A crisis may be yellow.  In a yellow crisis, the individual is afraid, anxious, really uptight.  The crisis is yellow, like a blazing fire.  People in yellow crises are frequently crying; seem desperate, very nervous, and tremble; and sometimes make us feel very protective, as if we wanted to hold them and tell them things are going to be okay.  They seem like frightened, very upset children.  In a yellow crisis, individuals frequently tell us that they feel confused, they cannot think straight, everything seems to be falling apart around them.  All of their anxiety and nervousness may make us feel a little frightened, at a loss as to what to do, somewhat overwhelmed.

Yellow crises are the most typical crisis situation.  When the interaction between the individual and his total situation deteriorates or breaks down, he usually becomes somewhat apprehensive, frightened, anxious, and confused.

A young man calls you on the hot line.  His voice quivers and he sniffles as he talks.  I don’t know what I’m going to do.  Things are falling apart.  I feel like running.  I can’t go home.  [You ask: What happened?]  My girl friend gave back my ring.  She doesn’t want to see me anymore.  I really love her.  I can’t get along without her.  I flunked my chemistry exam.  I feel like I’m going to explode.  I can’t stand it.  My parents will have a fit when they find out about my chemistry grade.  She’s with a friend of mine.  I don’t know where I’m going to get money for tuition next quarter.  I can’t live without her.  I’d be better off dead.  I can’t stand it.

The now potential in a yellow crisis is that the individual may do almost anything to escape the hurt, the confusion, the pain of being so anxious and uptight.  He does not understand what is happening to him and frequently feels like he may be losing his mind.  A yellow crisis is, for the individual, an extremely uncomfortable and emotionally painful state.  It is like being in an emotional fire, and people will try anything that occurs to them as a possible way of escaping.  They are tempted to run, to kill themselves, or to do anything else that might make the pain go away.  The confusion, nervousness, inability to think straight, and extreme discomfort, of course, are powerful forces working against calm, rational, and sensible judgment and planning.  That is to say, the self-resolution factor in a yellow crisis is very low.  In crisis communication, our goal when dealing with a yellow crisis is gradually to calm and put out the fire.  If we are able to do that, the individual will be better able to think calmly and rationally about his situation, that is, the self-resolution factor increases. …

Please press play to continue.