress period. The experts will continue to carry out popular science, group and individual counseling, set up local (and within the fire system) mental health backbone and carry out continuous system training. Construction of a mental health center serving the fire protection system and equipped with appropriate psychological equipment.
The third stage is the recovery period. They will continue to carry out backbone team training and group and individual psychological counseling. More importantly, they will summarize a set of mental health work modes applicable to the local community and assist local backbone forces to gradually take over psychological assistance work.
Netizen: Please take care of them.
After the incident, Weibo topic #surviving firefighters showed a stress reaction #initiated netizens concerned ↓↓↓
Everyone has said that this issue must be taken seriously:
Many netizens are also cheering for firefighters:
Some netizens said: I really want to learn psychology!
After reading the report, some netizens questioned the form of assistance:
Someone replied very quickly: psychotherapy needs to be gradual...
Li Xiaojing has participated in
Psychological assistance work for rescue workers after many disasters
He said:
“Many people are only concerned with the hero’s side.
Very few people noticed behind the hero
Faced with many realistic responsibilities, pressures and fears. ”
I hope that the surviving firefighters will recover soon.