Chapter 7: What Is a Crisis?
-The word “crisis” does not appear in the Bible, but it does contain numerous accounts of crisis.
Biblical terms that reflect a crisis: trial, tribulation, test, persecution, and affliction. Other terms
can reflect a crisis state: suffering, hardship, adversity, and pain.
Webster defines crisis as a “crucial time” and “a turning point in the course of anything.”
Term is often used for a person’s internal reaction to an external hazard. It’s an upset in a
person’s baseline level of functioning.
Anxiety, depression and tension increase.
Usually involves a temporary loss of coping abilities, and the assumption is that the emotional
dysfunction is reversible.
If a person properly copes with a threat, he/she returns to prior levels of functioning.
The Chinese character for crisis is made up of two symbols: one for despair and one for
opportunity.
When doctors talk about crisis, they are talking about a moment in the course of a disease when a
change for the worse or the better occurs.
Counselors talk of when an event can go in either direction—get worse or improve.
Causes of a Crisis
When a person is thrown off balance by an ensuing event, they are experiencing a crisis.
The terms “stress” and “crisis” are used interchangeably and incorrectly.
Underlying a crisis is a loss of some kind; loss and crisis go hand in hand.
Crisis and trauma are not the same (will discuss in Ch. 11)
Can be a result of one or more factors.
Can be a problem that is too great or overwhelming, such as the death of a child; or it can be a
problem that, to most, is not that serious, but to the person it has special significance.
Becomes overwhelming.
Can come at a time of vulnerability or when a person is unprepared.
Crises are not always bad. They can represent a pivotal point in a person’s life. Crises can
bring opportunities as well as danger. A person may choose a path of destruction when
searching for coping methods, or they may choose new and better methods.
Four Common Elements of a Crisis
1. A Hazardous Event - “an occurrence that starts a chain reaction of events that culminates
in a crisis.”-p. 129.
An example of this: a young wife who prepared 7 years for a career finds out she is pregnant. A
college senior devoted himself to football in order to be selected by the pros suddenly shatters his
ankle on a hike.
It is important for the person in crisis and their helpers or counselors to identify the precipitating
events.
2. The Vulnerable State - “The person must be vulnerable for the crisis to occur,” like going
without sleep for 2 nights or being ill when something that would normally be handled
with ease becomes a crisis moment. Being ill or depressed lowers coping mechanisms.
3. The Precipitating Factor - “the straw that broke the camel’s back.” Some may seem to
hold it together during an extreme loss or heartache but then lose it over a broken dish or
dropped glass. This response is really due to the loss or heartache.
4. The State of Active Crisis - “When a person can no longer handle the situation, the active
crisis develops.”
Four indications of this state
a. Symptoms of stress—psychological, physiological, or both. Could include
depression, headaches, anxiety, bleeding ulcers, and so on. Some type of extreme
discomfort is always present.
b. An attitude of panic or defeat—people may feel they have tried everything and
nothing works. Therefore, they feel like a failure—defeated, overwhelmed,
helpless, without hope.
i. Two ways of responding:
1. becoming agitated—with behavior that is unproductive (pacing,
drinking, drugs, fast driving, fighting)
2. becoming apathetic—excessive sleeping
c. A focus on relief— “Get me out of this situation!” is the concern or cry. They
want relief from the pain or stress, not being in a condition to deal with their
problem in a rational way. May appear to be in a daze or may respond in a bizarre
way, somewhat frantic in efforts and will look to others for help, or become
overly dependent on others to help them in their dilemma.
d. A time of lowered efficiency—People in active crisis may continue to function
normally, but instead of responding at 100 percent, their response may be at about
60 percent. The greater the perceived threat, the less effective the coping
resources will be. They may be aware of this which can discourage them further.
The appraisal aspect of any situation is an important part of the crisis sequence.
Appraisal—what people make of an event, or how they perceive it. Beliefs, ideas,
expectations, and perceptions come together at this time to evaluate a situation as
a crisis or non-crisis. It is important to help people try to see the event through
their eyes, not yours.
i. Examples of this: the death of a close friend is appraised from several
points: how close the relationship was, how often they were in touch, how
the person responded to other losses, and how many losses there have
been recently. A widow deeply involved in her husband’s life with
perceive her husband’s death differently than his associate or uncle he
rarely saw.
Balancing factors
Most people experiencing a crisis perceive the loss or threatened loss of something that is
important to them, such as a job promotion.
Some feel that a problem will not lead to a crisis unless there are deficiencies in one or more of
the balancing factors in a person’s life.
Adequate Perception
-The way a problem is viewed and the meaning it has for a person. Example: if a couple’s
daughter gets divorced, the couple could feel this is a great tragedy and negative commentary on
their ability to raise their daughter. Others may not feel this way.
