by Joanna McCormick

In ebbs and flows of life, inevitably sometimes we find ourselves in crisis mode. Whether brought to us externally, like a death of a loved one, or internally – like a diagnosis and illness. When there is a crisis, many people feel overwhelmed, lost, not knowing what to do and where to turn to for answers.

Here are 3 simple suggestions you can apply now, if you’re finding yourself in a difficult spot.

How to survive crisis: 3 Tips

1.      Put Your Own Oxygen Mask First

In a crisis, we often rush to put out the fires around us. I was reminded on my recent overseas flight – in an emergency, put your own oxygen mask first, before attempting to help others. In other words – if you’re suffocating, you won’t be of any use to yourself, or to anyone else.

Caring for yourself is particularly important at this time. Tailor it to what you need, rather than going for a prescribed or generic list of self-care activities. If you are in cirisis, then it is helpful to find ways to slow down and feel calmer. For one person it may be taking a bath with calming essential oils, for another going for a run. You might like to make a short and easily accessible list of activities that are calming and nourishing.

When we feel frazzled, it’s not uncommon to get caught up and forget the basics, try to be prepared and have a few, maybe even just 3 to 5 ideas and reminders of ways you can  that you can recharge your batteries fast.

2.     Keep It Simple

Overwhelm is a very common experience at times of crisis.  A handy tip is to keep things as simple as possible at that time.

• Think about dropping all non-essential commitments and activities from your diary, especially those that require a significant amount of your energy.
• Maybe step away from non-essential social obligations for the time being and focus on those that nourish you on a deeper level.
• If shopping or cooking add to the overwhelm, you could temporarily opt for having home-cooked meals or dinner boxes delivered straight to your door.
• Look after your body – after all this is your vehicle through which you get things done. Your body deserves proper care and attention.

3.     Be Your True Self

When in crisis we tend to panic, which can result in making haphazard decisions that we may feel regretful about in the future. To avoid this, aim to stay true to your authentic self.

Is the decision you’re about to make aligned with your true needs and authentic self?

Is the decisions aligned with your core values, your vision and your long term goals?

If you’re someone who’s in tune with themselves, you can also check in with your gut feeling and trust your intuition to guide you in the right direction. Does it feel right?

Remember, you are not alone and there are people, including counsellors, who’s job and passion is to help guide people through a crisis.  I hope these quick tips and ideas are helpful if you’re finding yourself in a challenging place. As the old adage goes “this too shall pass”.

Don’t be afraid to reach out for help if you need it.

Written by Joanna McCormick

Joanna offers a holistic and integrative approach, that takes into account your mind, body and spirit as elements in wellbeing. Her work is informed by studies in Philosophy, Peace & Conflict and Counselling.

Click here to learn more about Joanna.