ANSWERS: 3
  • I think you really need to get in touch with the police and ask them for any support groups or organisations they have who deal with victim support. I feel it is really important that your friend chat to someone who is trained in dealing with victims. If you are there for her I am sure she will be grateful and your friendship will become much stronger for the support and help you have given her through such a traumatic time in her life.
  • Any trauma like this is a form of grief. What she is feeling is not uncommon. I was robbed years ago when i was on holidays and I was a cot case for a long while... Grief is known to pass through various stages, not all in a row. some can come and go, but these are the 5 acknolwedged ones: 1-Denial-"this can't be happening to me" 2-Anger-"why me?", feelings of wanting to fight back or get even 3-Bargaining-attempting to make deals with God to stop or change the loss. Begging, wishing, praying for what was taken to be brought back. 4-Depression-overwhelming feelings of hopelessness, frustration, bitterness, self pity, mourning. Feeling lack of control, feeling numb. Perhaps feeling suicidal.(In the case of robbery, it is as if you have been physically violated, and your sense of safety taken away.) (I have adapted these from divorce/death but you can see how similar the feelings are) 5-Acceptance-there is a difference between resignation and acceptance. You have to accept the loss, not just try to bear it quietly. Realization that the goods are gone, that it is not their fault, that there was nothing you could have done to stop it happening. Finding the good that can come out of the pain of loss (thank God I wasn't there when it happened, or that the children weren't there), finding comfort and healing. Our goals turn toward personal growth. You friend does need to go through this with a counsellor/priest/pastor/rabbi in order to get to the stage of acceptance. Go with her to the place and wait for her outside.
  • maybe by telling her it wasnt her fault and helping her press charges

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