Adequate Network
-having a group of friends, relatives, or agencies that provide support during a problem.
Example: The Body of Christ has the potential of being one of the greatest support groups
available if the members know how to respond to a person’s needs.
Coping Mechanisms
Most people learn this balancing factor. If these mechanisms do not function well or break down,
a crisis can be experienced.
Mechanisms involve rationalization, denial, new knowledge, prayer, reading Scripture, and so
on.
The greater the number and diversity of coping methods, the less likely the person will
experience a crisis.
Limited Duration
People cannot exist in a crisis state for an extended period of time. Something must be done;
there must be some resolution.
Experience and research show that a crisis ends, and balance restored within a maximum of six
weeks.
Help needs to be available during this time frame, or the person may choose solutions that are
detrimental or counterproductive.
This is the most appropriate time for a crisis intervention model to be applied.
Positive responses are active therapy, support, replay of events, exposed pain, released feelings,
validated experiences, and identified personal schemes in flexible collaborative relationships.
After this window closes, the people adapt on their own and cover over and return to friendly
defenses or styles.
If chronicity takes over the counselee, your goal can more appropriately be described as one to
arrest his/her decompensation process and to provide an alternative maladaptive response.
Equilibrium may be different than before, but at least there will be some balance.
Crisis is an opportunity for change.
Individuals who utilize crisis intervention skills can help people reconstruct their lives and
reduce the need for longer-term psychological intervention later (Morton Bard and Dawn
Sangrey)
It is sometimes easier to help a person in a state of active crisis because those who are hurting are
often more motivated to make significant changes in their lives.
Life’s Transitions
Not all crises are unexpected. Another type is the predictable event. Normal part of the planned,
expected, or normal process that leads to a crisis.
Life is full of many transitions—a period of moving from one state of certainty to another, with
an interval of uncertainty and change in between. Usually we are vulnerable during these
transitions.
Many transitions in life have the potential to become a crisis: the transition from being single to
being married, the transition from being a couple to being parents, from being parents to being
empty nesters, from being employed to being retired, etc.
If moving through the various stages of life occurred smoothly and everything was predictable,
life would be fairly easy for most mature people. However, two factors must be considered:
Many people are not mature enough or able to take responsibility because they are stuck in an
earlier stage in their development; Many changes are not so predictable and do not occur at the
time we have planned.
New Roles
Examples:
-becoming a part-time student while continuing as a homemaker or full-time employee
-becoming a foster parent while continuing to parent your own children
-graduating from school and becoming a full-time employee
Sometimes we give up roles and do not replace them with others:
-retiring from work without finding a fulfilling role in retirement
-losing a spouse without remarrying
-giving up being a parent (empty nest) without taking an outside job or becoming a grandparent
Geographical Changes
Moving from one country to another or from the city to the suburbs, etc.
Socioeconomic changes
Shifting from lower to middle class or upper to lower class
Physical Changes
Going from being a hearing person to being a non-hearing person, from being confined to a
wheelchair to regaining the ability to walk, from being obese to being trim.
Even the experience of a person’s spouse becoming a Christian has been the catalyst for a crisis
in some families.
Midlife Crisis
The midlife years can become a time of reminiscence, growth, challenge, and delight or a time of
pain, frustration, frantic searching, and anger. It is NOT inevitable for every man. Only a
minority of men actually experience a midlife crisis, whereas all men go through a midlife
transition, which is a normal process.
“Male midlife crisis” literally means changes in a man’s personality. Usually occur rapidly and
are substantial, thus appearing both dramatic and traumatic. Man becomes aware of how he is
changing physically and mentally, and even his values change. Reacts to these changes with
other changes. Changes perceived as threatening to some. For a Christian, they present an
opportunity to apply his faith and develop further toward maturity.
A Christian should be able to respond positively but this does not always happen because too
many people are unaware of the various midlife transitions.
Men can avoid the crisis by preparing for midlife in the following ways:
1. building his sense of identity upon a solid basis and not upon his occupation and how well he
does there
2. becoming more complete in his humanity by experiencing, accepting, and expressing his
feelings
3. developing strong and close friendships with other men
4. preparing for life’s changes and crises by incorporating God’s Word into his life
The ministry of churches—if we are going to lessen some of life’s crises—is to prepare our
congregation in advance for the changes they will experience.
People’s Needs in a Crisis
What are people likely to want from you when they seek you out at a time of crisis?
-needs vary from person to person
-wide range of requests
-in many cases, people will expect you to be a miracle worker
You are their last hope, and their expectations are excessive, unrealistic, or both.
