Dealing with crisis

Stories from the Orlando Help Desk

Man plans, G-d laughs. No matter how much planning is done, life is unpredictable. Accidents, illnesses and unforeseen circumstances can change life in an instant. Years of planning for a special vacation, moving to Florida for retirement, a wedding, a bar/bat mitzvah, it could be anything, Then one thing happens and changes your world. Often we feel alone. We feel that we have to handle everything. What do you do? How do you handle overwhelming situations?

Take a deep breath and take a step back. Let the bad news sink in. Accept what you cannot change. Evaluate the situation. Every solution requires a team to make it happen. Enlist family, friends and professionals to create a plan and find resources. Take another deep breath and communicate clearly with your team about what needs to be accomplished. It is difficult to make intelligent decisions based on emotion. Use simple body-mind breathing techniques to stay calm. Use your faith for strength to guide you through.

Every crisis brings loss. Life as it used to be doesn’t exist anymore. Everyone deals with crisis differently and has a unique path to survival. Figure out what you need. Do you want to be alone or surrounded by people? Do you have one person with you honestly express your feelings? You may need to set boundaries between yourself and helpful others.

When things seem to be calming down, it is important not to make any quick, life-changing decisions. Life has already changed dramatically. Adjust to the changes first. Use what you are going through to learn from the experience. And whatever plans you make for your future, don’t forget, man plans, G-d laughs.

For assistance in forming your team, call the Orlando Senior Help Desk at 407-678-9363.