Sifting Through the Ashes

Stories of Tragedy Turned to Triumph and Making Meaning from Trauma On November 8, 2018, California experienced its deadliest fire in the history of the state. More than one hundred fifty-three thousand acres of land, farms, and towns were decimated, close to one hundred people lost their lives, and tens of thousands of people fled from their homes never to return. Life as they knew it was changed forever. In a few short hours, plans, visions and dreams were erased. Sifting Through the Ashes contains true stories of trauma, tragedy, and resilience told by those affected by the 2018 Camp Fire in Northern California. Each story in this memoir recounts the lived experiences, thoughts, feelings, and implications from the survivors themselves. This book is designed to help anyone who has undergone trauma of any kind, devastation, and hopelessness to learn to cope with disaster or grief, written from the perspective of survivors, first responders, and therapists. Though towns are being rebuilt, the trauma of the 2018 Camp Fire echoes in the hearts and minds of those who lived it. Sifting through the Ashes Provides Guidance for Healing, Resilience, and Growth Sifting Through the Ashes specifically addresses the stigma around counseling and what happens when people are not getting the help they need. Symptoms may include the following: Being stuck in the trauma / Remaining a victim / Being triggered and re-triggered / Isolation / Loneliness / Distress / Depressions / Anxiety / Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder / Irritability / Physical pains / Substance abuse / Trouble concentrating / Insomnia / Social isolation / Lack of energy / Exhaustion / Feeling numb or having no feelings / Suicidal thoughts This book guides readers through the emotional process toward healing and peace, fostering and promoting resilience and growth. It also includes a self-help section of practical mental health exercises to help trauma survivors start their healing journey and cope with their own emotional process. Sifting Through the Ashes was compiled and written by Darla Gale, LMFT, and Alice Rodriguez, LPCC. Together they've heard countless stories from survivors and have moved them from victim to survivor to thriver. Gale works for Heartstrings Counseling, where they offer low-cost or complimentary counseling sessions in California. www.HeartstringsCounseling.org All the profits from the sales of Sifting Through the Ashes are being put into the Heartstrings Crisis and Disaster Counseling Program to provide free counseling sessions (California residents only) to trauma survivors.