Coping with crime
Everyone reacts differently to crime
Everyone reacts differently to crime. How you react will depend on lots of different factors - some relating to the incident, some relating to you, both the kind of person you are and the experiences you've had in your life. The effects are also likely to change as time goes by, both day-to-day and in the longer term. While some people are able to get on with their lives immediately, others can take weeks, months or years to begin to pick up the pieces, or talk about how the crime has affected them.
Some responses to crime are more common than others though. A lot of people feel angry, upset or afraid in the immediate aftermath. Many find that their feelings get less intense over time. But it's important to know that there are no rules and how you react is personal to you. The important thing is to be aware that you could be affected in lots of different ways, even physically (for example with difficulty sleeping or feeling shaky). You've had a traumatic experience and feeling different is a natural reaction.
Dealing with your emotions can be difficult but most people find that talking about it helps. That's where our specially-trained volunteers can really make a difference. Contact your local office or ring our Supportline to find out more about the emotional support we can give you.
Information can also help you to make sense of what you've been through and where to go next. It can also make the criminal justice system easier to understand and to deal with. We hope the information on our website helps you begin to get your life back under control. Our staff and volunteers can help with this too as well as answering any specific questions you might have.
Practical help can also make a difference to how you cope after a crime. Whether it's help with filling in forms, dealing with the police, sorting out housing or medical problems, or making your home more secure we want to help you get your life back on track.
If this sounds a bit hard to understand, why not read about how we've helped just a few victims and witnesses find their strength after crime.