Effects on mental health

• Denial, confusion, self-doubt, questioning if what is happening is unreasonable, wondering if they are over-reacting

• Frustration

• Guilt, embarrassment, self-blame

• Apprehension, fear, terror of being alone or that they, others or pets will be harmed.

• Feeling isolated and helpless to stop the harassment

• Depression (all symptoms related to depression)

• Anxiety, panic attacks, agoraphobia (frightened to leave the house, never feeling safe)

• Difficulty concentrating, attending and remembering things

• Inability to sleep – nightmares, ruminating

• Irritability, anger, homicidal thoughts

• Emotional numbing

• Symptoms of Post-traumatic Stress disorder e.g. hypervigilance (always on the lookout), flashbacks of frightening incidents, easily startled

• Insecurity and inability to trust others, problems with intimacy

• Personality changes due to becoming more suspicious, introverted or aggressive

• Self-medication alcohol/ drugs or using prescribed medications

• Suicide thoughts and/or suicide attempts\

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• Effects on physical health

• Fatigue from difficulty sleeping, being constantly on guard, symptoms of depression

• Effects of chronic stress including headaches, hypertension

• Gastrointestinal problems -

• Fluctuations in weight due to not eating or comfort eating

• Development or exacerbation of pre-existing conditions e.g. asthma, gastric ulcers and psoriasis.

• Dizziness

• Shortness of breath

• Impact on health of increased use of alcohol, cigarettes or drugs

• Sexual dysfunction

• Physical injury due to not concentrating or being under the influence of substances

• Heart palpitations and sweating

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• Effects on work and school

• Deteriorating school/work performance

• Increased sick leave

• Leaving job or being sacked

• Changing career

• Dropping out of school – poorer education and career opportunities

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• Effects on social life

• Insecurity and inability to trust others impacting on current and future relationships and friendships,

• Problems with physical and emotional intimacy.

• Avoidance of usual activities e.g., going to the gym, going out.

• Isolation through trying to protect others , feeling misunderstood or psychological symptoms.

• Others withdrawing from the victim because they don’t believe the victim, they are unable to cope with the victim’s mental state or as a direct consequence of third-party victimisation.

• Victim moving to a new area, changing their phone number, name or even their appearance.

 

 

 

• Effects on finances

• Loss of wages due to sick leave, leaving job or changing career.

• Costs incurred through legal fees.

• Expense of increasing home and personal security.

• Cost involved in repairing property damage.

• Seeking psychological counselling and medical treatment.

• Cost involved in breaking leases on rented properties.

• Expense of relocation.

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• What may prevent a victim from seeking help?

• Not understanding that what is happening to them is stalking and/or illegal.

• Trying to pretend that it is not happening.

• Believing that they should be able to deal with the situation, thinking that the stalker will see reason, or not wanting to get the stalker into trouble.

• Fear that others will think they are over-reacting or that they will be blamed for somehow having encouraged the stalker in the first place. The latter is particularly pertinent for those who have had a previous intimate relationship with the stalker, even if it was only brief or just a flirtation.

• Fears about how the stalker will respond either to them or those that they love or care for.

• Direct threats from the stalker

• Feeling isolated in their plight, believing that there is nothing that can be done to help them, or not knowing who to go to.

• Previous requests for help being ignored

• Fear of losing their job or the situation becoming more difficult when the stalking originates in the workplace.

• Financial limitations in regard to seeking legal advice or taking time off to seek help.

• Limited options in respect to changing their situation e.g. relocation to safer housing

• Language barriers.