What is a Crisis?
A crisis can be defined as any situation in which an individual perceives a sudden loss of his or her ability to use effective problem-solving and coping skills when faced with a specific issue. Some examples of a crisis are:
- Jail
- Overdose
- Hospitalization
- Divorce
- Loss of job
- Bankruptcy
- Feeling as though they have hit “rock bottom”
What is a Crisis Intervention?
A crisis intervention refers to the methods used to offer immediate, short-term help to individuals who are experiencing an event that produces emotional, mental, physical, or behavioral distress or problems. In essence, it is developing a plan of action which will restore the balance and help the individual in crisis to not feel so overwhelmed in their current situation.
Who is Involved in a Crisis Intervention?
A crisis intervention can involve: the individual experiencing the crisis, family and friends to offer support, a crisis worker, psychologist, psychiatrist, a counselor/therapist, medical personnel, a social worker, etc.
Here is a Case Scenario:
You found your son Jimmy’s secret stash of prescription painkillers about 3 months ago. After confronting him, Jimmy confessed that he uses them for recreational purposes “once in a while.” He then apologized and told you that he would no longer do that.
Lately Jimmy seems out of sorts. He looks very ragged, not as social as he normally is, and appears to have lost some weight. One day you ask him if everything is alright, and he simply tells you he is just tired because of the long hours he’s been putting in at his job. You don’t want to aggravate him more, so you drop it.
Later that night, you wake up to a phone call at 2AM. It’s Jimmy. He’s calling to ask if you will bail him out of jail. You are completely perplexed, for you thought he was working the night shift. You ask him what he got arrested for, and he tells you that he is being charged for possession of heroin. What do you do? You didn’t even know your son was using drugs, let alone heroin. You realize your son needs treatment, however you just heard on the news earlier tonight that there is a shortage of treatment facilities and they currently have long waiting lists. Where do you go from here? What is your plan?
This is just an example of why it is so crucial to have a plan in place. We’ve helped families and people affected by addiction develop a crisis intervention plan so they don’t end up in a situation like Jimmy and his family. If you notice the warning signs of a problem, or your child just doesn’t seem like themselves, we can help. We’ve seen clients in all stages of addiction, and we can help refer you to the right specialist. Don’t ignore the warning signs and hope they’ll resolve on their own, reach out to Appelman Law Firm today.
