What to do in a crisis?

It is impossible to have everything under control in your life and there will always be difficult moments. No matter how hard you try, something will come along that will knock you out. That is life. Prevention can help you prepare for some difficult moments. But they can still take you by surprise, leaving you feeling confused, stressed and vulnerable.

The key is to recognise the signs of mental health deterioration and use strategies you know have helped you in the past or adopt new ones.

Crisis management strategies

• Acknowledging the emotions you’re experiencing.

• Reaching out to someone you trust. An important part of the coping process is to address the crisis with family or friends.

• Getting in touch with your own body. Your body can give you the first sign that something is wrong. It can help you know where the limits of tolerance are in certain situations.

• Trying a breathing excercise.

• Awareness of your own needs.

• Conserving energy and letting go of demands on yourself.

Check out techniques for coping with challenging situations that are useful to learn when you feel well. It will be all the easier to use them when life gets hard.