Crisis Plan

Has anyone ever heard of or done a "crisis plan" before? I am thinking about doing one with my Support Worker and I have been looking at it and its making me feel anxious and scared.

The questions are the following

1. When I am well, I am (describe yourself when you are feeling well):

2. The following symptoms indicate that I am no longer able to make the decisions for myself, that I am no longer able to be responsible for myself or to make appropriate choices:

3. When I clearly have some of the above symptoms, I want the following people to make decisions for me, see that I get appropriate treatment and to give care and support:

4. I do not want the following people involved in any capacity, in my care or treatment(list the names and optionally why you do not want them involved):

5. Preferred medication and why?

6. Acceptable medications and why?

7. Unacceptable medications and why?

8. Acceptable treatments and why?

9. Unacceptable treatments and why?

10. Home/Community Care/Respite options?

11. Preferred treatment facilities and why?

12. Unacceptable treatment facilities and why?

13. What I want from my supporters when I am experiencing these symptoms?

14. What I don't want from my supporters when I am experiencing these symptoms?

15. What I want my supporters to do if I'm a danger to myself or others?

16. Things I need others to do for me, and whom I want to do it?

17. How I want disagreements between my supporters settled?

18. Things I can do for myself?

19. I (give/do not give) permission for my supporters to talk with each other about my symptoms and to make plans to assist me.

20. Indicators that supporters no longer need to use this plan:

Some of the questions make it all seem too real. My support worker has said there is no harm in doing one which I guess is true. I have been seeing a support worker for over a year and have always declined doing one. Now I am in a depression I think I need to do one just incase.

Any views/thoughts on this?

I have one, and I think it's a pretty good idea when I feel bad I can look at it.
Mine is a lot shorter tho, for me it has things I can do to feel better, who to contact-1st/2nd/3rd,etc. when things get bad. But it's good to have a plan.

Thanks Lad007,

The Crisis Plan is quite long huh! I don't think some of it involves me. Some of it is N/A I think.

The Crisis Plan is in with my WRAP- Wellness Recovery Action Plan. There is section for me to look at for when I need to up lift my mood and things to calm me down etc. This is the last section in the WRAP. Most people in the service have completed one. I am an exception lol!

It's often used for many kinds of medical situations; I have an asthma action plan:

http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/publ...ma_actplan.pdf

It's just good sense, a way to make sure you are taken care of when you are less able to and can maybe head bad stuff off at the pass

Thanks Perna,

I have never done before so its just sinking in that sometimes I might not be ok! Its still scary though

I remember doing a birth plan for both of my kids. I haven't done a formal Bipolar one yet, but I think it is a good idea since I have been in the hospital so many times. I have been able to make my own decisions while I am ill, but there is always the chance that I would get to a point where I couldn't.

Thanks for sharing. I hope it would be OK if I printed your post out and used it for myself.

Yeah I had one when I was in group therapy once, We had to write one out and keep a copy for ourselves and then for the therapists and keep it in our records, It works great

This is mine.

Crisis Plan:

When I'm feeling:
angry, hopeless, depressed, trapped, confused, abandoned, overwhelmed

1. STOP, realize what I'm thinking is not coming from reality. Take three deep breaths in and out, count to 30 each time in between. Think about what the reality of the situation is.

2. Identify feelings: What's really bothering me? When did it start?*What am I feeling NOW?

3. Feelings vs. Facts: *Ex: (feeling) I feel abandoned. (fact) I am not*being abandoned, T is not going to abandon me.

4. In spite of how I feel...Acknowledge, Accept, Advance. Take steps*to meet my needs in spite of how I feel.

5. Chose an activity or task: AND engage in task!!!!
- take a warm bath
- go for a walk
- play with Kaos
- read a book
- clean apartment

6. Call friend or family:
Nana
Mom
Larry
Dad
Dana

7. EMAIL T:

8. Choose another activity & ENGAGE!!!
-go shopping
-Skype friend
-study
-take photos
-go to park

9. DBT skills: RESISTT

-Reframe (it seems hard now, but it won't last forever)
-mindfully Engage in an activity (play with Kaos)
-do something for Someone else
-Intense sensations (hot shower, rubber band)
-Shut it out (is this a problem that can be solved now?)
-think neutral Thoughts (counting)
-Take a break

10. STOP EVERYTHING & CALL T!!!

Hey guys,

Thanks for all your replies!

Sure BNLsMom.... glad I can help

Wow Lostmyway21..... that is a really good one

The one I have is a general one for every service user at Penumbra my service I use. I think it's a good one and is really only scary at the moment cause I haven't filled one in before and I am unsure how to fill it in. I see my Support Worker on Friday so I am going to ask him to help me with it. He did one as he is Bipolar too. He went over it with me yesterday but I said I would think about it. But I think I will just ask him to help me with it. That way I can't 'forget' information or 'miss' information out

I think it's a good idea to have one of these. I wrote something similar to this a few years ago - called it a Crisis Plan - and gave copies to all my family members. It was basically what to do/what to look for if symptoms of Bipolar/Borderline started to escalate. Each step had symptoms, what to look for and what steps to take, who to contact, phone numbers, etc. This way if I was out of control, depressed, psychotic, whatever - I had no room to argue as I had written the Plan -it was in my handwriting. It's worked well so far on several occasions.

what if a feeling equates a fact? what if distress is matched by reality?