Defining Crisis

1. Defining Crisis The Impact of Crises on the Family

2. Definition- Crises • Crises are experiences or events that cause people to make major changes in their lives

3. Definition- Stressors • Life events that change or have the potential to produce change in the family cause stress- which are called stressors

4. Four Factors • Whether stress leads to a crisis depends on the following four factors: • The event itself • Number of stressful events experienced at the same time • How the family identifies and interprets the event • Resources available to manage the stressful event

5. Crises-Producing Life Events • (1) Devastating events that cause a great loss • Events that cause great losses are more likely to lead to crises than events that cause small losses

6. Crises-Producing Life Events • (2) Very stressful events that widely impact members • A stressful event that affects several or all the members in a family is very likely to produce a crisis

7. Crisis-Producing Life Events • (3) Sudden important events • When an event is unexpected, the family has no time to prepare for the change. If they have no previous experience with such a change, they often feel the situation is out of control.

8. Crisis-Producing Life Events • (4) Events requiring major adjustments • Events that require little or no change are less likely to result in crises than events that require major adjustments

9. The Pileup Effect • Crises can result when several changes occur at the same time, or one after another • Each event in itself is too small to produce a significant loss • Each event may not affect all the family members • Changes may be expected and occur slowly

10. The Pileup Effect • Small changes do not have the characteristics of crises-producing events • The stress from each event continues to build, producing a PILEUP EFFECT • End result is a crisis • Can you think of an example?

11. The Pileup Effect • Ex: • The stress from poor grades on a test, • An argument with a friend, • Conflict with parents, • And pressure from peers

12. How Crises Affect the Family An individual’s crisis can be a crisis for the family Every member in a family affects every other member When a member is unable to function, the whole family can be negatively affected

13. The Family System Becomes Unbalanced • Family is functioning smoothly = balanced • Each member carries out his/her roles • Family works together to meet the needs of each member • Family able to fulfill its function in each member’s life • In a crisis, one or more changes disrupt balance • Individual family members are unable to fulfill their functions • Suddenly, family is not functioning smoothly as a unit • Family needs time, resources, and support as it works to adjust to the changes and restore balance

14. A Loss Affects Family Functions • Most crises situations, some type of loss has taken place: • May involve a family member • Skills or abilities • Job • Income • home

15. A Loss Affects Family Functions Loss hinders the family’s ability to fulfill its normal functions- at least for a period of time

16. Loss Affects Family Functions • Family function of reproducing and socializing children is hindered by • Illness • Divorce • Hospitalization • Loss of a family member

17. Loss Affects Family Functions • Job loss or a natural disaster could hinder the family’s ability to meet physical needs • Family function of assigning roles may slowed by any crisis that prevents members from carrying out their roles

18. Loss Affects Family Functions • Family’s ability to carry out the function of providing close relationships and intimacy may be hindered by • Death • Divorce • Move away from relatives

19. The Grieving Process • When family members experience loss, even though small, they go through a grieving process • When they are able to identify and accept their feeling, they will be able to handle then and go on with their lives

20. Grieving Process • When loss occurs, family members pass through certain emotional stages: • Denial • Anger • Guilt • Blame/Bargaining/Depression • Acceptance

21. Grieving Process Denial Anger Guilt “Is this really happening… to me!” “Why is this happening to us?” “What did we do to cause or deserve this?”

22. Blame/Bargaining/Depression Grieving Process • To try and get rid of these feelings, they may blame others for the problem • They may try to bargain to make themselves feel better • They may feel sorry for themselves and become depressed

23. Grieving Process • Acceptance • These feeling are NORMAL responses in the grieving process • It is important that family members move on and accept the reality of the loss • “This happened to our family and we are sad, but we can and will move on.”

24. Accepting a Loss • Acceptance is needed so family members can take action and adjust to the changes brought about by the loss • They need to work together so the function of the family can be carried out • Roles may need to be adjusted • Financial resources or help from others may be needed

25. Unhealthy Adjustment Patterns • If the family does not adjust, unhealthy patterns may develop • Feelings of anger, blame, and guilt will continue • Members may feel depressed, stop eating, withdraw from others, or fail to show up at work • They may abuse alcohol or other drugs to cover up their feelings • They may lash out and abuse other family members

26. Unhealthy Adjustment Patterns • When family doesn’t function normally, the physical and mental health of members may suffer • Parents may ignore their parental responsibilities- as result children may be neglected, malnourished, or abused

27. Unhealthy Adjustment Patterns • Children’s emotional development will suffer if they don not experience love and acceptance • Children may feel ALIENATED- alone, without hope, or cut off from other who care • This feeling is listed as a major factor in teen suicide

28. Unhealthy Adjustment Patterns • Responding to crises with unhealthy behavior patterns may hinder the growth and development of family members and cause serious long-term results • Developing skills for preventing a family crisis is important for all family members