Crime Victim Resources

  1. Crisis Counseling
  2. Victim Rights
  3. Normal Reactions
  4. Crime Victims' Compensation
  5. Safety Planning
  6. Dynamics of Domestic Violence
  7. Protective Orders

Some suggestions for coping with an immediate crisis include:

  • Try to get plenty of rest and/or sleep if you can.
  • Eat nutritious meals, even if you have little appetite. Sometimes several small meals are easier than three large ones.
  • Moderate exercise, such as walking, may help relieve some of the stress and may also help with appetite and sleep problems.
  • Keep a journal, including writing about the experience and about your feelings and experiences afterward.
  • Try to keep important information together, including names and dates of people that you have talked to about the case. Perhaps saved in a large envelope.
  • Find a supportive friend or counselor who is willing to listen to you tell your story. You many need to tell the story repeatedly.
  • Remember that children react differently to trauma than adults do. Children may be affected even if they were not directly involved in the crisis. Encourage children to talk, draw pictures, or act out the event with toys or role playing. Some regression is normal in children, but if you feel that the reaction is severe, you may want to seek counseling for the child.