Crisis

When a family member first shows signs of a mental illness, perhaps even before a diagnosis is made, many families find themselves in a state of crisis. A crisis is an event that puts someone beyond his or her normal range of coping. It can be a confusing and chaotic time. During a crisis, a family may pull together or fall apart. Some of the feelings associated with a crisis are loss of control, fear, anxiety, and worry. A crisis can be a time of change-oftentimes a family may find strengths they were unaware of, or find local resources with the help of other family, friends, faith communities, and other groups. With mental illness, crises may come and go.