The Aftermath
The weeks and months following an act of violence can be very hard. A victim might experience some or all of the following:

• Constant focus on what happened. Playing it over and over again in your mind.
• A need to try to make sense of a senseless act.
• Sleepless nights and nightmares.
• Self–blame. Wondering what it is that you did wrong to have this awful thing happen to you.
• Feelings of fright and panic that appear out of nowhere and can't be pushed away.
• Constantly checking everything in the environment, feeling that something bad could happen at any time.
• A sense of total betrayal.
• Wanting to tell, but afraid of what you might hear in others' voices or see in their faces.
• Wanting to hide and wondering if you will ever be the same person again.
• Sadness that overshadows everything.

These are very normal reactions to an abnormal event. Recovery is possible.

The services of licensed counselors and experienced staff are free to Dallas County residents.