A self-care crisis follows a predictable, four-step pattern: Tension-building, flood zone, recovery, equilibrium. When we learn to identify our tension-building signals and intervene quickly by using tailored coping strategies, we often are able to alleviate emotional distress and regain equilibrium. This article identifies three self-reflective exercises that could be used to increase insight, identify early signals of self-care tension-building, and encourage intentional selection of coping strategies.
