How to Keep a House Fire from Making Your Marriage Go Up In Smoke

A house fire is one of the most stressful events anyone can ever experience. Whether it’s a small kitchen fire or a whole-home inferno, seeing the place where you live in flames is incredibly distressing. Once you know everyone is safe and the firefighters have extinguished the blaze, the stress levels taper off slightly – but there’s still a new, overwhelming job ahead of you: getting life back to normal.

Navigating the route back to normal can be very tough on your romantic relationship. All of a sudden, plans and routines have been disrupted, a whole bunch of new expenses have to be dealt with, and every member of the family has to work through their own complex set of emotions associated with the fire. Children often experience nightmares and insomnia; in some instances, there may be fear, anger or blame associated with the cause of the fire.

Knowing this, you can take steps to help your relationship stay strong throughout the recovery process. These steps include:

Keep The Communication Channels Open: Everyone handles stress differently. Some people want to talk, while others prefer to process in silence. Let your partner know you’re open to hearing about their feelings throughout the recovery process – but don’t press them to talk if they’re not ready.

Recruit a Support Team: You’re going to be bombarded by people asking you how they can help. In the moment, it can be hard to think of anything – but in the days and weeks to come, don’t be afraid to reach out to those who have offered to help you. Something as simple as watching the kids for an afternoon or picking up the dry cleaning for you can slash your stress levels – and the less stressed you are, the easier it is to get along with your partner.

Pick a Fire Restoration Company You Can Talk To: There are many fire restoration companies who will help you get back on your feet after a disaster. Choose a green one – it’s safer for you, your family, and your pets – and choose a company that’s run by people you can talk to.

The disaster recovery process can take some time. You want to work with someone who will keep you informed about what’s going on, what’s the best way to handle your homeowner’s insurance claim, and how to help your family cope through the process. Many, many couples’ fights start when one partner or the other has a question that they can’t get the answer to, generally about the timeline or the finances. Having someone who will answer your calls or emails makes all the difference.

Take A Break & Get Away: After a fire, it can seem like every waking moment of every day is consumed by dealing with its aftermath. It’s very important to build some time into your schedule where you don’t have to even think about the fire. Getting away with your partner for a walk in the park doesn’t sound like such a big deal – but simply taking a break and changing the scenery can do a ton of good for your well-being and happiness.

Laugh: Laughter is not only great stress reliever, it builds bonds between people. Laughing with your partner is a great idea all of the time, but it’s particularly important after a disaster. Watching a comedy or visiting with your favorite funny friends helps boost your emotional resilience – essential for recovering after a fire.