Identifying a crisis
There are two kinds of crises: those arising from sudden changes in a person’s life and those that are part of our natural development.
A sudden crisis
In a sudden crisis an unexpected factor enters a person’s life, disrupting his or her security and balance. This is what usually happens as a result of an accident, serious illness, violence, the loss of a loved one, or unemployment, for example. Crisis is all about change; life will no longer be the same. It causes anxiety, fear, and guilt. A person’s mind is filled with helplessness – an all-embracing feeling of insecurity.
Developmental crisis
A crisis may also arise gradually. These are the turning points in life that touch our self and humanity on a deep level; they are usually referred to as developmental crises. Sometimes they form part of our natural life cycle and last from a few months up to several years. Such periods include teenage, leaving home and becoming independent, and retirement from working life. Developmental crises also involve the search for sexual identity as well as for religious or other ideological conviction. A sudden crisis may be followed by a developmental crisis. An acute crisis is in turn followed by a process of change, in which the individual contemplates and reflects at a deeper level on his/her values, identity, and relationship with him-/herself and others.
Crises and Psychological Support
