Stress is a normal part of life. Every person feels stress. When stress becomes too much or a person believes it is too much then that can be a dangerous situation. When a human being receives too much a crisis can evolve. The difference between crisis versus stress is the difference between managing a part of life and having that part of life manage you.
Crisis Versus Stress
Stressors are all around us. Our lives are filled with them. From driving in traffic to taking tests in school. People have many ways to deal with stress since it is so very common. Stress can cause anxiety but it also can be a motivating incident. By having stress like deadlines for school people can be pushed to get things done.
Crisis is when a person who may or may not have psychological problems becomes overwhelmed with stressors. It is usually the outlook about the problems that leads a person to become overwhelmed. It is hypothesized that persons who have to use their mental resources to adapt social because of cognitive problems may be less likely to deal with highly stressful situations. The line between what is a stressor and what becomes crisis is different for all people. The Threshold for this can be higher or lower, but when a person can no longer tolerate the stress they may lose control.
Crisis is when a person goes through upheaval. They become unstable and are unable to live life normally. For some this may never come but for many this instability is something that comes frequently.
There is a difference between crisis and stress. Stress can be motivating and also damaging. It is always present. Crisis is the buildup of stressors to beyond a point where a person can handle the situation. During stress a person can still function. During crisis the person will be unable to function and will need assistance to get back to functioning levels.
References
Kanel, K. (2015). A Guide to Crisis Intervention (5 ed.). Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole