WHAT IS A CRISIS?

It is quite difficult to define what a ‘crisis’ is, as there are several definitions that have been provided by various sources. One definition is from Roberts (2005), who
defined crisis as composed of “an event that occurs, the client’s perception of the event, and the client’s previous coping strategies not being enough in the situation.”
Another definition comes from Slaikeu (1990) who defined crisis as “a state of upset-disorganization that is temporary and has the potential for either a ‘radically
positive or negative outcome.’”

Gerald Caplan (1961, p. 18), the Father of Modern Crisis Intervention, describes crisis as “an obstacle that is, for a time, insurmountable by the use of customary
methods of problem solving. A period of disorganization ensues, a period of upset, during which many abortive attempts at a solution are made.”

The International Federation of  Red Cross and Red Crescents defines crisis event as "a major event outside the range of 
ordinary everyday experience that is extremely threatening to those involved, accompanied by feelings of powerlessness, horror or terror."

To summarize the definitions of ‘Crisis’, we can say that a crisis is a state or a condition where an individual loses his/her balance or state of equilibrium because of an
event that is overwhelming, and that the person’s coping mechanisms are no longer effective. As human beings, we are temporarily unable to find relief in the crisis
situation (Hoff, Hallisey, & Hoff, 2009).

WHAT ARE THE TYPES OF CRISIS EVENTS?

When we think of crisis events, we often just think of earthquakes or fires. Crisis events are not just the natural disasters that we encounter, as it may include other
events or situations.

 Natural Crisis - crisis that are either caused by, or destroys and affects, the environment or nature. These are crises that are beyond human control.
Examples of these are landslides, earthquakes, tsunami, destructive typhoons.
 Man-Made Crisis - those that are caused by or involves human actors. Examples are terrorist acts, crimes, or abuse.
 Situational Crisis - those that happen suddenly or unexpectedly, such as accidents, sickness, or death of a loved one.
 Developmental Crisis - crisis that affects the developmental processes of an individual or their growth and developmental stages.
 Financial Crisis - a crisis that happens when an individual or group losses finances or the resources to sustain livelihood or businesses. Examples include
bankruptcy, job loss, and collapse of stock markets.
 Confrontation Crisis - this happens when individuals, like students or workmates, fight with one another.
 Technological Crisis - this crisis happens because of the collapse or failure in technology.

IMPACT OF A CRISIS 
Crises are overwhelming events or circumstances that can affect a person’s functioning. We can summarize the effects of a Crisis by looking at the BASIC functions
of the individual: 

B – Behavioral: Crises can change the way we behave and perform our tasks. It can affect our ability to perform our occupational or academic tasks, cause us to
lose interest in daily activities, or behave in ways that are maladaptive. 
A – Affective: Crises also affects the way that we feel emotions. For some, they feel several intense emotions that make it difficult for them to explain what they
feel. For others, they can experience emotional numbing where they cannot feel any emotions. 
S – Somatic: Crises can affect our bodily functions, such as our sleeping patterns, eating behaviors, and even our immune system and general health. 
I – Interpersonal: Crises can also cause problems in our social relationships and our interactions with others. A crisis can either strengthen or ruin a relationship. 
C – Cognitive: Crises can also affect the way we think about events and experiences. It can affect our memory, judgment, perception, and insight.

Crisis Counseling & Crisis Intervention 

When an individual reaches out for help or assistance during a crisis, on a psychosocial aspect, this can include Crisis Counseling (Miller G. , 2012). Crisis counseling
includes a first-order intervention, which is Psychological First Aid (PFA), and a second-order intervention, which is Crisis Intervention/Therapy (Slaikeu, 1990).

References:
Caplan, G. (1961). An approach to community mental health. New York, NY: Grune & Stratton. 
Hoff, L. A., Hallisey, B. J., & Hoff, M. (2009). People in crisis: Clinical and diversity perspectives (6th ed).  New York, NY: Routledge. 
Miller, G. (2012). Fundamentals of Crisis Counseling. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 
Roberts, A. R. (2005). Crisis Intervention Handbook (3rd ed). New York, NY: Oxford University Press. 
Slaikeu, K. A. (1990). Crisis intervention: A handbook for practice and research (2nd ed). Boston, MA: Allyn  & Bacon.

Traumatic Stress

Traumatic stress is a normal reaction of a person to their experience or exposure of a traumatic event, such as accidents,
calamities, natural disasters, or crimes. An individual exposed -- one who witnesses or learns about the event -- can also
experience traumatic stress. The reactions to traumatic events may range from a mild, minor disruption in the person's life to a
severe, debilitating impact. In worse cases, this may lead to psychological disorders, such as post traumatic stress disorder,
depressive disorders, and anxiety disorders.

Traumatic Stress Reactions

People respond differently to traumatic events. Some of us may manifest symptoms, while others may not. The following are
common reactions that people may experience:

 Shock and/or disbelief

 Fear
 Sadness
 Worry
 Helplessness
 Guilt
 Anger
 Denial
 Shame
 Relief

Normal Physical Responses

 Cold sweats
 Trembling
 Rapid breathing
 Pounding heart or palpitations
 Dizziness or nausea
 Feeling choked up
 Stomach churning
HOW TO DEAL WITH TRAUMATIC STRESS REACTIONS

Practice Relaxation - You can use relaxation exercises like deep breathing exercises, guided or progressive relaxation,
meditation, or yoga.

Be Grounded - If you start to experience recollections or flashbacks or the traumatic event, you may ground yourself by
focusing on the things around you in the present. This can be done by engaging in your sensory experiences- name five, non-
threatening, things you see, smell, hear, touch, etc. This can also include taking 60 slow breaths, focusing your attention on the
exhale or "out" breath.

Connect to resources - support systems, like family and friends, can offer the much needed emotional support and feelings of
safety and security. Connect also to resources that provide basic needs, especially in times of calamity.

Re-establish Routines - a traumatic event often causes a disruption in the life of the person. So structure your day to bring back
your routines like schedule of sleeping, exercise, meals, and spending time with friends.

References:

https://www.helpguide.org/articles/ptsd-trauma/traumatic-stress.htm/
http://www.istss.org/public-resources/what-is-traumatic-stress.aspx