How Should A Victim Of Crime Feel?

How are you supposed to feel after you have been a victim of crime? Many of us who have been victims of crime go through a range of symptoms that wax and wane over the weeks that follow the crime. Having feelings is normal, and of course, after you have experience a trauma you will experience some sort of feelings. But when do those feelings themselves start to be something you need to talk to someone about?

According to the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) when the feelings you experience after a traumatic incident start to interfere with your normal life, or continuously cause you distress you might be suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). PTSD shouldn’t be thought of lightly, it is a psychiatric disorder – this means that your feelings not only affect your mind, but actually affect your body’s ability to produce your normal levels of certain brain chemicals. It can also affect your memory, your ability to feel anything, and your bodily functions.

According to SADAG, PTSD is normally brought on by experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. SADAG notes that “often, people with PTSD are plagued by persistent frightening memories of the traumatic event which set off the condition, and feel emotionally numbed by the ordeal”. PTSD overwhelms the survivor of the trauma, and is a serious public health concern for South Africa (see an article on this here).

PTSD is characterised by 6 common features

• A: Exposure to a traumatic event

• B: Persistent re-experiencing

You’ve probably heard someone speak about flash backs – this type of constant re-living of the trauma is what is referred to as persistent re-experiencing.

• C: Persistent avoidance and emotional numbing

Sometimes when people have PTSD they try not to talk about the cause of their trauma and thus avoid situations that remind them of the trauma. They may also avoid talking about it, and thus experience feelings of numbness. They try to distance themselves from what has happened to them in order to go on as usual.

• D: Persistent symptoms of increased arousal not present before –

In simple This means that situations, or stimuli (places, noises, people, actions) that did not arouse feelings in you before can become triggers for powerful feelings. These can have the effect of affecting your behavioural patterns and your physical body. For example, difficulty falling or staying asleep, or problems with anger, concentration, or hypervigilance.

• E: Duration of symptoms for more than 1 month

• F. Significant impairment

In short, this is a serious condition that can affect your ability to live the life you lived before, and to heal. In South Africa, there are a number of Non-Governmental Organisations, Community Based Organisations, and government funded bodies who provide services to the victims of crime. They may be able to provide the support you need to get through to them.

If you think you might be suffering from PTSD, the best thing that you can do is to talk about how you are feeling. There are some numbers below that can help you by listening, and who may even refer you to someone who can help you work through what you are feeling.

SADAG Mental Health Line: 011 262 6396

Lifeline:0861 322 322

The Trauma Centre:021 465 7373

Have you ever experienced these feelings? How do you think that victims experiencing these feelings can be supported? Let us know

Service providers can also suffer from vicarious trauma (read more about this by clicking here)

For some thoughts on how you can support survivors of crime, click here