There are many different types of family crises. Each crisis is unique to the family and can be caused by a variety of internal and eternal sources. Every family experiences crisis and it is not so much living to avoid crisis, even though that is important to do. Rather, it is learning how to deal with a crisis that can determine the success of a family. A crisis whether serious or minor can be an experience which either makes or breaks a family. As you read this, I encourage you to reflect back on past crisis you have experienced within your family.
Alcohol abuse/ addiction is a family crisis which troubles many across the world. The use of drugs and alcohol is widespread across the world. In most cases people use drugs and alcohol for recreational purposes but there are many cases in which this recreational use turns into addiction. When people are addicted to those substances it causes major negative effects to their lives. Even worse is when these individuals who are under the influence of addiction are members of families. In this case the addiction not only affects them but their family as well. It can become extremely detrimental when this addiction is held by the mother, father or leader of the home. This addiction will take time away from more important activities such and providing for the family as well as the time it takes to nurture and grow children and nurture and grow the relationship with their spouse. Often times this addiction causes the addicted individual to abuse other family members. This abuse can be mental, emotional or physical and at the end of the day all are just as harmful as the next. Addiction to drugs or alcohol will always be a crisis within the family.
Physical/ sexual Abuse/Violence in families is a crisis that can be contributed to many different factors. One of those factors is something we have already mentioned. That is addiction to drugs or alcohol. This addiction may cause violence within families. The influence of drugs or alcohol can cause individuals to be violent, even towards those they love. The violence is escalated by the influence of the drugs and alcohol. Other factors can cause abuse within families and the factors are too numerous to be named. All forms of abuse whether physical, mental, emotional or sexual can be traced back to a source and causes crisis within the family.
Neglect is another factor that can causes crisis and is a crisis itself. Many children and spouses are neglected by family members. Neglect has major negative physiological effects on people. The effects that come from neglect can drive people to do things they normally wouldn’t do and these effects will roll over into all aspects of their life. These effects also are hard to overcome and most like the member of the family will carry them into their future. These effects can cause crisis not only in the moment but many years into the future.
Coping with crisis is a very important skill to learn to have a successful family. This is important because crisis will happen. Events such as sudden death, injury, loss of employment and other crisis in which most times families cannot control. But the family can control how they cope and respond to the crisis. If the family chooses to cope in a positive way it can bring the family closer together and give the family more hope for their future. however, if they do not cope well it will tear the family apart and cause distress and hopelessness for their future of staying a family.
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