Responses & Recovery after Victimization

Victim responses after victimization can vary from person-to-person and even from day-to-day.  There are common physical, thinking and emotional responses to look for in yourself (if you have been victimized) or in others (if you are the friend or loved one of a victim).

 

Physical Reactions

  • Fatigue
  • Nightmares
  • Insomnia
  • Hyper-Active
  • Under-Active
  • Startle Reactions
  • Health Problems (such as change in appetite, headaches and digestive problems)

Thinking Problems

  • Difficulty with concentration
  • Memory disturbance
  • Difficulty making decisions
  • Isolation
  • Difficulty solving problems
  • Flashbacks

Emotional Reactions

  • Fear
  • Guilt
  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Emotional over sensitivity
  • Amnesia of the event
  • Anger
  • Numbing feelings of helplessness

Parts of the above information have been borrowed and adapted with permission from Florida State University.