How to Help: My Friend

Someone is in a crisis when the stresses they are dealing with overwhelm their ability to cope. Stress can take the form of any challenge or hazard. As such, stress is associated with growth and change; it is also associated with injury and loss. People deal with stress by problem-solving, social support, relaxation, and other coping skills.

Usually there is a balance maintained between an individual's level of stress and his/her coping abilities. A crisis occurs when this equilibrium is disrupted. Like a struggling swimmer who panics and grabs the lifeguard around the neck, or the depressed person who drinks alcohol in excess, a person in crisis often loses perspective and the ability to solve problems in organized and realistic ways. A person in crisis needs extra support and a reduction in stress to re-establish equilibrium. As a result, friends of the person in crisis often feel new demands and challenges in their relationships.