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Effects of Victimization

Everyone reacts to trauma differently. There is no one right way to react to being a victim of interpersonal violence. How a person responds to trauma is often determined by:

The nature of the event: the actual or feared physical or emotional injury, including death; and

What the event means to the survivor: some experiences, such as war or natural disaster, are traumatic for anyone. Other experiences are traumatic for some but not others. Why? Because it is how a person experiences the event.

Other factors that affect how a person may respond to a traumatic event include:

• past history of trauma
• current stressors in the survivor's life
• support system and other life resources available to the survivor

Common Reactions to Trauma

Symptoms that can appear after a traumatic incident fall into three general clusters. A survivor may experience any number of these reactions, or none at all. Some reactions may occur right after an incident, others may not occur until days, weeks, months, or even years afterwards.

Re-experiencing the event in some way

• nightmares about the event or other scary dreams
• flashbacks - when a person feels or acts as if the incident is recurring
• intrusive thoughts - memories or thoughts that suddenly pop into your head

Avoidance of reminders

• avoiding TV programs, newspapers or the news in general for fear of seeing/reading about violence
• avoiding thinking about the event
• avoiding certain places, sounds, or smells that may remind you of the event
• avoiding being touched, dating, or sex
• feeling detached or numb in general

Hyper-vigilance

• problems falling asleep or staying asleep
• irritability or outbursts of anger
• difficulty concentrating
• startle reactions like jumping at noises or if someone walks up behind you
• always feeling on guard or looking over your shoulder
• strong physical reactions when something in the environment reminds you of the event

If you have been assaulted and are experiencing symptoms, we encourage you to seek support. Students can received free counseling through the University Counseling and Psychological Services (see Find Resources).

The Victim Experience

The following are just some of the ways that victims lives are impacted by violence.

• Physical In addition to obvious physical injuries, a victim may suffer nightmares, changes in sleep patterns, extreme fatigue, changes in eating patterns and weight, or an exaggerate startle response.



• Intellectual At times, victims may have trouble concentrating. They may be preoccupied with the violence that is happening. The victim may appear to make irrational decisions or suffer from loss of memory.



• Emotional The emotional trauma experienced by victims can have enormous consequences. Violence violates the sanctity and security of a victim's life, their body and inner self. Victims may suffer a loss in their sense of self-worth and purpose for life. Victims face feelings of loneliness, helplessness, fear, sadness, self-pity and depression. The confusion and chaos in the victim's life can be overwhelming. Some victims desire to "flee" their situations by not acknowledging their problems, withdrawing from others for fear of further pain, using or abusing drugs and alcohol or even by committing suicide.



• Relational A major consequence of victimization is the disruption of interpersonal relationships. The victim may withdraw from or blame family and friends. Often a victim is pressured by friends and family to "get on with your life," and is rejected when s/he cannot comply with others' expectations.



• Financial The financial impact on victims can be tremendous. Expenses are incurred for medical treatment and hospitals, psychological counseling, cooperation with investigations and costs associated with complying with prosecution (e.g. childcare during meetings and hearings). Victims may suffer loss of income for missing work and may even lose their jobs due while recovering from physical and emotional injuries. There may be hidden expenses due to changes in lifestyle for victims, such as college scholarship given up because of an inability to concentrate on studies or moving expenses to get away from the abuser).



• Legal and Judicial Interaction with law enforcement agencies and the criminal justice system may produce a number of problems for victims. Victims may be treated with insensitivity or not be provided with information about options and resources. Victims must learn to cope with postponement and continuances, numerous trips to officials' offices, release of the perpetrator and light sentences. Victims often have to face the defendant (abuser) in the courtroom. Often victims must confront the realties of a judicial system which doesn't not meet their expectations for justice.



• Spiritual Victims may re-evaluate their spiritual beliefs, either losing or gaining faith.

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