If you need to leave this site immediately, click or tap the Quick Exit. If you use a keyboard, use the Escape (Esc) button.
If you fear someone may be tracking your online activity, learn more about staying safe online or call or text the National Domestic Violence Hotline, 24 hours a day, at 800-799-7233 or 800-787-3224 (TTY).
Crime victimization and trauma
Crime victimization
Becoming a victim of a crime can be a very difficult, disturbing, and stressful experience. Victimization is largely unexpected and traumatic, and not within the realm of control of the victim to prevent. Anyone can become a victim of a crime. It is violating, demoralizing, and in many ways debilitating for many who have suffered victimization. Though most humans are naturally resilient and can identify ways to cope and find ways to adjust, for many crime victims the effects of victimization can often be long term and difficult to overcome. Please know there are
Navigating the criminal justice system
Understanding trauma
Potential trauma reactions and victimization
Potential impacts
- Physical anxiety symptoms (e.g., rapid heart rate, hyperventilation, stomach distress)
- Physical injuries (e.g., gunshot wounds, lacerations, broken bones, sprains, and burns)
- Physical injuries that lead to other health conditions such as heart attack, stroke, or fractures from falling.
- Permanent disability
- Disfigurement
- Immune disorders that increase the potential for infectious diseases
- Lethargy and body fatigue
- Sleep disorders
- Loss of appetite, excessive appetite, or eating disorders
- For sexual assault victims: possible exposure to sexually transmitted diseases, exposure to HIV, and unwanted pregnancy
- Death
- Suicide
- Shock, terror, fear
- Anger or rage
- Feelings of numbness
- Confusion
- Helplessness
- Grief or intense sorrow
- Anxiety (including terror, helplessness, and feeling out of control)
- Difficulty trusting self or others
- Depression
- Panic symptoms
- Loss of memory
- Anxiety disorders such as panic disorder or obsessive-compulsive disorder.
- Inability to concentrate
- Guilt and self-blame
- Shame
- Preoccupation with the crime
- Concerns about personal safety
- Social withdrawal
- Isolation
- Persistent avoidance of things associated with the traumatic event
- Medical bills (e.g., emergency transportation, hospital stays, inpatient and outpatient physical care)
- Medication and prescription drugs
- Replacement of eyeglasses, hearing aids, or other damaged/destroyed/stolen personal property
- Rental and related costs for physical mobility equipment
- Physical and Occupational therapy
- Job retraining
- Mental health counseling and therapy
- Loss of wages due to incapacitation or rehabilitation
- Crime scene cleanup
- Costs of replacing locks and changing security devices
- Fees incurred in changing banking or credit card accounts
- Relocation expenses
- Funeral and burial expenses and loss of income
Tips for coping with trauma
Learning effective strategies to cope with trauma can sometimes be challenging – and for many takes time and practice. It is not easy to work through trauma and may be difficult to do alone. Identifying a mental health professional can help. A mental health professional can assist you in identifying ways to learn to cope and process the trauma you may be experiencing. Additionally, some self-help strategies might also be affective.
Below is a list of ideas that may help:
- Talk with others about how you feel. Avoiding isolation can support healing.
- Identifying ways to calm or ground yourself when you feel symptoms.
- Try meditation and breathing apps
- Physical activities: walking, yoga, running, gardening
- Take breaks
- Care for your body
- Get plenty of sleep
- Eat a healthy diet
- Drink plenty of water
- Work towards getting back to a regular/daily routine
- Avoid using alcohol, drugs, and tobacco
- Get involved in your community – volunteer
- Take it a day (and a moment) at a time
- Journal
- Reach out for help
Resources:
- HelpGuide.org: How to Cope with Traumatic Events
- National Alliance on Mental Illness(NAMI): 7 Tools for Managing Traumatic Stress
- American Psychological Association: How to cope with traumatic stress
- National Mass Violence Victimization Resource Center: Managing Distress (885KB)
- National Sleep Foundation: Trauma and Sleep (286KB)
- US Dept. of Veterans Affairs – National Center for PTSD: Coping with Traumatic Stress Reactions
Children and trauma
Although trauma can occur at any age, exposure to trauma as a child can have lasting impacts on their health and well-being. Research has shown that exposure to trauma as a child can adversely impact a child’s brain development and increase their risk for long-term health consequences. However, research has also shown effective that through effective interventions and therapeutic supports, children are resilient and can recover.
To learn more about trauma with children visit
- SAMHSA: Understanding Child Trauma
- The National Child Traumatic Stress Network
- Child Mind Institute: Multilingual Trauma Resources
- Children’s Justice Center of King County
Tips for children coping with trauma
Trauma and victimization can be especially difficult for children and teenagers to cope with. Parents and caregivers play an important role in the recovery process.
Recommended resources: