Basics Psychological Crisis Types and Causes By Kendra Cherry, MSEd Kendra Cherry, MSEd Facebook Twitter Kendra Cherry, MS, is a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, psychology educator, and author of the "Everything Psychology Book." Learn about our editorial process Updated on January 23, 2020 Medically reviewed Verywell Mind articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and mental healthcare professionals. Medical Reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by Amy Morin, LCSW Medically reviewed by Amy Morin, LCSW Facebook LinkedIn Twitter Amy Morin, LCSW, is a psychotherapist and international bestselling author. Her books, including "13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do," have been translated into more than 40 languages. Her TEDx talk, "The Secret of Becoming Mentally Strong," is one of the most viewed talks of all time. Learn about our Medical Review Board Print Justin Case / Getty Images Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Definitions Types What to Do Helping Others In mental health terms, a crisis refers not necessarily to a traumatic situation or event, but to a person’s reaction to an event. One person might be deeply affected by an event while another individual suffers little or no ill effects. The Chinese word for crisis presents an excellent depiction of the components of a crisis. The word "crisis" in Chinese is formed with the characters for danger and opportunity. A crisis presents an obstacle, trauma, or threat, but it also offers an opportunity for either growth or decline. Different Definitions of Crisis How do different experts define a crisis? A number of different approaches and definitions exist. Many focus on how a person deals with the event rather than with the event itself. “People are in a state of crisis when they face an obstacle to important life goals—and obstacle that is, for a time, insurmountable by the use of customary methods of problem-solving.” (Caplan, 1961)“…an upset in equilibrium at the failure of one’s traditional problem-solving approach which results in disorganization, hopelessness, sadness, confusion, and panic.” (Lillibridge and Klukken, 1978)“…crisis is a perception or experience of an event or situation as an intolerable difficulty that exceeds the person’s current resources and coping mechanisms.” (James and Gilliland, 2001) Types of Crises We often think of a crisis as a sudden unexpected disaster, such as a car accident, natural disaster, or another cataclysmic event. However, crises can range substantially in type and severity. A few different types of crises include: Developmental crises: These occur as part of the process of growing and developing through various periods of life. Sometimes a crisis is a predictable part of the life cycle, such as the crises described in Erikson’s stages of psychosocial development. Existential crises: Inner conflicts are related to things such as life purpose, direction, and spirituality. A midlife crisis is one example of a crisis that is often rooted in existential anxiety. Situational crises: These sudden and unexpected crises include accidents and natural disasters. Getting in a car accident, experiencing a flood or earthquake, or being the victim of a crime are just a few types of situational crises. A crisis can sometimes be quite obvious, such as a person losing his or her job, getting divorced, or being involved in some type of accident. In other cases, a personal crisis might be less apparent but can still lead to dramatic changes in behavior and mood. Signs of a Crisis Common signs of a mental health crisis include:Changes in weightDecreased performance at school or workDramatic shifts in sleep habitsNeglect of personal hygieneSudden changes in moodWithdrawal from normal activities Press Play For Advice On Depression Hosted by Editor-in-Chief and therapist Amy Morin, LCSW, this episode of The Verywell Mind Podcast shares what it means to have 'existential depression,' featuring Melissa & Doug's co-founder Melissa Bernstein. Follow Now: Apple Podcasts / Spotify / Google Podcasts What to Do During a Crisis If you are coping with a crisis, whether it's emotional or situational, there are things that you can do to help ensure your psychological and physical well-being during this difficult time of your life. Prioritize Your Time Focus on what's important at the moment. This can mean getting yourself out of an unsafe situation or it can mean just focusing on the basics so that you can get through each day. Avoid taking on too much and conserve your energy so you can deal with the problem you are facing. Find Help and Support It's important to lean on friends, family, and loved ones during a crisis, but you should also seek professional help if you need it. Consider talking to your doctor about what you are dealing with. Your doctor may be able to help or refer you to resources in the community, or they might recommend a mental health professional who can help. Community resources such as crisis centers and support groups can also provide assistance. Care for Yourself Look for ways to lessen your stress, whether it means asking other people to share your burdens or using stress management techniques such as meditation or deep breathing. Practice good self-care, each a healthy diet, and try to get plenty of sleep each night. Helping Others Cope With a Crisis If a friend or loved one is going through an emotional or situational crisis, there are things that you can do to offer practical and psychological support. Be a Good Listener Being supportive and listening to your friend's thoughts, fears, grief, or anxiety is important. Focus on offering support and encouragement without giving simplistic solutions that may come off as judgemental or even patronizing. Allow your friend to tell you how they are feeling and let them know that you are there for them. Assist With Practical Needs Instrumental support can be critical during a crisis. Helping with everyday tasks such as housework, grocery shopping, cooking, or errands can help take the burden off of your friend while they are coping with a crisis. Encourage Professional Support If your friend or loved one is struggling, encourage them to reach out to a mental health professional for additional support and advice. You might help them look for a therapist or even offer to drive them to their appointment. Short-term crisis counseling can be helpful when an individual is coping with something overwhelming or traumatic. The purpose of crisis counseling is to deal with the current status of the individual dealing with a crisis. Chronic exposure to stress or trauma can lead to mental illness. Crisis counselors have skills and knowledge that can help clients cope with current stressors and trauma. Crisis counseling is not intended to provide psychotherapy, but instead to offer short-term intervention to help clients receive assistance, support, resources, and stabilization. 2 Sources Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Zanello A, Berthoud L, Bacchetta JP. Emotional crisis in a naturalistic context: characterizing outpatient profiles and treatment effectiveness. BMC Psychiatry. 2017;17(1):130. doi:10.1186/s12888-017-1293-3 Al-Sulaiman RJ, Bener A, Doodson L, et al. Exploring the effectiveness of crisis counseling and psychoeducation in relation to improving mental well-being, quality of life and treatment compliance of breast cancer patients in Qatar. Int J Womens Health. 2018;10:285–298. doi:10.2147/IJWH.S161840 Additional Reading American Psychological Association. (n.d.). How to help in an emotional crisis. Caplan, G. (1961) Prevention of Mental Disorders in Children. New York: Basic Books. James, K. J., & Gilliland, B. E. (2001) Crisis Intervention Strategies. Pacific Grove, PA: Brook/Cole. Lillibridge, E. M., & Klukken, P. G. (1978) Crisis Intervention Training. Tulsa, OK: Affective House. By Kendra Cherry, MSEd Kendra Cherry, MS, is a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, psychology educator, and author of the "Everything Psychology Book." See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Review Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit Speak to a Therapist Online Advertiser Disclosure × The offers that appear in this table are from partnerships from which Verywell Mind receives compensation.