4 normal and necessary stages of an emotional crisis

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The stages of an emotional crisis represent different moments in the process of overcoming a situation that is perceived as confusing and threatening. These types of situations are best addressed and resolved with professional help.

The stages of an emotional crisis are normal phases within the process of regaining balance. A critical situation is not resolved overnight, but rather It involves going through a series of steps before reaching a complete resolution.

Each of the stages of an emotional crisis includes a set of responses that, although in principle they are not the most appropriate, do correspond to a normal way of reacting. Thus, it will prevent us from forcing situations or reactions, allowing them to flow naturally when our intervention is not necessary.

In this type of crisis, a great impact occurs that not only involves emotions, but also cognition and behavior. In those conditions, It is difficult for a person to think clearly, find solutions or be of help to others.. We will soon see what the stages of an emotional crisis are.

“Crises polish your life. In them you discover what you really are”.

-Allan K. Chalmers-

1. Paralysis, the first of the stages of an emotional crisis

The main characteristic of a crisis is that it constitutes a situation in which an unexpected change occurs that makes what follows unstable or uncertain towards the future. In the case of emotional crises, there are one or more realities that cause subjective shock and momentarily overwhelm the ability to react.

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The first stage of an emotional crisis is paralysis. In this case, This reaction constitutes a healthy defense mechanism. In nature, all animals stay still when they sense danger, especially if it is unknown. Paralysis is an expression of confusion, mainly due to the suddenness of the situation.

2. Uncertainty

After that first moment of stupor, What ensues is a state of uncertainty, which is characterized by the presence of anguish and anxiety.. What is happening is beginning to be understood, but the magnitude of the threat is seen more than the tools to address and process it.

At this point, confusional anxiety arises. This is a modality that is closely linked to feelings of disorientation, difficulty in specifying emotions, disorder in ideas and limited awareness. The feeling of being lost and, at the same time, threatened by reality predominates.

3. Intrusion

Within the stages of an emotional crisis, the intrusion phase is not always present, although it is in many cases. This experience appears especially in cases of more intense or vital crisis. It is characterized by the appearance of irrational fears and an exacerbation of the feeling of anguish..

What happens at this stage is that The person withdraws and does not act, but does constantly think about the crisis he or she is experiencing.. From this ideas are incubated related to an overestimation of the dangers towards the future, tragic images and strong feelings of disability.

The so-called “intrusive thoughts” appear. These are images or ideas that come to the mind spontaneously and involuntarily. They are unpleasant and frightening thoughts that you try to keep at bay, without success. This is the most acute phase in the process of addressing an emotional crisis.

4. Preparation and resolution

It is very difficult to get out of an emotional crisis without the intervention of some external factor.. Sometimes it is a friend, a book, advice, a therapist, etc., which becomes that factor that marks the transition from the state of shock to another that allows us to work on what happened, in order to process it.

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A vehicle is needed to express the discomfort that is experienced and this could be the word. This can be oral or written and constitutes the mechanism to begin to put ideas, emotions and perceptions in order. Building a narrative of the situation is essential to grasp it and begin to understand it.

It is necessary to let the pain out so that consciousness can emerge. When this happens, it is possible to build a more realistic idea of the situation and also identify the personal tools you have to address it. After this elaboration comes the resolution, which is nothing other than recovering a healthy emotional tone.

In many cases, without specialized help, a person can be trapped for a long period of time in any of the stages of an emotional crisis. Going to a psychologist in this type of situation is more than pertinent, as it constitutes valuable support to carry out the process more quickly and in a healthier way.