The first mistake people make during a crisis is creating a fictional outcome in their head.
The problem may be real, but the result they imagine often is not.
A person facing blackmail immediately imagines their spouse finding out. A romance scam victim imagines financial ruin. Someone being stalked imagines violence. A business owner fears public humiliation and the loss of everything they have built.
Fear fills in the blanks.
Before any facts are known, the mind begins creating worst-case scenarios.
That is a mistake.
There should be a clear stop. A moment to gather your thoughts and separate facts from fears.
When I meet clients deep in human panic, they are rarely focused on the actual problem. Instead, they are consumed by every possible outcome. They are fighting battles that have not happened and may never happen.
Combating a crisis is a here-and-now exercise.
What can be controlled?
What information is missing?
What actions reduce risk?
Only after answering those questions should a plan be developed and executed.
Throughout my career I have worked with victims of blackmail, stalking, romance scams, swindles, exposure threats, and people facing genuine danger. One thing I have learned is that because something is frightening does not mean there is not a successful solution.
But you cannot find the solution if you are swallowed by fear.
Frank M. Ahearn is a fixer who helps people get through human panic, regain control, and focus on what matters: solving the problem instead of imagining the worst.