Crisis
Situations
Manifestations
Intervention strategies
Crisis
•What does the term crisis mean
for you?
Crisis
• State of emotional turmoil
• Serious interruption in equilibrium
• Emotion overcomes thoughts
• Emotional pressure becomes too great
• Can happen to anyone, at any stage of
life
Brady: Emergency Response to Crisis Mitchell/Resnik pp3
Wikipedia on Crisis
• crises are "specific, unexpected, and
non-routine events or series of events
that [create] high levels of uncertainty
and threat or perceived threat to a
persons or organization's high priority
goals."
Delicate Balance
• Most of the time we live in a steady state.
•We fluctuate between thoughts and
emotions. One normally fluctuates
around the baseline of equilibrium.
When one’s own balancing system
fails and one’s equilibrium disrupted,
Crisis can occur. When that
equilibrium is shifted far enough or
rapidly enough a problem occurs.
“The breaking point”
• Everyone has a “breaking point”
• We are all unique, therefore our breaking
point is unique and different
• Remember; anyone can reach the breaking
point – even you!
• A person in crisis is a person who has
reached their breaking point
• OMAHA, Neb.–The gunman who
killed eight people in a mall shooting
"just snapped," he wrote in a suicide
note that combines love for his friends
and family with contempt for his
random victims.
Toronto Star, Dec. 8/07, Sophia Tareen, Associated Press
Four Characteristics of crisis
1.
2.
3.
4.
Crisis is sudden
Normal coping mechanisms fail
Crisis short in duration
Result in dangerous, unacceptable
or self destructive behaviour
Brady: Emergency Response to Crisis Mitchell/Resnik
1. Crisis is sudden
• The breakdown in equilibrium is an
isolated incident, not a usual pattern of
life
• It is unforeseen and unexpected
2. Normal coping methods have
failed
• The person tries to cope but is
unsuccessful
• The person is unable to draw on his
emotional resources, his self
motivation, his internal strengths
or outside support
3. The crisis is short in duration
• A true crisis rarely lasts more then
six weeks
• Most are resolved in 36 hours
• Why? People find it unbearable to
be in a crisis state for very long
• A person will do something to end
the pain and suffering
4. Crisis may result in
dangerous, unacceptable or self
destructive behaviour
• Crisis can bring with it feelings of
panic or defeat
• If not resolved, may lead to suicide
or homicide
From a different perspective
Crisis has four defining characteristics.
1. event is unexpected (i.e., a surprise)
2. creates uncertainty
3. is seen as a threat to important goals. "crisis
is a process of transformation where the old
system can no longer be maintained."
4. There is a need for change, if change is not
needed, the event could more accurately be
described as a failure.
Seeger, Sellnow and Ulmer – Communication organization and crisis
Three classifications of crisis
types of crisis
1. Predictable
2. Maturational
3. Unpredictable
1. Predictable
• Part of the natural order of life
• Result from normal and expected
life experiences
• Any change can be stressful
(positively or negatively) and may
lead to a crisis
2. Maturational
• Puberty
• Adolescence
• Old age
3. Unpredictable
• Sudden
• Completely unexpected
Stages of crisis
1.
2.
3.
4.
Impact
Crisis
Resolution
Reconstruction
1. Impact
• The occurrence of the crisis /stressful
event
• Equilibrium is destroyed
• Body prepares for the traditional ‘fight
or flight’
• All of the person’s energy is
concentrated on the present and on the
stressful event
• Person may be disoriented and
distracted or may be full of energy –
why?
2. Crisis
• Crisis occurs within minutes to
hours of the event
• You are concerned with the
person’s reaction to the event
• There may be a range of emotions
from hostility to uncertainty and
detachment
3. Resolution
• As the crisis period passes, the period
of resolution or adjustment begins
• The person regains control and begins
to think more clearly, explores
alternatives, makes plans and sets goals
• Motivated to make change
• May take weeks to months
4. Reconstruction/Post crisis
• Once the resolution is complete, the
person resumes normal activity
• There may be some lasting effects,
however, most of the signs and effects
of the crisis are over and may even be
forgotten
• Some suffer permanent emotional
injury
Recognizing a person in crisis
• Remember; each person is unique
• There is no ‘checklist’ for
psychological crisis
BUT do not underestimate your role
• Assistance provided by EMS has
deep and lasting effects upon
victims
Consider the following when
trying to determine if a person is
in crisis
• The person may have lost some or
all contact with reality
• May not be acting normally
• When talking to them, you may
feel you are talking to a brick wall
• Unable to work at a normal level
More…
• May seem withdrawn
• Avoid sensory overload
• Extraordinary fear and/or anger
YOU MAY SEE ALL, SOME OR
• Extreme anxiety
NONE OF THESE SYMPTOMS
• Confusion
• Depression
• May become impulsive
• Overly dependent on others
• May reject offers of help
When things were out of “whack” how
have you felt?
What was your response
to the crisis ?
Emotional reactions to crisis
As we explore the following
behaviour consider what kinds of
calls would elicit the response
1. Emotional shock
“high anxiety”
• May be hysterical or stunned
• Combative
• Panic
• Agitated, out of control
• Tend to act irrationally
• Can be dangerous
2. Denial
• The person is trying to protect
themselves
• Trying to limit what is happening
to them, so they deny the crisis is
happening
• Management?
3. Anger
• Once the person has passed
through the denial stage and
admits that the crisis is happening
they will often become angry
• May direct the anger
inappropriately – often at you!
Management?
4. Remorse
• May become overwhelmed with
guilt and sorrow
• Twist events out of proportion
• Place the burden of events onto
them self
• “if only statement”
Management ??
5. Grief
• Begins the first stage of healing
Usually happens much later – not
generally seen by paramedics
6. Reconciliation
• The person passed through the
crisis
• Resumes his normal lifestyle
• No longer preoccupied by the crisis
Our Role
• Intervene in the Crisis
•Could be at any of the aforementioned
stages
• Earmarked by narrow goals of short
duration
• Aimed at helping a person regain
equilibrium and return to normal
functioning
To be continued…
2017-07-29