Sometimes it’s hard to know what to do or say if a friend has been a victim of crime. Understand that your friend is probably dealing with many different emotions and might not know how to talk about it either.
Reading this is a great start to helping your friend. This might not answer all your questions, but it should help you understand how your friend might be feeling and good things to say and do, as well as things to avoid. For more information about helping your friend, contact the National Crime Victim Helpline at 1-800-FYI-CALL or talk to a trusted adult.
Reactions to Trauma
People react to the trauma caused by crime in many ways. You might see your friend doing or saying things you’re not used to. If your friend is changing in ways that worry you, talk to a trusted adult or call our National Crime Victim Helpline about how to handle it.
Some changes you might see are:
- New eating or sleeping habits
- Being angry all the time
- Taking lots of risks
- Doing badly in school
- Skipping school
- Feeling hopeless and helpless
- Having lots of headaches or stomachaches
- Having a hard time concentrating
- Mood swings
- Clinginess
- Nervousness
- Depression
- Using drugs or alcohol
