Paradise CA Recovery Resources
• Butte County Residents Camp Fire Recovery Resources
• PTSD with Substance Abuse Help and Interventions
Click links below to jump to Article Sections:
Escape from Paradise – The Day Paradise Burned Down
What Causes PTSD?
PTSD Symptoms
PTSD with Addiction
Professional Interventions
Dual Diagnosis Addiction Treatment
Wildfire Trauma Study – Stanford Medical Center and Aurora Santa Rosa Hospital Collaboration
Camp Fire Recovery Resource Links
• Butte County Recovers – Official Butte County Website with Wildfire Recovery Resources and Alerts
• Butte County Help Central – Camp Fire Information
• Explore Butte County – Camp Fire Resources
Butte County Behavioral Health Access/Crisis Line is Available 24/7 – Call 800.334.6622 or 530.891.2810
• Life After Trauma Workshop Series – Thursday March 14, March 28, and April 11 in Chico, CA
• Overcoming Trauma and PTSD Associated with Physical Spaces – the Online Master of Psychology program from Pepperdine University. OnlinePsychology@Pepperdine created a new guide with actionable strategies to support individuals healing from their experiences with trauma.
• Public Health Advisory on Property Hazards in the Burn Area
• Camp Fire Housing – campfirehousing.org
• Far Northern Regional Center – Camp Fire Resources
• Cal Recycle – Wildfire Debris Cleanup and Recovery
• Camp Fire Trauma Study: • Stanford Medical Center and Aurora Santa Rosa Hospital Collaboration
• Professional Addiction Interventions – Paradise, Chico, Sacramento, Bay Area, Northern California
• Northern California Interventions and Integrated Treatment – Interventions and Dual Diagnosis Recovery
Paradise CA Camp Fire Nov 2018
Paradise CA Camp Fire Nov 2018The Camp Fire began on Nov. 8, 2018. The blaze destroyed nearly 14,000 homes and left at least 85 dead.
An urban firestorm formed in the densely populated foothill town of Paradise. The Camp Fire was contained after burning more than 153,000 acres (almost 240 square miles). The wildfire wiped out 95% of Paradise.
Total damage was $16.5 billion. One-quarter of the damage, $4 billion, was not insured. The fire reached 100 percent containment on November 25, 2018 after seventeen days.
Escape from Paradise – The Day Paradise Burned Down
From BBC.com California wildfires: The day Paradise burned down
9:26am
The sky over Paradise is by now a deep sepia as the smoke starts to blot out the sun.
The roads out of Paradise became jammed with evacuees. Fire raged on both sides of the road.
At no time was it obvious that escape was actually possible.
Evacuees in the traffic jam could only hope and pray they would get out. Most did escape from the Paradise fire.
The death toll for the Paradise Camp Fire was 85.
Santa Rosa Fire – Trauma Recovery Ongoing
In early 2018, an inferno raced across nearby Santa Rosa. The Santa Rosa fire killed more than 20 people and destroyed more than 5,000 homes. The recovery has tested emotions and encouraged resilience. Citizens and city officials have joined together to recover from the trauma. Banners with the county’s post-fire motto, Sonoma Strong, still dot the town.
“Many here have a sort of PTSD, where you’re constantly clearing brush around the house, always checking the news,” says Paula Lindsay, 56, who lost her home, cats and car in last October’s blaze.
“An earthquake can damage a structure, but a 2,000-degree fire will take out everything,” says Santa Rosa resident Jeff Okrepkie. “Like my son’s favorite blankie or my late father-in-law’s military uniform and his dog tags. Stuff like that. Just gone. It eats you up.”
Wildfire Trauma Study
Stanford Medical Center and Aurora Santa Rosa Hospital Collaboration
If you and your child were affected by the wildfires in Northern California, we want to know about your experience. Stanford University and Aurora Santa Rosa Hospital researchers are meeting with families to hear their stories and learn more about how we can help.
Website Info: https://www.aurorasantarosa.com/node/2112
How does this work?
- We will be inviting one parent or guardian and one child per family to participate in the project.
- Each person will receive a $25 gift card for their time.
- Each person will be interviewed by a trained researcher for approximately 1 to 1 ½ hours.
If you are interested in participating in the study, contact:
Cynthia Kane Hyman, CNS RN Director of Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement
Aurora Santa Rosa Hospital 1-707-800-7736
For questions regarding your legal rights as a participant, contact: 1-866-680-2906
What Causes PTSD?
From: Mayo Clinic, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition triggered by a terrifying event.
Trauma is caused by experiencing a terrifying event or witnessing one. Trauma symptoms can include flashbacks, nightmares and severe anxiety; as well as uncontrollable thoughts about the event. Immediately after a traumatic event, most individuals will experience shock or denial.
Not every traumatized person develops ongoing (chronic) or even short-term (acute) PTSD. If trauma symptoms get worse and interfere with day-to-day functioning – PTSD may be present. Receiving effective treatment for PTSD is critical. Attempts to ‘self medicate’ with alcohol or drugs use can lead to addiction.
PTSD Symptoms
In the beginning, individuals experiencing trauma are in shock. Individuals who develop PTSD usually experience symptoms within 3 months of the traumatic incident. However, there is no time limit. PTSD symptoms can begin years afterward.
A common reaction to experiencing trauma is to ‘self-medicate’ with drugs or alcohol.
Using drugs or alcohol to cope with stress, trauma and PTSD can quickly lead to addiction.