They may become disappointed or angry if you cannot give them what they want or expect, but
you will be able to help them in other ways.
Types of People
What are some of the types of people who will seek you out for counselling?
1.FCounselees who want a strong person to protect and control them. “Please take over for me.”
2.FThose who need someone who will help them maintain contact with reality. “Help me know
that I am real.”
3.FThose who feel exceedingly empty and who need loving. “Care for me.”
4.FThose who need a counselor to be available for a feeling of security. “Always be there.”
5.FThose ridden with obsessive guilt who seek to confess. “Take away my guilt.”
6.FThose who urgently need to talk things out. “Let me get it off my chest.”
7.FThose who desire advice on pressing issues. “Tell me what to do.”
8.FThose who seek to sort out their conflicting ideas. “Help me to put things into perspective.”
9.FThose who truly have a desire for self-understanding and insight into their problems. “I want
counseling.”
10.FThose who see their discomfort as a medical problem that needs the ministrations of a
physician. “I need a doctor.”
11.FThose who seek some practical help such as economic assistance or a place to stay. “I need
some specific assistance.”
12.FThose who credit their difficulty to ongoing current relationships and want the counselor to
intercede. “Do it for me.”
13.FThose who want information about where to get help to satisfy various needs, actually
seeking some community resource. “Tell me where I can get what I need.”
14.FUnmotivated or psychotic people who are brought to the counselor against their own will. “I
want nothing.”
People Who Cope Poorly
It is possible to predict who will cope well and who will not.
Factors of predictability include:
Emotional weakness-People who are emotionally weak respond in a way that makes matters
worse, but from their perspective, they are doing the most efficient thing possible, because they
are already hurting emotionally.
Poor Physical Condition-Those who are sick or have some type of physical ailment have fewer
resources to draw on during a crisis. If you notice poor coping skills during difficult times,
recommending a physical exam is important.
Denial of Reality-Those who deny reality have a hard time coping with a crisis. Denying reality
is their attempt to avoid pain and anger. They may deny they are seriously ill or in financial ruin
or that their children are on drugs or terminally ill. Well-educated, professional people sometimes
respond in this manner.
Magic of the Mouth-The tendency to eat, drink, smoke, and talk excessively during crisis. They
are uncomfortable unless they are doing something with their mouths most of the time. This
behavior can continue after the crisis, thus creating an additional crisis for himself/herself.
Unrealistic Approach to Time-People who use this coping mechanism crowd the time dimensions
of a problem, or they extend the time factors way into the future. They want the problem to be
fixed right away, or else they delay and delay. Delaying avoids the discomfort of reality but
enlarges the problem.
Excessive Guilt-These people tend to blame themselves for the difficulty. By feeling worse, they
immobilize themselves even more.
Blame-These people do not focus on the problem but instead turn to who they believe caused the
problem. The purpose is to find enemies—either real or imagined—and project blame onto them.
Excessive Dependence or Independence-These people turn away offers of help or become
clinging vines. Those who cling tend to suffocate you, whereas overly independent people shun
offers of help, even in the worst of situations. When disaster hits, they either continue to deny it
or blame others for it.
Theology-A person’s theology can affect how he/she copes with a crisis. Our belief in God and
how we perceive Him is a refection of our theology. Those who believe in the sovereignty and
caring nature of God have a better basis from which to approach life.
Crisis from a Christian Perspective:
1. Being a Christian doesn’t exempt a person from all crises. In some situations, God may
protect someone in such a manner that he or she avoids a crisis, while on other occasions God
will guide a person through a time of crisis. All individuals, however, will experience crises, as
exemplified by the number of types of crises identified in Scripture.
2. A crisis to humans isn’t a crisis to God. God does not panic, nor does He wring His hands,
wondering what He should do next. God does not lose sleep, or fret, or pace the floor. What we
as humans view as a crisis is not a crisis from God’s vantage point. God is in control: He knows
where we are and the exact nature of our circumstances. God cares about us, even in the midst of
what we interpret as a crisis.
3. God comforts and promises to be present. Many of the most godly, biblical figures received
reassurance of God’s care and presence when they faced crises.
4. A crisis will not last forever. A recurring phrase in the Bible is “and it came to passF.F.F.” Our
timing is not the same as God’s timing; He knows what we need and when we need it. Even
difficult circumstances will eventually change, or God will provide us with the strength to face
and cope with the crisis.
5. Hope is resident in crisis. Paul understood that crises do not have to end in hopelessness and
despair. In Romans 5:3-5, he acknowledged that believers will have struggles but that difficult
times do not have to dictate negative outcomes: “But we also exult in our tribulations, knowing
that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven
character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out
within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us” (NASB).
