Tips for Managing a Crisis

Therapist Susan Pease Banitt, LCSW provides the following 15 tips for managing a crisis:

When crisis hits it's easy for us all to forget our coping skills and strategies. Whether it's national news, a family emergency or PTSD here are some things you can do to help yourself or others:

1) Allow yourself a safe place to feel without guilt or judgment

2) Get the highest quality epsom salts or dead sea salts and take a hot bath or foot soak to draw out impurities, stimulate the lymph system for cleansing and relaxation

3) If you have access to saunas or hot tubs and feel safe to go, go!

4) Clear your own energy and physical space with white sage, sweetgrass or incense while making a positive intention to bring in light, help and healing.

5) Pray and ask for whatever strength or help you need in the moment. You do not have to believe in any particular God to do this.

6) Get outside. Sit under your favorite tree. Walk on the beach. Lie down on the Earth and let her absorb the pain from you.

7) Find some favorite rocks and carry them with you if they're small. If they're large place them under your bed or sit with some big clear rocks under your feet for grounding.

8) Take care of your body regularly even if you don't feel like it. If you do not have an appetite make small nutritious meals (e.g. soup, salad, natural juices) as if you were sick with the flu. (I call this the "emotional flu".)

9) Give yourself permission to "check out" of life for a while and convalesce.

10) Find good mirrors for whatever you are going through: music, movies or any art form, or just a good friend

11) Seek adjunctive therapies in affordable ways. Get massages or acupuncture from the schools for low fee appointments. (Be conscious of the energy of the practitioner.)

12) Keep reminding yourself that you can survive this because you are still here and that this too shall surely pass. No one stays on the pinnacle of happiness or the depths of despair for very long (although it can feel long at the time).

13) Don't feel like you have to "get over it" in any particular time frame. Your body and mind are infinitely wise in knowing the "right" time frame.

14) The nature of all energy is to move. Let the "negative" feelings and energies flow through and out through the bottom of your feet. Bring in pure light through the crown of the head and visualize it pushing out the sticky "goo" (treacle, one practitioner called it).

15) Suffering alone or in silence is a temptation for many of us and is often a strong mind template left from abuse. Reach out to someone you know cares about you and let them know what's happening.


Susan Pease Banitt, LCSW has worked in human services for 35 years. She trained in the Harvard Medical System, studied for 7 years with a Shaman and is a student of yoga and Vedantic wisdom teachings from India. Her specialty is alleviating suffering from extreme stress and trauma. Susan is currently writing a book due out in 2010 called The Trauma Toolbox.

Susan's profile is listed on www.mediatormatthew.com Please contact Susan as follows:

Susan Pease Banitt, LCSW
Lotus Heart Counseling
530 NW 23rd Avenue Suite 109
Portland, OR 97210
503-869-0314