Life is a rollercoaster. As much as we want our lives to run smoothly, various obstacles, or crises, frequently interfere in how we progress. Whether it’s family abuse, drug and alcohol abuse, being a family in the military, an illness or injury, the loss of a loved one, or seeing one’s parents’ divorce, many factors have a life-long impact on our lives (Cox & Demmitt, pp. 422-436, 439-445, 463, 2014). As a result, it is essential that people have proper support from other people and organizations to overcome the hindrances that make our lives all the more arduous. One of the most significant factors that separates a strong family from a weak family is their ability to handle a crisis. A crisis, or any event that upsets the smooth
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Even though a crisis may only affect one individual, it can indirectly affect the entire family. However, the way families handle crises can significantly vary. For instance, while one family may struggle with the breadwinner of the family being laid off from his/her job, another family may be prepared by saving funds and resources to support them while the breadwinner finds a new job (Cox & Demmitt, p. 414, 2014). Even though crises are often associated with negative connotations, there are many positive events throughout the lifespan that could be interpreted as a crisis. For instance, although there was a lot of excitement in regards to both my cousins getting married, there was also a lot of stress associated with it. Since their wedding had been a four hour drive from most family members, some family members had difficulty either arranging to get there or could not go due to their physical and mental health. Additionally, members of our …show more content…
In order to successfully deal with a crisis, families must first possess the eight qualities of strong and healthy families. These include commitment, appreciation, good communication patterns, a desire to spend time together, a strong value system, ability to positively deal with stress, resilience or the ability to rebound from adversity, and self-efficacy or personal well-being (Cox & Demmitt, pp. 6-8, 414, 2014). Next, families must consider the steps in crisis management including addressing the details of the crisis, manage one’s emotions or reactions to the crisis, seek support from others to find alternatives, and resolve the crisis (Cox & Demmitt, p. 419, 2014). Aside from families, there are numerous agencies that can help people with different crises such as the American Red Cross after a natural disaster, the Battered Women’s Center for victims of family abuse, and Hospice for families dealing with a loved one’s terminal illness (Cox & Demmitt, p. 420, 2014). Additionally, relaxation techniques such as self-hypnosis or yoga, allow an individual to feel less anxious and make more rational decisions in the face of a crisis (Cox & Demmitt, p. 416, 2014). Unfortunately, while some crises improve over time, sometimes it seems as if certain crises will never be resolved. For instance, when my parents were awarded joint custody following
Even though a crisis may only affect one individual, it can indirectly affect the entire family. However, the way families handle crises can significantly vary. For instance, while one family may struggle with the breadwinner of the family being laid off from his/her job, another family may be prepared by saving funds and resources to support them while the breadwinner finds a new job (Cox & Demmitt, p. 414, 2014). Even though crises are often associated with negative connotations, there are many positive events throughout the lifespan that could be interpreted as a crisis. For instance, although there was a lot of excitement in regards to both my cousins getting married, there was also a lot of stress associated with it. Since their wedding had been a four hour drive from most family members, some family members had difficulty either arranging to get there or could not go due to their physical and mental health. Additionally, members of our …show more content…
In order to successfully deal with a crisis, families must first possess the eight qualities of strong and healthy families. These include commitment, appreciation, good communication patterns, a desire to spend time together, a strong value system, ability to positively deal with stress, resilience or the ability to rebound from adversity, and self-efficacy or personal well-being (Cox & Demmitt, pp. 6-8, 414, 2014). Next, families must consider the steps in crisis management including addressing the details of the crisis, manage one’s emotions or reactions to the crisis, seek support from others to find alternatives, and resolve the crisis (Cox & Demmitt, p. 419, 2014). Aside from families, there are numerous agencies that can help people with different crises such as the American Red Cross after a natural disaster, the Battered Women’s Center for victims of family abuse, and Hospice for families dealing with a loved one’s terminal illness (Cox & Demmitt, p. 420, 2014). Additionally, relaxation techniques such as self-hypnosis or yoga, allow an individual to feel less anxious and make more rational decisions in the face of a crisis (Cox & Demmitt, p. 416, 2014). Unfortunately, while some crises improve over time, sometimes it seems as if certain crises will never be resolved. For instance, when my parents were awarded joint custody following