Navigating Crisis

Understanding Crisis and Its Impact

A crisis is defined as a time of intense difficulty, trouble, or danger. It can manifest somatically through physical symptoms like fight, flight, or freeze responses, leading to irritability, anger, or a desire to withdraw. Crises can also stem from unexpected events that disrupt a person’s ability to adjust. The experience of crisis varies greatly from person to person.

Recognizing Signs of Crisis in Children

• Physical changes: Wanting to be alone, changes in eating or sleeping habits, or complaining of abdominal pain or headaches.
• Behavioral shifts: Parents should be attuned to any significant or prolonged changes in a child’s normal day-to-day behaviors. Subtle changes, such as headaches becoming daily occurrences, can indicate a deeper issue.

It’s crucial for parents and caregivers to recognize when something “isn’t right” and to seek help to understand and address the situation.

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Responding to Crisis and Supporting Others

When a child is in crisis, creating a safe environment is paramount. Parents should strive to remain calm and in control, mirroring the composure they want their child to feel. While maintaining a calm demeanor, it’s also important for parents to acknowledge their own human emotions and express empathy, letting the child know that feelings like fear, anxiety, depression, and sadness are normal responses to difficult situations.

Communication and Validation

• Prepare for what’s to come: If a child is going to experience a difficult event, such as a funeral, provide them with insight into what to expect and check in on how they feel about attending. This validates their emotions and encourages open communication.
• Use comforting phrases: Avoid generic responses. Instead, focus on validating their feelings with phrases like, “That’s a horrible thing you experienced. Are you okay?”
• Observe and reassure: Rather than probing with many questions, observe how the person is presenting. If they appear worried or scared, offer reassurance: “I’m here for you. If you want to talk or process how you’re feeling, I’ll be here to help you through whatever you’re experiencing.” A simple validation that their experience was “horrible” or “awful” and a demonstration of concern can be profoundly helpful.

Helping Children Manage Emotions

Children often struggle to verbalize their feelings due to emotional immaturity. Parents can help them regulate their emotions by:

• Creating a safe space for vulnerability: Encourage children to express their struggles rather than suppressing them.
• Validating emotions: Let them know it’s okay to cry or be angry.
• Facilitating expression through activities: Drawing can be an effective way for children to communicate their feelings when words fail.

Parents shouldn’t be afraid of their child’s raw emotions, as these are normal human experiences. The goal is to meet them where they are and help them understand what they’re feeling.

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Physical, Emotional, and Social Impacts of Crisis

Crisis can profoundly affect individuals biologically, emotionally, and socially.

• Physical/Biological: While some individuals may be resilient and maintain daily routines (work, school), crises can still impact their physical well-being.
• Emotional: People may struggle to emotionally handle what’s happening, leading to a lack of communication, sadness, overwhelm, or depression.
• Social: Crisis can cause individuals to isolate themselves, avoiding social gatherings, hobbies, or activities they once enjoyed.

These responses, including fear and uncertainty, are normal. Some people may suppress their emotions, which is also a valid coping mechanism. It’s important to acknowledge that there are many different ways people respond to crisis, whether through outward anger or a desire to simply move on. Taking time to process what happened, identifying triggers, and seeking community solutions are crucial steps.

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Community Support and Accessing Resources

Community support plays a vital role in crisis response. It’s essential to:

• Provide access to information and safe spaces: This can be as simple as organizing a town hall or a check-in point.
• Communicate support: Let people know that help is available and what it looks like.
• Emphasize human connection: People are social beings who thrive on love, respect, honesty, and safety. Fostering a sense of community helps individuals feel valued and acknowledged, overcoming the fear of vulnerability that can hinder connection.

When a community faces crisis, common initial reactions include setting up memorials and organizing resource collections. However, it’s vital to avoid glorifying tragic events, especially in cases of suicide. Instead, focus on understanding the underlying causes and the sadness experienced by the individual.

Community leaders and professionals should also remember that they are not immune to the effects of crisis and may experience trauma responses themselves. It’s crucial to prevent immediate blame and instead prioritize creating a safe space for expression.

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Seeking Help and Moving Forward

Accessing resources is a critical step in navigating crisis.

• Ask for help: Reach out to family members, call support hotlines, or connect with school crisis teams.
• Don’t go it alone: It’s natural to feel overwhelmed, and there’s no shame in seeking support from trusted family, friends, or community resources.
• Utilize human connection: Lean on your loved ones who care about you.

The session concludes by emphasizing that experiencing a crisis is inevitable for everyone at some point, but no one has to go through it alone. Seeking information and resources is the first step, and support systems are available to help. The message offers hope, stating that the difficult experience is temporary and that individuals will get through this.

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