This pamphlet discusses how to understand and help a friend who is in crisis. It focuses on the crisis caused by sexual assault, but many of the principles apply to helping any crisis. In general, someone is in crisis when the stresses they are dealing with overwhelm their ability to cope.
Stress can take the form of any challenge or hazard.
People deal with stress by problem-solving, social support, relaxation, and other coping skills. Usually there is a balance maintained between the level of stress and one's coping efforts. 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 more alcohol, a person in crisis often loses perspective and the ability to solve problems in organized and realistic ways. As a result, friends of the person in crisis often feel new demands and challenges in their relationships.