Types of Emotional Crisis

Life can present us with many unique challenges and crises. An emotional crisis is often precipitated by any difficult situation such as the death of a loved one, a failed relationship, the loss of a job, bankruptcy, relocation, or changing schools. An emotional crisis may also be caused by any number of unforeseen events, including an accident, a natural disaster, or a physical assault. During any of these situations, it is one’s reaction, rather than the event itself, that can make the biggest impact. 

It is common to sometimes experience that proverbial “bad day”, or perhaps some rough weeks that leave you feeling sad, anxious or even like you are about to snap. This can be part of the human condition. After all, emotions lie at the center of how you respond to a difficult situation or event. Emotions are the initial reaction to the fight or flight response. This can happen from time to time, however, if you feel like you are in emotional overload more often than not it may be time to reach out for help. 

Types of Emotional Crisis

An emotional crisis can be triggered by a variety of things and feel remarkably overwhelming. The phases of an emotional crisis can include; 

  1. Acute Mental Health Crisis​: This type of crisis is immediate and often intense. In this phase individuals can be at risk of harming themselves or others and often require immediate intervention. 
  2. Maturational Crisis: This type of crisis can occur in response to major life changes. Change can be overwhelming, even if it is positive. These types of changes can include starting school, moving, graduating, getting married etc. 
  3. Situational Crisis: This is in response to something happening, such as the loss of someone close to you, failure, rejection, injury etc. 
  4. Adventitious Crisis: These types of crisis can be rare and are related to major disasters, attacks, violence etc. When catastrophic events like this take place we can forget to take care of our mental health. 
  5. Sociocultural Crisis: This crisis is when an individual struggles to function  in the society they are in. Discrimination is also a part of this type of crisis. 

Life can throw us curveballs. Sometimes, we feel able to get back up and keep going. Other times these curveballs can leave us feeling overwhelmed, alone, depressed or even anxious. 

When you are experiencing an emotional crisis, you may feel as if you are drowning. It is important to remember that you aren’t alone, help is available. 

Getting Through Crisis 

It is important not to trivialize crisis-related symptoms or assume they will go away on their own. Counseling can help. You deserve support when you are in crisis. Ignoring how you feel and what you need rarely helps anything. 

There can be many reasons to seek therapy, you deserve to feel better. Your mental health matters. Crisis can lead to many different types of mental health symptoms such as sad mood, fatigue, overwhelm, excessive worry, sleep difficulties, etc. Psychiatric medication management can help to address these symptoms as well. 

If you are looking for exceptional mental health care in Durham, North Carolina call Carolina Counseling Services. CCS contracts with skilled and caring licensed therapists and psychiatric professionals. Call now to get started!

Providers are in network with most major insurances including Aetna, Aetna State Health Plan, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (Blue Cross NC), Tricare, Medicaid and more. Online appointments are also available making getting the care you need anywhere in North Carolina easier than ever before!

Jaime Johnson Fitzpatrick LCMHCS, LCAS is one of the Owners and Vice Presidents of Carolina Counseling Services. She is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor and Licensed Clinical Addictions Specialist in the State of North Carolina as well as a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in State of New York. Jaime is also certified in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy and utilizes various other approaches in her practice.