The Effects of Crime

You may experience some, or all, of the following:

Shock

• disbelief that this could happen to you
• denial that it happened – the event may seem unreal, like a nightmare, or something that has not really happened
• numbness – it may feel as if this has happened to someone else, not you.
• you may have no feelings

Fear

• of the same thing or something similar happening again
• of being alone, or of going out
• of returning to the place where the event occurred
• of being further victimised because you reported the crime
• of strangers, because anyone could be the perpetrator of the crime
• of breaking down
• of losing control
• of being judged by others
• of the changed world

Loss of Confidence

• you may feel vulnerable. Something you thought could never happen to you has now happened
• you may feel helpless because you could not control the situation and prevent this happening
• you may believe that you don’t have control over important areas of your life any more
• you may think that everyone knows what happened and is talking about it
• you may feel that the world is not the safe, comfortable place you thought it was

Anger

• at what has happened and at whoever caused or allowed it to happen
• at the injustice and senselessness of it all
• at the lack of proper understanding by others, such as family members or friends
• at the slow pace of the justice system in investigating the crime, or charging someone with the crime
• at yourself for being in this situation, or for not coping better with it all
• at the perpetrator for being unaffected by your suffering and by what has happened
• at others, for not being affected in the same way as you are

Sadness

• Down mood
• Crying frequently and unexpectedly

Anxiety

• that the same thing or something similar could happen again
• that you will never get back your former sense of well-being
• about your safety and the safety of loved ones
• about any contact with strangers
• about people approaching you from behind on the street, or even at home
• about any sudden noise or unexpected movement

Guilt

• because you feel you might have avoided or prevented the crime had you acted differently
• “if only I had….”  or  “I should have…”   thoughts and feelings
• for surviving the event, or for not seeming as badly affected as others involved

Physical Symptoms

• Headaches and body aches
• Nausea and stomach upset
• Faintness and dizziness
• Disturbed sleep, sleeplessness, and nightmares
• Intrusive thoughts
• Difficulty eating normally
• Excessive use of alcohol or other drugs
• If you have been injured in the crime, you will also be coping with the effects of the injuries.