Impacts of Stalking/Criminal Harassment:


Criminal Harassment will affect all individuals differently.  The cumulative effect of harassing behaviour and actions causes individuals to experience psychological and emotional distress.  They may present a number of different problems and symptoms that could include some of the following:

  • physical health effects such as headaches or stomach and digestive problems
  • academic failures due to an inability to attend classes or complete homework
  • difficulty sleeping/insomnia
  • poor concentration
  • depressed feeling
  • anxiety or panic attacks
  • substance abuse
  • self-blame
  • downplaying the impact of the stalking
  • interpreting the stalking as a “private matter”
  • feeling stigmatized and betrayed
  • experiencing anxiety and fear due to the unpredictability of the stalker’s conduct
  • feeling helpless and unable to control their lives
  • trying to ignore the situation, as they are unaware of option available and/or that this conduct is criminal

‘Stalking victims live in a state of persistent threat, with associated symptoms that may be  more enduring than the harassment itself’

 

Mullen & Pathe, Stalking, 1996.




Other links relevant to stalking:

  • Definition of Stalking/Criminal Harassment
  • Are you experiencing Stalking?
  • What assistance can the Community Safety Office provide?