Handling Crisis Balancing Work and Family Chapter 14 Balancing Work and Family Chapter 14

Crisis  The word crisis is used a lot these days  There are military crisis, crisis for first aid workers (the Red Cross), social problems (welfare, violence) and heath crisis that we deal with every day  The word crisis is used a lot these days  There are military crisis, crisis for first aid workers (the Red Cross), social problems (welfare, violence) and heath crisis that we deal with every day

Crisis  A crisis is a situation so critical that it overwhelms the usual coping methods and causes great emotional distress.  Some crises such as a hurricane, hit quickly. Others, such as alcoholism build slowly.  A crisis is a situation so critical that it overwhelms the usual coping methods and causes great emotional distress.  Some crises such as a hurricane, hit quickly. Others, such as alcoholism build slowly.

Crisis  Experiencing crisis is like dancing to music that gets faster and faster  At first you can keep up but eventually you get short of breath, your legs feel rubbery and you trip yourself up.  You can always choose to sit out a dance but you can’t sit out life’s crises. They require action  Experiencing crisis is like dancing to music that gets faster and faster  At first you can keep up but eventually you get short of breath, your legs feel rubbery and you trip yourself up.  You can always choose to sit out a dance but you can’t sit out life’s crises. They require action

When is it a Crisis?  Not every serious problem is a crisis  Crises stand out by their overwhelming nature  The things you do to cope successfully with other difficulties don’t work in a crisis.  Not every serious problem is a crisis  Crises stand out by their overwhelming nature  The things you do to cope successfully with other difficulties don’t work in a crisis.

Hardship  Certain events can create hardship.  The greater the hardship, the more likely it is to bring on a crisis  A house fire is an example  Certain events can create hardship.  The greater the hardship, the more likely it is to bring on a crisis  A house fire is an example

Resources  Handling any problem effectively requires resources  If you don’t have the needed resources a problem may become a crisis  Handling any problem effectively requires resources  If you don’t have the needed resources a problem may become a crisis

Attitude  It is normal to be jarred when trouble strikes  If you give in to feeling of shock and helplessness, a difficult situation can turn unmanageable.  If you can face the problem it is less likely to overwhelm you  It is normal to be jarred when trouble strikes  If you give in to feeling of shock and helplessness, a difficult situation can turn unmanageable.  If you can face the problem it is less likely to overwhelm you

Crisis  Some people seem to have many crises in their lives  Crisis prone families often have inadequate resources to solve their problems  A lack of self confidence makes people particularly anxious and fearful about life. They are more likely to define an event as a crisis  Some people seem to have many crises in their lives  Crisis prone families often have inadequate resources to solve their problems  A lack of self confidence makes people particularly anxious and fearful about life. They are more likely to define an event as a crisis

Causes of crisis  What kinds of events are likely to cause a crisis?  Outside events such as an accident, job loss, or natural disaster are candidates  These are things that are beyond your control  What kinds of events are likely to cause a crisis?  Outside events such as an accident, job loss, or natural disaster are candidates  These are things that are beyond your control

Causes of crisis  The loss of a family member through death or separation as by war or hospitalization  The unexpected addition of a family ember. Blended or baby  The loss of the family unit through non support, abuse, addictions, delinquency, or events that bring disgrace  The loss of a family member through death or separation as by war or hospitalization  The unexpected addition of a family ember. Blended or baby  The loss of the family unit through non support, abuse, addictions, delinquency, or events that bring disgrace

Series of crisis  Some crisis result from a series of events.  Emergency surgery, cancer, death, etc.  Some crisis result from a series of events.  Emergency surgery, cancer, death, etc.

Reacting to Crisis  People typically react to crisis through a process that includes four stages.

1. Impact  In this first stage people experience shock and numbness  Whatever has happened hits them hard  Fear and helplessness are common emotions  During the impact stage (may last hours or days) may cause a person to stop functioning.  In this first stage people experience shock and numbness  Whatever has happened hits them hard  Fear and helplessness are common emotions  During the impact stage (may last hours or days) may cause a person to stop functioning.

2. Withdrawal and Confusion  In this stage people pull back from the crisis situation  Some people act emotionally cold and withdrawn  Confusion is the best word to describe this stage  In this stage people pull back from the crisis situation  Some people act emotionally cold and withdrawn  Confusion is the best word to describe this stage

3. Focus  They admit that a crisis has occurred and ask what action they must take to deal with it.

4. Adaptation  The final stage is actually dealing with it. The plans are to help people make changes that are practical and appropriate

Resources for crisis  Hotlines  Support groups  Agencies and organizations  Health care professionals  Shelters  Hotlines  Support groups  Agencies and organizations  Health care professionals  Shelters

Intervention  Means taking direct action to cause change when someone else is in crisis  Sometimes a crisis is beyond the ability of the person to handle or control  Intervening requires courage and resourcefulness  Means taking direct action to cause change when someone else is in crisis  Sometimes a crisis is beyond the ability of the person to handle or control  Intervening requires courage and resourcefulness

The Crises People Face  Learning about crises that challenge people will better prepare you to respond if needed.

Physical Health Problems  When illnesses, injuries, and disabilities are more serious the impact on families is much greater.  Some health problems can be prevented with safe and healthy habits plus good nutrition.  When illnesses, injuries, and disabilities are more serious the impact on families is much greater.  Some health problems can be prevented with safe and healthy habits plus good nutrition.

Effects on Family Life  Things run more smoothly and people tend to be most comfortable when the regular routine is followed.  Depending on family and health problems certain adjustments must be made  Communication and cooperation are key  Things run more smoothly and people tend to be most comfortable when the regular routine is followed.  Depending on family and health problems certain adjustments must be made  Communication and cooperation are key

Financial Effects  Medical bills, or disability come with some unbelievably high bills  If a family has no insurance they may have no way to pay  For people who face unmanageable medical bills, hospitals have personnel who counsel about $ problems and assistance  Medical bills, or disability come with some unbelievably high bills  If a family has no insurance they may have no way to pay  For people who face unmanageable medical bills, hospitals have personnel who counsel about $ problems and assistance

Emotional Effects  Everyone responds differently to events of crisis in their lives.  Strain, anger, regret, all members need to understand how to cope with all family members emotions  Everyone responds differently to events of crisis in their lives.  Strain, anger, regret, all members need to understand how to cope with all family members emotions

What to do…  Physical closeness is comforting to many people  Offer to take responsibility for what needs doing- share tasks  Explanations-explain with facts so everyone knows what is going on  Knowledge- this can lessen the fear by knowing what to expect  Physical closeness is comforting to many people  Offer to take responsibility for what needs doing- share tasks  Explanations-explain with facts so everyone knows what is going on  Knowledge- this can lessen the fear by knowing what to expect

Mental Health Problems  Recognizing mental illness is not always easy  Mood swings are not mental problems  2 questions pint to possiblilities of mental illness  1. Does the person function normally on a daily basis?  2. Do the person’s actions routinely hurt or trouble others?  Recognizing mental illness is not always easy  Mood swings are not mental problems  2 questions pint to possiblilities of mental illness  1. Does the person function normally on a daily basis?  2. Do the person’s actions routinely hurt or trouble others?

Mental Illness  Someone with a mental illness needs professional help  Psychologists, psychiatrists, and other sources of help- hot lines and counselors can assist people  Someone with a mental illness needs professional help  Psychologists, psychiatrists, and other sources of help- hot lines and counselors can assist people