What to Expect After a Crime

Whatever you are experiencing after a crime is a completely normal reaction. Two people can experience the exact same type of crime and have completely different reactions – neither is wrong or right. What is important to remember is that you are a survivor.

The National Center for Victims of Crime identifies three types of primary injuries a survivor experiences – physical, financial, and emotional.

• Physical injuries are visible (bruises, cuts, broken bones) and non-visible (changes in appetite, changes to sleep, and fatigue).
• Financial injuries include the items taken from you, but also the medical bills, time reporting and recovering, and repairing property.
• Emotional injuries are both short and long lasting. Finding support from professionals (counselors and physicians) and non-professionals (friends and family) can help the recovery from physical and emotional injuries.

The following tips are recommended as part of the recovery process:

• Talk with friends, family, and professionals
• Allow yourself to feel the emotions associated with the victimization
• Spend time with others, but remember to take time for yourself
• Focus on both your mind and body
• Re-establish a routine
• Use coping skills you have learned from past crisis events
• Make daily decisions in your life to regain control