What are 3 possible emotional consequences of a person who has been subjected to violent crime?

You may feel shocked, fearful or angry.

A common reaction is feeling numb and having trouble believing that this has happened to you.

Your emotional and physical health

Experiencing a range of emotions is a normal part of being affected by a crime. In most cases, they are temporary, and you will recover in the days, weeks or months following the incident with the support of friends and family.

You might experience:

• headaches
• nausea
• sleep problems or fatigue
• jumpiness
• repeated thoughts of the event.

Or you might have feelings that come and go, like:

• guilt
• fear
• anger
• sadness
• confusion
• helplessness.

Your day-to-day life might be affected by:

• trouble with your concentration or memory
• reduced performance at work or school
• withdrawing from others
• feeling like you’ve lost control.

But sometimes the recovery process is more difficult. Some people experience depression or anxiety, and related ongoing physical effects. It is important to seek professional help if you think that this may be happening.  Doing this early can help you recover more quickly.

Your recovery

This video:

• explains how your brain and body worked together at the time of the event
• explains some of the feelings you may be experiencing
• gives tips to help you in your recovery.

• talk about how you feel with someone you trust
• structure your life as much as possible
• accept that you may have good days and bad days
• eat regularly and nutritiously
• make sure you get physical exercise
• limit your alcohol and drug use
• keep a journal of how you feel each day
• defer major life decisions
• be kind and gentle with yourself.

Dealing with the justice system

After a crime has happened, you may feel uncertain about what to do next or concerned about what will happen once the crime is reported. It can also be difficult to take in and remember new information that police or other services give you.

You can use this website to learn more about:

When you talk to police, prosecutors and victims services, you can ask questions about anything you are unsure about. Some people find it helpful to have a family member or friend act as a support person who can:

• be with you and provide emotional support
• help you collect and remember information you need to know
• give you a hand with any practical arrangements you need to make.

Getting help

You can learn more about assistance available in Victoria for people affected by crimes on this website.

Counselling and crisis support services

Lifeline

24 hour crisis support and suicide prevention services.

Open 24 hours, every day
Call 13 11 14
Website lifeline.org.au (External link)

Mental health care plan – see your General Practitioner

If you need assistance, you can see a General Practitioner and discuss your situation. You may be eligible for a mental health care plan that will assist with the cost of counselling.

Everyone is different and therefore crime will affect them in different ways. The main thing is to understand that any changes in how you feel could be a result of the traumatic experience you’ve been through.

One of the things that can make a crime really hard to cope with is knowing that it was done deliberately by another person. Unlike an accident or illness, people who commit a crime intend to cause some sort of harm.

The effects of crime can also last for a long time, and it doesn’t depend on how ‘serious’ the crime was. Some people cope really well with the most horrific crimes while others can be very distressed by a more minor incident.

After you experience a crime you may find that:

1. You feel angry, upset or experience other strong emotions

Some people are surprised at just how emotional they feel after a crime. These strong emotions can make you feel even more unsettled and confused.

A lot of people feel angry, upset or afraid after experiencing crime, but people will react in different ways.

2. Things suddenly fall apart for you

Sometimes people feel quite normal for a while and then things may suddenly start to fall apart.

3. You show physical symptoms

Others might have physical symptoms, such as lack of sleep or feeling ill.

4. You blame yourself thinking you should have done things differently

Many victims blame themselves or feel too embarrassed to come forward and get help – it’s important to remember it’s not your fault.

5. You develop long-term problems such as depression or anxiety-related illness

While the short-term effects of crime can be severe, most people don’t suffer any long-term harm. Occasionally, people do develop long-term problems, such as depression or anxiety-related illnesses, and a few people have a severe, long-lasting reaction after a crime, known as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However you’ve been affected, we can give you information and support to help you recover. Find out more about how crime can impact on your health.

How you react to a crime will also depend on:

1. The type of crime

If you are the victim, this can make you feel powerless and vulnerable.

This can be even more difficult to deal with if the crime is repeated or ongoing, which is often the case with domestic violence or racial harassment. It’s also a big issue for hate crimes when you know, as the victim, that you’ve been singled out because of who or what you are

2. Whether you know the person who committed the crime

It can be even more difficult if the crime was carried out by someone you know, such as a friend or family member. You may feel a sense of betrayal, or that your trust has been damaged. You may feel hurt, confused or any other number of complex emotions.

3. The support you get (or don’t get) from your family, friends, the police and other people around you

People around you, such as family and friends, are also likely to be affected. They might experience similar emotions to yours, as well as concern for you. But at the same time, some people find that others around them expect them to just ‘get over it’. This isn’t helpful if what you really want to do is talk about how you feel.

4. Things that have happened to you in the past

Even if you’ve had to deal with difficult events before you may have found ways of coping.

Getting support

If you’ve been affected by crime and are finding it difficult to cope, you can talk to us. We’re here to help, regardless of when the crime happened and whether or not it has been reported to the police.

You can call our Supportline for free on 08 08 16 89 111 to talk to us in confidence or request support via our website. We welcome calls via Relay UK, and you can also contact us via our 24/7 live chat service, which is free and confidential.

You can create a My Support Space account. This is a free, safe and secure online space where you can work through interactive guides to help you move forward after crime.

You can also contact your local Victim Support office.

In order to continue enjoying our site, we ask that you confirm your identity as a human. Thank you very much for your cooperation.

Repetitive thoughts of the event: When an individual experiences a traumatic event, they may experience intrusive thoughts. For example, they may remember the attacker’s face quite vividly or have recurring images of the violence witnessed during the event.

Depression or mood swings: Crime and any type of trauma can have a devastating impact on one’s mental health. Following the crime, many may experience a wide range of emotions which could lead to mood swings and sometimes even depression. If you are experiencing difficulty processing these emotions or if you are suffering from depression, it is advisable to consult a mental health professional.

Fearfulness and anxiety: Due to the usually intense levels of fear experienced during a crime, individuals may be left hyperaware and anxious of their surroundings. They may jump when hearing a loud sound and may be constantly fearful that the crime could occur again.

Although many individuals differ, it is perfectly normal to suffer from post-traumatic-stress disorder (PTSD) if you have been a victim of or a witness to a crime. If you are struggling with the after-effects or think you may be suffering from PTSD, it is advisable to contact a mental health professional. The earlier the symptoms are addressed, the easier it will be to move on from the event and experience a more full life.