Potential effects of trauma

Physical nausea
Tremors
Chills or sweating
Lack of coordination
Heart palpitations or chest pains
High blood pressure
Sleep disturbances
Stomach ache
Dizziness
Loss of appetite
Startle responses

Anyone can become a victim of crime. If it happens to you or someone you love, here are some important points to consider:

Being a victim of a crime can be a very difficult, traumatic and stressful experience. While most people are resilient by nature and will find ways to cope and adapt over time, trauma can have a wide range of consequences.

A person may experience many of the effects, some, or none at all. Not everyone has the same reaction. In some people the reaction can take days, weeks or even months. Some victims may think they are “going crazy” when they have a normal reaction to an abnormal event.

Returning to normal can be a difficult process after such a personal experience, especially for victims of violent crimes and families of murder victims. Learning to understand can help victims better cope with what happened.

Victims may need help from friends, family, a member of the clergy, a counselor, or a victim assistance professional.

Coping with crime victimization

Some people who have been victims of crime may experience some of the symptoms described below. Seek medical and psychological attention if symptoms persist.

Emotional anxiety
Fear
Blame
Grief
Depression
Sadness
Gonna
Irritability
Feeling lost, abandoned and isolated
Desire to withdraw or hide

Slow thinking
Confusion
Disorientation
Memory problems
Intrusive memories or flashbacks
Nightmares
Inability to concentrate
Difficulty making decisions

Tips to deal with the situation:

Here are some suggestions that may help you cope with trauma or loss:

Find someone to talk to about how you feel and what you are going through. Keep a good friend's phone number nearby to call when he or she feels overwhelmed or panicked.

Allow yourself to feel the pain. It won't last forever.

Spend time with others, but take time to be alone.

Take care of your mind and your body. Get rest, sleep, and eat healthy meals regularly.

Reestablish a normal routine as soon as possible, but don't overdo it.

Make daily decisions, they will help you regain a feeling of control over your life.

Exercise - after consulting a doctor - although not excessively, and alternate with periods of relaxation.

Perform daily tasks carefully. Accidents are more likely to occur after severe stress.

Remember the things that helped you cope with difficult times and past losses and think about the things that give you hope. Go to them on bad days.

Your emotions need to be expressed. Try not to repress them.

For some victims and victims' families, life changes forever. Life can seem empty and hollow. Life no longer “means” what it used to. Part of coping and adapting is redefining the future. What seemed important before may not be important now. Many victims find new meaning in their lives as a result of their experience. It is important to remember that emotional pain is not endless and will ease over time. It is impossible to undo what happened, but life can be good again in time.

Family and friends of a crime victim:

Listen closely and carefully.

Spend time with the victim.

Offer to help, even if you haven't been asked.

Help with everyday tasks such as cleaning, cooking, taking care of family, taking care of children.

Give them private time.

Don't take your anger or other feelings personally.

Don't tell them they are “lucky it wasn't worse”; traumatized people are not comforted by such statements.

Tell them that you are sorry that such an event happened to them and that you want to understand and help them.

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