Crisis can be a sudden even that triggers old trauma, or a completely new event that taxes every resource you have. Whichever it is, being in crisis can quickly create a situation where you become completely overwhelmed and find yourself helpless to go forward. That feeling can then create new triggers for PTSD.

In this series, I’ll be focusing on crisis management skills, and how they help when crisis hits.

First, let’s define “crisis.” I don’t want any misunderstandings about what we’re discussing in this series.

In mental health terms, a crisis is any event which puts someone at risk of harming themselves or others.

You may not experience crisis from the same events that cause someone else to do so.

A perfect example is the video that has become infamous of a young person who was given a full 40 hour work week. This person cried, crumpled up, hysterical about it, claiming it was abuse, and so forth. The rest of us may look at that person and have some harsh judgements about their character, generation they were born to, and so on. I admit, when I heard about it, my first thought was a very uncompassionate, “Welcome to adulthood. What a complete infant!”

The fact is, whether we see this person’s reaction as appropriate or not, they were clearly in crisis at that moment, and including myself, we do not have the right to judge them. I can’t imagine what would have caused someone to fall apart so severely over being rewarded with a full work schedule, but their journey is not mine.

That said, crisis is generally going to leave us in that state. It’s a dangerous place, no less of a threat to our well-being than a flash flood.

Symptoms of being in crisis include:

• Feeling:
  1. Anxious or agitated
  2. Hopeless, or like there’s no reason to live
  3. Lots of guilt, shame, or failure
  4. Rage or anger
  5. Sad or depressed most of the time
  6. Getting affairs in order or writing a will
  7. Giving away prized possessions
  8. Having mood swings
  9. Increasing misuse of alcohol or drugs
  10. Losing interest in hobbies, work, or school
  11. Neglecting personal hygiene
  12. Not being able to sleep
  13. Being very agitated or pacing
  14. Having either extreme energy or no energy
  15. Feeling confused with irrational thoughts
  16. Gaining or losing weight quickly
  17. Having rapid mood swings
  18. Isolating from friends and family, not coming out of their room
  19. Not eating or eating all the time
  20. Sleeping all the time or not being able to sleep
  21. Talking very quickly or non-stop
• Acting in violent ways, such as punching a hole in the wall or getting into fights
• Doing risky activities without thinking
• Attempts or threats to harm or kill
• Delusions or hallucinations
• Extreme withdrawal
• Not sleeping or eating for many days
• Verbal or physical abuse

As you can see, the list of warning signs of crisis are lengthy, and these aren’t all of them. These are just some of the most common. Also, while it doesn’t excuse abuse – abuse is never excusable – you can see from this list that it’s a sign of a mental health crisis, especially in someone who is not normally abusive.

If you’re experiencing these symptoms, please seek help immediately. There are crisis hotlines around the globe, and you can speak to someone anonymously. Most can help you find a therapist in your area. While even in the US it is frowned upon to be hospitalized for treatment, if you’re in crisis to the point of wanting to harm yourself or others, please do seek help at that level. Don’t end your life, or endanger your future. A crisis is a temporary situation, it’s not worth losing yourself over. With help, you can and will get through it.

 

 

 

 

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