Managing Personal Crisis: Dynamics, Phases, and Resolution Strategies

Understanding Crisis and Vulnerability

It is frequently observed that individuals (or customers) present themselves in situations of great tension, disruption, and vulnerability.

Defining Crisis (Caplan's Model)

Caplan defines crisis as a disturbance in a stable condition, caused by a stressful situation, affecting a person or group that previously maintained an adequate level of functioning, thereby causing an imbalance.

The Family as a Dynamic System

The family is a system that develops and evolves over time alongside its members. At each historical moment, members have temporary needs and specific tasks. Any change—positive or negative, intended or unintended—that occurs in individuals or the ecosystem affects the entire family unit.

The most propitious moments for significant changes (and potential crises) in the household are the entry or exit of members in this system, such as:

• Births
• Deaths
• Separation or divorce

Emotional Responses and Phases of Crisis

Crisis is experienced as both a threat and a loss, causing a chain of feelings including insecurity, anxiety, and depression. These feelings are interwoven with adaptive mechanisms in a feedback process.

Adaptive Mechanisms During Crisis

These mechanisms often include:

• Shock
• Denial
• Anger or Rage
• Bargaining
• Acceptance

The Three Phases of Crisis Development

1. Phase 1: Shock and Disorganization

   This phase is characterized by full disorganization and emotional imbalance. Stress produces a state where the individual feels intense anxiety, anger, guilt, and depression.

2. Phase 2: Active Crisis (4 to 8 Weeks)

   During this period, the crisis actively develops. Anxiety, imbalance, and vulnerability are high, often accompanied by increased feelings of blame, hostility, and grief.

3. Phase 3: Resolution and Integration

   The final phase, resolution, is usually linked to acceptance and integration of the event.

Key Characteristics Accompanying Crisis

A crisis is typically accompanied by:

• The perception that the stressful event will lead to a situation of significant discomfort.
• The inability to resolve the discomfort using usual or unusual behavioral forms.

Multiple Types of Societal Crises

In our current society, the phenomena that can cause crises are multiple. Different types of crises arise based on their origin:

• Crisis of Dismemberment

  Caused by situations involving loss or separation, such as: illness, death, hospitalization, separation, or accidents.

• Crisis of Accession (Addition)

  Caused by the unexpected or challenging addition of a member to the family unit, such as: unwanted pregnancies, adoptions, or grandparents joining the family unit to be cared for.

• Crisis of Demoralization

  Caused by events that severely challenge moral or social standing, such as: divorce, imprisonment, suicide, or rape.

• Crisis for Change of Status

  Caused by major shifts in social or economic standing, such as: unemployment, poverty, wars, or bombings.

• Crisis of Social and Cultural Background

  Caused by conflicts arising from societal roles or life transitions, such as: parent-child conflict or conflicts generated by retirement.

Crisis: Change and Opportunity

The term Krisis comes from the Greek word meaning "change," but it also implies opportunity.

Accessing professional help is key to achieving positive results, especially for individuals with limited capacities for autonomy. This assistance must be aimed at:

1. Establishing a supportive relationship that reduces feelings of anxiety and distress.
2. Mobilizing the individual's internal resources for processing the crisis event.

The processing of the crisis, including understanding the scope of the problem and its meaning within the family group, should be supplemented with external resources and support systems.