Criminal offenses can have serious short-term effects on victims. For example, someone who has been assaulted may suffer from injuries that take weeks or months to heal. A person who has been deprived of their finances or property may struggle financially.
The long-term impacts of criminal offenses are often overlooked. Being subjected to criminal behavior can impact your emotional well-being and self-esteem. You may no longer feel like you can go outside of your home in safety. You may have issues trusting those who are close to you.
Rebuilding your self-esteem as a victim of crime can be difficult, but hopefully, the following tips should help.
Don’t blame yourself
You may wonder why it happened to you, going over the incident over and over in your head. Is there something you could have done differently? Were you careless in your actions? Sadly, victims of crime who suffer from low self-esteem afterward can blame themselves for the incident. It’s important to remember that you are absolutely not to blame for the conduct of a criminal.
Lean on your support system
While it can take time to regroup after a traumatic event, it’s important that you try to remember all of the positive things you have going for you. You have a lot to offer the world, and there are people behind you who can offer support. Don’t be afraid to lean on family members or even neutral third parties who have experience helping victims of crime.
The criminal act that impacted your life cannot be undone, but you may be entitled to compensation that can help while you get back on your feet. If you have been injured either physically or emotionally, seek some legal guidance to find out more about your options.
