How crime can affect you

 

Being a victim of a crime can be a traumatic and difficult experience. Each one of us can become a victim in certain moment of our lives. The impact of the crime can be tremendously harsh, depending on the person, type of crime, and its circumstances.

Each person reacts differently: while some are able to cope with it and move on with their normal lives unaffected by the victimization, many people suffer a heavy and negative impact on their lives. There is no “correct” or “right” way to react to a crime –a person´s feelings and emotions after a crime are normal reactions to an event which indeed is not normal at all: being the victim of crime.

Whoever becomes a victim of crime, can suffer from anxiety, difficulty concentrating, guilt, depression, isolation, trouble while sleeping, among and other reactions.

The people who are victims of crime, usually don´t know or have doubts about what they should do. They need someone, who will listen, understand, and help them in a friendly and charitable way. APAV exists for that: to listen, advice, and support the victims of any sort of crime to cope with the effects and consequences of crime, whether he or she has reported the crime to the authorities or not.

We listen carefully and with interest, and we inform and advice about your rights and how they are carried out.

We clarify and accompany you in the relations with political and legal authorities, guiding and helping in the diligences that need to be taken in account.

We help the victim and his or her relatives to cope with the suffering caused by victimization.

We support and refer the victims to the existing social support services. We provide emotional, legal, psychological and social support to whoever is a victim of crime and to his/her family relatives, in order to develop a process of qualified support.

Support services provided to each victim are free and confidential.

 APAV supports victims of ALL crimes, their family relatives and friends:

               - through the Victim Support Line 116 006 (free call)

               - directly in one of the APAV Victim Support Offices

               - by email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 The consequences of a crime can be numerous and diverse. They vary from person to person but all victims feel distressed by a violent act.

The more violent the crime, the more it will affect the victim. The psychological, physical and social consequences that occur after victimisation can be life disturbing for most people.

In general, the victim is not the only person suffering. The victimisation witnesses can also be affected. Relatives and friends of the victim may suffer the consequences of the crime even when they had not witnessed it.

These are physical, psychological and social consequences, whatever the nature of the victimisation.

 

 

 

 

 

PHYSICAL CONSEQUENCES

The physical effects include not only those resulting directly from the aggression suffered by the victim (fractures, bruises, etc.), but also the body and the organism’s response to the stress it was subjected to. However, these reactions do not come up all at once and their intensity varies from one person to another. These consequences include for example:

» loss of energy;

» muscle pain;

» headaches and/or migraines;

» menstruation disorders;

» cold sensations, shivering and/or hot flashes;

» digestive problems;

» high blood pressure.

 

PSYCHOLOGICAL CONSEQUENCES

Overcoming the psychological consequences of victimisation can be extremely difficult. In fact, many people are afraid to lose their psychological balance. The psychological consequences of victimisation include:

» distrust of others;

» sadness;

» loss of self confidence.

 

SOCIAL CONSEQUENCES

At times, victimisation forces deep structural changes in one's daily life (moving house, changing job, etc.). Your life project can be totally or partially disrupted and that may imply:

» feeling of isolation;

» tense relationships with your  family and husband/wife;

» fear of being alone;

» feelings of insecurity.

 

These symptoms and feelings disappear after a while, but they can be damaging for some people. They can affect your health or relationships with others. It is important to take care of yourself and seek any support and treatment you need to overcome this situation.