16. Crises

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Crisis is any type of situation that causes one to experience unusually strong emotional reactions.
This may interfere with your ability to function in your usual way.
You may find yourself:

• worrying excessively
• having trouble sleeping
• eating too much or too little




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• having difficulty concentrating
• or having any number of physical, behavioural or emotional reactions.

It may be a mild reaction or a severe one, depending on what the actual crisis is and how well prepared you are in terms of resources and supports.
Having a family member or close friend with a psychiatric problem is usually an unexpected event in the family. Because this is a new situation you probably haven't developed efficient ways to cope and probably feel quite alone, confused and uncertain as to how to proceed.
THIS WEBSITE DISCUSSES THREE TYPES OF CRISES:

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suicide 

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aggression

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drugs and alcohol

Some tips to help you get through the initial days:

• Recognize the intensity of the experience, its very stressful nature, and that it is natural that you have a reaction.
• Find supports to help you. Don't try to cope alone. This may be a family member, close friend, colleague, perhaps a counselor or your family doctor. Discussing what has happened is a way to begin to cope.



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• Try to look after yourself by getting plenty of rest even if you can't sleep. Eating regular, nutritious meals. Exercise is a wonderful stress release.