1) Overwhelmed

One characteristic is that the person is nearly overwhelmed in a crisis. Prior to the crisis the person is emotionally weak and responds in a way that makes matters worse, but from the person’s perspective it is the most efficient thing possible. The reason is because that person is already hurting emotionally.

2) Poor Physical Condition

Another characteristic is having a poor physical condition. The person who has some type of physical ailment or illness has less resources to draw on when a crisis strikes. When poor coping skills are noticed during difficult times, recommend a physical examination.

3) Hard Time Coping

The person who denies reality has a hard time coping with crisis. This denial is that person’s attempt to avoid the pain and anger being felt. The person may deny being seriously ill or being financially ruined, or that the person’s relationships are being destroyed. Sometimes, even people who are well-educated respond this way.

4) “Magic of the Mouth”

Dr. Ralph Hirschowitz, a Harvard psychiatrist, coined this term which means the tendency to eat, drink, smoke and talk excessively. When a crisis enters the person’s life, the person seems to regress to infantile forms of behavior, their mouths taking over in one way or another. The person feels uncomfortable unless he or she is doing something with his or her mouth most of the time. This is an attempt to not fave the real problem and this behavior may continue even after the crisis is over.

The next four characteristics will be posted soon.