1. And how they affect the family
Family Crises
And how they affect the family

2. Physical Health Problems
Major illnesses – such as cancer
Injuries or disabilities – broken bones, paralysis

3. Mental Health Problems
Harder to recognize
“Does the person function normally on a daily basis?”
“Do the person’s actions routinely hurt or trouble others?”
Some need professional help- best if the person affected asks for help themselves.

4. How it Affects the Family
Family routines and schedules are changed
Household tasks may have to be altered
May lead to financial difficulties because of medical costs
Family members may begin to resent the family member who is ill.

5. Alcohol and Drug Addictions
Addiction – a dependence on a particular substance or action. It is a mental and sometimes a physical illness.
Alcohol takes control slowly.
Person drinks more often, sometimes alone, in the morning or to face a certain situation.

6. Affects on the Family
embarrassment and frustration at the unpredictable behavior
worry about the person’s health
children feel abandoned
fear of being hurt by abuser’s violent actions
abuser neglect family and personal responsibilities

7. Family Violence physical force used to harm someone or something
occurs in 1 out of every 2 homes each year
police consider family violence one of the most dangerous calls to answer
abuser always has a reason why they did it

8. Violent behavior is learned and passed from one generation to another
Partner Abuse – occurs in 1 out of every 4 homes
Some spouses stay because they feel that they can not make it on their own

9. Child Abuse
Neglect – failure to provide adequate food, clothing, shelter, supervision and medical care
Emotional Abuse – a pattern of behavior that attacks the child’s emotional development and sense of worth

10. Physical Abuse – inflecting burns, cuts or bruises
Sexual Abuse – lures a child to be a part of some sexual activity
Intervention may be the only thing that saves a person from a life time of anguish or death

11. Death is as natural as birth
may be something one knows is coming – family member with a terminal illness or unexpected – as an auto accident

12. Grieving
emotional and physical feelings that are painful as a result of the death of someone close to us.

13. Process of Grieving
1. Shock and Numbness- Denial- busy themselves with purposeless activities
2. Reality Sinks In – depression and anxiety are common
3. Recovery – face and bear the loss and accept the loss as final
up to 2 years – parent
4 to 6 years – spouse
8 to 10 years – child

14. Helping Family Cope View the body
Do not make family members feel ashamed for crying
Do not make important decisions if it can be delayed
Talk about the person – remember the good times with that person
Seek support from family and friends

15. Helping Children Understand
Up to age 4 – not understand what is happening – they need to feel that they are still loved
Ages 4 -7 – Children see death as temporary and reversible

16. Ages 7 – 10 – Understand that death is final, but think body functions remain. Feel it happens to other families, not theirs
After age 10 – come to realize death is final and will happen to everyone
Children need to talk about it. They need simple answers they can understand at their age level.