Facts and advice on crisis and grief

Crisis means that something serious has happened in life that is difficult to deal with and makes us temporarily lose our footing. Crisis is both a reaction to the event and a time of adjustment to the new reality.

In times of crisis in life

A life crisis can be triggered by, for example, separation, infidelity, personal illness or the illness of a relative. When you are in the middle of a crisis, it can be difficult to deal with, but it usually improves over time.

Developmental crises are part of human psychological development. They can occur at important transitions in life, such as when you start studying at university, or finish your education and start working. These are periods of particular vulnerability.

A third type of crisis is that which can occur in connection with sudden and unexpected events. Examples include sudden death, acute illness, accidents and disasters, violence and threats. There has been no time to prepare.

Tips for dealing with a crisis

The experience of a crisis/death can be so powerful that it shatters our beliefs about ourselves, others and the world we live in.

Taking care of yourself in a crisis is important. Talk about what has happened with someone you feel safe with. Keep in touch with your friends/family and accept your reactions as normal expressions of an abnormal event.