A crisis can come in a variety of forms, whether it’s something small like a broken down car, but it can even go as far as a massive tragedy affecting hundreds if not millions. It can be terrible watching these awful things happen and feeling powerless to do anything about it. You may even feel like all you can truly do is just watch it and hope things will improve for those who are affected.
But you don’t need to be powerless; you can help, you can be an ally. Helping those dealing with a crisis is vital; you can be the one that can help prevent this issue from being long-term damage for some. But what can you do? Well, keep reading on to find out
Start By Doing Research
This is really going to depend on the situation itself. But doing proper research is going to help out with getting the right info, which then will help out with getting more confidence on what you can do in the situation. It’s really going to depend on the scale and whether you’re planning on helping out a lot of people or just individuals. But in the end, it’s going to help a lot if you just do some research on it.
Listen with Empathy
In a crisis, it’s especially important to listen with empathy and without judgment. This helps ensure you people feel heard and understood, which can help calm their anxiety. What about you want to help from a distance? Such as a crisis or tragedy happening in another country? In a way, you can still listen with empathy; you can read what people are posting on social media, read articles, and of course, don’t judge.
Often, those who have been through a crisis will avoid reaching out for support because they are afraid of judgment. They may also feel ashamed or embarrassed about their situation, which can create distance. Providing empathy and concern helps them know that they are worthy of love. It is important to remember that a person in a crisis can act out for any number of reasons. They can be angry, anxious, or depressed. It’s best not to judge them or tell them how they should be feeling, as this could upset the victim.
Offer Support
Support can come in so many ways; listening, showing empathy, and not judging are some small ways that can greatly help, but you can still do more. For instance, people all over the world are helping out with the war that’s happening in Ukraine. There’s even the ukraine appeal that people from other parts of the world are looking into so they can help out, such as by donating food, their homes, shelter, water, money, and so much more.
Try and Stay Calm
No matter what the situation is, whether it directly affects you (like a loved one) or if it’s something happening from afar, even you need to stay calm throughout all of this. You can help; you can do something on your end while this crisis is happening, but you need to think clearly to you can have a solid plan of action on how you can help. Just don’t beat yourself up about any of this if you’re limited on what actions you can take. Sometimes there are going to be limitations on how you can help in a crisis, and you need to accept that.