The Toll of Crime – 5 Significant Ways Crime Impacts the Mental Health of Victims

 
While violence, theft, and other criminal activities have always been pervasive issues, the soaring crime rates across the globe are becoming alarming. These incidents are no longer restricted to poorly developed countries and low-income neighborhoods, as they are happening all around us.
 
Crime has reached unprecedented levels, and its effects have become worse than ever before. Today, that surge in crime rates around the world not only threatens the physical safety of people in its proximity but also carries with it a severe psychological toll on its victims and those suffering its spread.
 
In today’s article, we’ll delve deeper into the adverse mental health effects of rampant crime. After all, developing an understanding of the mental health toll crime places on its victims can help us appreciate the urgent need for better support systems and effective mitigation of its massive impact.
 
Constant Fear – Always Being on the Edge
 
Whether they’ve been mugged in an alley, had their home broken into, or assaulted, victims of crime often experience a drastic increase in anxiety and fear. Many of these victims find themselves constantly on the edge, waiting for something similar to happen, even long after they’ve fallen victim to a crime.
 
This state of elevated anxiety levels can appear in numerous ways, from persistent worrying to sleeping difficulties to getting startled easily. Moreover, these feelings might feel even stronger if the victim finds themselves anywhere near the place where the crime happened.
 
Hypervigilance is also one of the most common conditions that can develop in these situations, causing the victim to feel unsafe and forever remain on their toes. Such a condition can become an unbearable challenge, making it difficult to feel at ease even in an entirely safe situation.
Fortunately, there are dedicated support programs that can help. For example, Dade County victim services provide aid to those navigating post-crime challenges, helping them manage their increased anxiety levels and reclaiming a sense of safety.
 
Increased Suspicion – Eroding the Victim’s Ability to Trust Others
 
The betrayal of trust that comes from being a victim of a crime can be so severe that it leaves massive consequences that last for years. In these situations, the violation of trust impacts the individual so significantly that it leads to numerous future challenges in both personal and professional relationships.
 
Developing and maintaining a connection without trust, whether with a friend or a potential partner, can be incredibly challenging. The mistrust caused by being a victim is so strong that the victim can’t shake the feeling of suspicion they might have toward someone new in their life. Even people they already know might appear fishy after such an event.
Breaking down this invisible barrier and rebuilding trust can take a long time and often involves seeking professional help and therapy. Still, these issues mustn’t be swept under the rug and resolved as best possible, as they can negatively affect all future relationships.
 
Social Isolation – Withdrawal from Friends and Family
 
Be it a reaction caused by fear, mistrust, or the desire to bury a traumatic event completely, many victims steer clear of even their closest friends and loved ones after they’ve fallen victim to a crime. While such a reaction is natural after a traumatic situation, withdrawing from your social circles can make the traumatic event even more difficult to deal with.
 
Staying isolated can lead to feelings of loneliness and helplessness and a further decline in mental health as the victim stops engaging in helpful discussions and doesn’t receive the support needed to overcome the trauma caused by the crime.
Therefore, encouraging crime victims to discuss their trauma with their closest ones is vital. At the same time, helping them seek out mental health professionals can also help combat the consequences that such a traumatic event has left on their mental health.
 
Unjustified Guilt – Victims Blaming Themselves for the Trauma
 
It’s not uncommon for crime victims to receive a massive blow to their self-esteem and start blaming themselves for what’s happened. The trauma caused by a criminal act is so intense that it can impact one’s entire perception of the world. It can even cause them to feel ashamed and guilty.
 
For the victim, the diminished sense of self-worth and identity makes the healing process even more challenging, as these people often stop viewing themselves in a positive light.
 
While these feelings can be incredibly mighty, it’s worth remembering that it’s never the victim’s fault, and these feelings are always unjustified. Addressing them with the help of a qualified therapist is just as important as rebuilding trust and working on your trauma-caused anxiety.
 
Development of PTSD – Life-Disrupting Mental Health Condition
 
Depending on the severity of the crime, the aftermath of such a stressful situation can also lead to the development of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD for short.
 
This condition can have severe consequences on a victim’s daily life, as it includes various symptoms like flashbacks and intrusive memories. Many PTSD patients also suffer from nightmares and experience emotional numbness.
 
Besides these symptoms, victims often have issues engaging in everyday activities and maintaining friendships or relationships. Such a life-disrupting combination also highlights the importance of urgent treatment of PTSD.
 
In most cases, effectively managing PTSD requires a multi-faceted approach. Such an approach includes drugs, cognitive-behavioral therapy, specialized interventions, and, interestingly enough, playing Tetris in some cases.
 
Conclusion
 
Crime rates around the globe are reaching unprecedented highs. While many focus on the physical injury aspect of these incidents, it’s important to remember that victims of crime and those in its proximity can also experience severe consequences on their mental health.
 
In most cases, victims of crime will develop severe anxiety and hypervigilance, becoming unable to relax in even the safest situations. Being a crime victim can also cause mistrust and social isolation, which impact an individual’s ability to develop relationships and heal. Some may also start blaming themselves and even develop PTSD.
 
After all, understanding and addressing these effects, or encouraging others to do so, is vital to the recovery journey.