A crisis is an unforeseen event that causes restlessness and makes one to feel so overwhelmed that they can’t make decisions or take action. It occurs when one is so overwhelmed with emotions like fear or anxiety, such that their go-to coping mechanisms aren’t helping.
Common signs of a mental health crisis
- Changes in weight
- Decreased performance at work
- Dramatic shifts in sleep and eating habits
- Neglect of personal hygiene
- Sudden changes in mood
- Withdrawal from normal activities
- Attempts or threats to harm or kill.
- Delusions or hallucinations.
- Verbal or physical abuse.
- Sudden change in behavior or appearance(e.g. from well-groomed to disheveled)
- Verbal cues like “I can’t do this anymore,” “You’d be better off without me,” or “There’s no way out”.
Types of crises
Developmental crises– this type of crisis is part of the process of growing up, like the crises that are described in Erickson’s stages of psychosocial development e.g. middle life crisis.
Existential crises– inner conflicts related to ideas like your life purpose, direction, and spirituality.
Situational crises– sudden and unexpected crises include accidents and natural disasters, car accident, flood or an earthquake, or crimes.
Dispositional Crisis (also called “Crisis of Access”)-This occurs when a person has a problem but lacks the resources or knowledge to get help, leading to escalating distress e.g. A homeless person with a medical condition who cannot find a clinic, an elderly person who cannot afford medication.
Civil unrest- Civil unrest and war can have a significant impact on members of the community.
Traumatic stress results from external stressful situations that are sudden and unexpected e.g. rapes, accidents, natural disasters, bereavement, sexual assaults, etc.
Psychiatric emergencies are crisis situations in which one’s general functioning is severely impaired, and when one becomes unable to maintain responsibilities for oneself due to his/ her mental conditions. His or her judgement is also affected. One may need urgent medical attention.
Imminent suicide risk refers to situations where one is attempting or is taking actions to prepare for suicide.
Groups that have highest risk for crisis
- Individuals with pre-existing mental health conditions
- People experiencing a major life transition (developmental crisis risk) e.g. Adolescents, new parents, recent retirees or empty, the elderly
- Individuals who have recently experienced trauma or loss
- People with Chronic Stressors e.g. constant financial insecurity, food/housing instability, unemployed persons.
- People lacking a support system e.g elderly living alone, LGBTQ+, divorced or widowed individuals.
- People with certain medical e.g. chronic pain, patients with terminal illnesses, post-surgical patients
Try not to give up, it is doable.
Get inspired for life