Symptoms of a mental health condition are unique to each individual. Warning signs can include extreme mood changes, confused thinking, problems concentrating, avoiding friends and social activities and thoughts of suicide. If any of these mental health condition warning signs are present – this can be an urgent reason to seek help.
PTSD symptoms are usually organized into four basic categories.
- Intrusive memories.
- Avoidance.
Things that remind a person of the traumatic event can trigger avoidance symptoms. These symptoms may cause a person to change his or her personal routine. In some cases, avoidance becomes progressive and creates ongoing fear and stress. - Negative changes in thinking and mood.
- Changes in physical and emotional reactions; also called arousal symptoms.
PTSD symptoms in physical and emotional reactions may include:
• Being easily startled or frightened.
• Always being on guard for danger.
• Self-destructive behavior; such as substance abuse, functional (high functioning) addiction or driving too fast.
• Trouble sleeping.
• Trouble concentrating.
• Irritability, angry outbursts or aggressive behavior.
• Overwhelming guilt or shame.
Co-Occurring Disorders (Dual Diagnosis): PTSD with Addiction
PTSD with substance abuse issues is treatable.
The vast majority of people with addiction have suffered significant previous trauma. And many people who struggle with addiction also suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
This is called dual diagnosis or co-occurring disorders.
Multiple national population surveys have found that about half of those who experience a mental illness during their lives will also experience a substance use disorder and vice versa.
Treatment Solutions – Professional Interventions
Most alcoholics and addicts rarely seek help on their own. Interventions may be the only possibility to reach a functional addict or alcoholic – and get them into treatment.
At New Start Recovery Solutions, we are seeing more instances of trauma survivors attempting to ‘self medicate’ their PTSD with drugs or alcohol.
Self medication for PTSD, anxiety and other mental health issues can quickly transform into addiction. Individuals who ‘push through’ trauma without taking the time for self care are more vulnerable to mental health issues and addiction.
For example, high functioning addicts and high functioning alcoholics are dedicated and responsible. They go to work each day and may even excel in their career. But at home with family – all of the common addiction behaviors are in full force.
If there are children involved, they must be protected. Family recovery programs are essential to ongoing well-being for the family of alcoholics and substance abusers.
The Objective of Interventions
The goal of an intervention is to introduce the idea of change into the person’s life from the point of several family members. It is designed to be respectful and to allow family to share their feelings in a non-confrontational way.
The hopeful result of interventions is that the individual will want to recognize and stop the destructive behavior – and get help.
Dual Diagnosis Addiction Treatment
The best treatment for dual diagnosis is integrated treatment. The individual receives care for both their diagnosed mental illness and substance abuse.
Treatment planning is unique for each individual. However, there are some basic elements common in all dual diagnosis treatment plans.
- Detox – Don’t let the fear of withdrawal keep you trapped in addiction. The compassionate staff at New Start Recovery Solutions helps you regain control of your life with medical detox programs for alcohol and drugs.
- Inpatient Addiction Treatment – Evidence-based addiction treatments, holistic therapies, and over 20 years of experience within a safe and supportive environment.
- Supportive Housing – Group homes or sober houses.
- Psychotherapy is a critical part of an effective dual diagnosis treatment plan. For example, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) helps people with dual diagnosis learn how to cope and change ineffective patterns of thinking, which may increase the risk of substance use.
- Medications are sometimes useful for treating mental illnesses. Certain medications can also help people ease withdrawal symptoms during the detoxification process and promote recovery.
- Stages of Change – Recovery involves moving through stages of change and phases of recovery for each co-occurring condition or issue.
- Self-Help and Support Groups. Dealing with a dual diagnosis can feel challenging and isolating. Support groups allow members to share frustrations, celebrate successes, find referrals for specialists, find the best community resources and swap recovery tips. Support groups also provide a space for forming healthy friendships filled with encouragement to stay clean.
Need Help with Alcohol or Substance Abuse?
If you or your family are experiencing the effects of addiction – it is time to take the necessary steps to get help.
New Start Recovery Solutions can help you with Alcohol Use Disorder and drug rehab in most areas of the U.S.
For Professional Interventions in the Paradise, Chico, Sacramento or Silicon Valley area – contact us.
If PTSD or any form of mental illness is also involved (depression, anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder and more) – it is critical to make certain the recovery center you choose has Dual Diagnosis (co-occurring disorders) treatment.
Call Admissions at 866-303-6275 for assistance.
Northern California Evidence-Based Whole Person Addiction Recovery
New Start Recovery Solutions
Addiction Treatment Northern California and the US
Bay Area, East Bay, Silicon Valley, Northern California
Dual Diagnosis Holistic Addiction Recovery
Most insurance accepted.
• Each patient is evaluated by New Start Recovery Solutions staff and receives a biopsychosocial assessment; and an individualized treatment plan.
• We use Mindfulness Relapse Prevention and other whole person evidence-based therapies; including CBT, yoga, tai chi and more.
• If you or your loved one is located in Silicon Valley, San Francisco, Bay Area, Sacramento, Chico, Paradise, Redding, Martinez or other northern California area – and are dealing with a drug abuse or an alcohol use disorder – welcome to evidence-based whole person addiction treatment at New Start Recovery Solutions.
Call Admissions at 866-303-6275 for assistance.
Your Life Awaits – Make a New Start Now
New Start Recovery Solutions
2449 Pacheco Street
Concord CA 94520
Call 866-303-6275
Bay Area High Functioning Addict Recovery
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