Coping with Family Crises

English: crisis

Chinese: Traditional 危機

               Simplified危机

In Chinese, the word for crisis is made up of characters that mean "danger" and "opportunity".  That's what a crisis can be: an opportunity to learn and grow.

A family crisis can begin anywhere, and is generally cause by a series of stresses, or stressor events.

Possible stressor events:

• accident, natural disaster
• moving
• surgery
• serious illness (ie. cancer)
• death
• internal strife
• major financial purchase
• attempted suicide
• gambling
• job change
• loss of faith (for those who are religious)
• divorce
• abuse and assault, violence
• alcohol, drug, or another addiction
• unemployment
• pregnancy, miscarriage, other related complications

All these stressors can build up and cause a crisis to erupt in the family.  In 1958, Ruben Hill developed a model to describe stress and crises.  He called it the ABCX model.

A: actual event (stressor) and resulting hardships

B: both resources and responses to the stressor and hardships, management of stress through coping

C: cognitions, perspective, the family's definition of the even

X: the complete experience, affected by A, B and C

What can wise and effective families do?

• have dinner together (routine provides stability and comfort)
• accept each person how they are
• talk about what is going one (explain things, self-disclosure is healthy and brings healing)
• involve and discuss things together
• affirm your own worth and your family's worth

There are other things a family can do.  You can brainstorm and discuss with your own family what would be helpful for them!

Crisis events are difficult to go through.  Coping is often described as dealing with a stressor event or a tragedy.  It is not just escaping or avoiding the pain and hurt.  Coping with something means you find a way to accept it and begin healing from the pain.  It can also be defined as making small adjustments so that things fit together well under pressure.

Coping with family crises:

• takes effort but is well worth it
• know self and understand self-worth
• accommodate each other
• thoughtful and purposeful
• ahead of time
• something to help you out of danger
• stronghold, foundation
• dependable

There is a lot that is stressful in life, especially in a family, but a crisis presents a certain opportunity to learn how to cope with the stressor event.  It is an opportunity, when responded to in a healthy manner, to grow together as a family, potentially creating closer family relationships.

Look at a crisis not just as a danger, but also as a wonderful opportunity.  Good things will come.  All will be well.