Types of Crises
Crises have different types: sociocultural, adventitious, situational, and maturational. Some people can experience different types of crises, as listed below.
- Maturational crisis can happen during any period of transition in biopsychosocial development and growth. A maturational crisis occurs when a person cannot envision their new roles and lack enough communication skills or resources. Additionally, some people may fail to see the individual’s new role (Swan & Hamilton, 2020). Some examples of transitions that may cause crises to include pregnancy, marriage, puberty, relationships, and peer competition.
- Situational crisis is often epitomized by loss and grief, such as losing an established role or support. The crisis arises unexpectedly and suddenly from external sources and can threaten individuals’ psychological, social, and physical integrity. Some events that can cause a situational crisis include sudden job loss, academic failure, and terminal illness diagnosis.
- Adventitious crisis is an event of a disaster that is unexpected and rare. Such a crisis can be caused by natural disasters, terrorism, and global pandemics.
- Sociocultural crisis occurs when individuals of a community stop functioning and conforming to the values and interests instilled in a society’s structure. Such crises can entail discrimination based on class distinction, sexual preference, sex, race, and age (Swan & Hamilton, 2020).
Signs and Symptoms of Individuals in Crisis
Some multiple signs and symptoms may indicate an impending crisis for an individual. Some of the factors include alcohol use, anxiety, hallucinations, homicidal thoughts, irritability, restlessness, paranoia, isolation, lack of sleep and eating, and suicidal thoughts. Anxiety is experienced during the initial threat when a person’s self-concept is threatened, and they respond with the increased of anxiety (Swan & Hamilton, 2020). They may lower the anxiety levels through various defense mechanisms, but when they fail, anxiety rises to hyper levels leading to extreme discomfort.
Coping mechanisms
Coping mechanisms are the methods that individuals use to solve problems and reduce anxiety. Coping mechanisms include adaptive cognitive, adaptive cognitive, social coping, and emotion-focused.
- Adaptive cognitive happens when people modify their thinking, for instance, distancing from the problem of denial. Denial is never good since the problem will not be solved (Isa et al., 2019).
- Adaptive behavioral focuses on the source of the crisis or stress.
- Emotion-focused mechanisms can involve meditating, mindfulness practice, systematic relaxation, and the release of pent-up emotions. The defense mechanism is focused on managing emotions associated with stress perception (Isa et al., 2019).
- Social coping involves seeking social support from other individuals.
- Negative coping techniques include dissociation, rationalization, anxious avoidance, safety behaviors, and sensitization.
Resources
Various resources are needed for preparedness should a crisis happen. Such resources include the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, Crisis Text Line, Disaster Distress Helpline, and Veterans Crisis Line. The Veterans Crisis Line connects retired servicemen and women to immediate help, and they can send messages to 838255. The Crisis Text Line serves all persons in a crisis with information and support. A person can send a text message “HELLO” to 741741 and get help.
The Disaster Distress Helpline’s number is 1-800-985-5990 and assists people in emotional distress. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline provides counseling referrals 24 hours a day and their number is 1-888-628-9454. The possible community resources are specific to a particular geographical area (Isa et al., 2019). However, community clinics, public health organizations, and hospitals are considered community resources in crisis times.
Possible Support Systems
Support systems are the network of persons that people in crises can turn to and seek practical and emotional support. Professional associates, church groups, social clubs, friends, and family are support systems that can help during crises (Swan & Hamilton, 2020). For instance, a professional colleague can help their co-worker cope with occupational stress through suggestions and listening. If the above support systems are not available, caregivers can perform the duty of a provisional support system.
References
Isa, K. Q., Ibrahim, M. A., Abdul-Manan, H. H., Mohd-Salleh, Z. A. H., Abdul-Mumin, K. H., & Rahman, H. A. (2019). Strategies used to cope with stress by emergency and critical care nurses. British Journal of Nursing, 28(1), 38-42. Web.
Swan, J., & Hamilton, P. M. (2020). Mental Health Crisis Intervention and Support for Patients. Web.