Looking after your wellbeing after crime
We all have mental wellbeing, just as we have physical wellbeing.
It’s about how you feel emotionally, as well as how well you can function and cope with the stresses of daily life. We all have good days and bad days and that’s completely normal.
Crime often disrupts normal life and we can experience lots of complex emotions. Everyone reacts differently, but it can feel like there’s more to cope with, which can impact our mental wellbeing. It’s important to be patient with ourselves. With help and support, most people feel better, or even stronger, but it can take time.
If you’ve experienced crime, we can support you in a number of ways. You can contact us for free and confidential support. If you feel like you’re in danger or at risk of harm, call 999.
There are also lots of things you can do to look after your own wellbeing. Here are just a few ideas and tools to try.
Your stories
Some of the people we’ve supported have spoken to us about what helped them move forward. Not everything works for everyone, but their experiences may just strike a chord with you.
Christine’s story
Christine explains how important journaling was during her recovery:
I journaled a lot, especially when I felt particularly upset. This enabled me to rant on a page, to be real about what was going on for me internally.
The outcome of this was that I expressed whatever was inside festering and this stopped me from wanting to dwell on it.
I was free of the upsetting thought or idea. I could consider it in a different way if I chose to revisit it later and I felt strangely separate from the very distressed person who wrote it, refreshed and liberated from the burden of it.
‘Improve your wellbeing after crime: five simple steps’
This short worksheet introduces five steps which, according to research, can help us all improve our wellbeing. You don’t need to take on all five steps at once — small changes can make a big difference to how you feel.
Think about what makes you feel happy, valued and like you’re getting the most out of life.
‘My five steps to wellbeing diary’
This diary helps you reflect on any changes you’ve made towards the five steps.
Don’t worry if you don’t manage to do something for all five every day. Celebrate what you achieve and the difference it makes. Your diary could help you work out what you find most helpful and what you’d like to do more often.
‘Countdown to a better night’s sleep’
Many people have difficulty sleeping after crime. It’s a good idea to see your doctor if you’ve struggled for some time, but you can help improve your chances of a good night’s sleep. We’ve put together some tips to help get you started.
‘Managing anger’
Anger is a natural response to feeling attacked or treated unfairly, but it can be difficult to deal with, particularly if it is something you’re not used to feeling. We’ve put together this workbook to help you manage any anger you may be feeling after crime.
‘Finding flow’
‘Flow’ is all about losing yourself in an activity and feeling completely ‘in the zone’. Take a look at this short workbook to learn about how finding your ‘flow’ could help improve your overall happiness after crime.
Volunteering – is it for me?
Volunteering is often a ‘win win’: it’s an opportunity to help others, but evidence suggests that, in doing so, we can help ourselves just as much, if not more – particularly when it comes to our wellbeing. Is volunteering for you? This workbook could help you decide.
Download the volunteering workbook and see if it’s for you.
Connect with others
When we’re struggling with our mental or emotional wellbeing, it can feel like a lonely place to be. Connecting with other people —particularly if they’ve had similar experiences to us — can be a positive way to feel supported and remind us we’re not alone.
It may be helpful to talk to someone you trust — perhaps a friend, family member or support worker. You don’t have to tell people everything, but it can be difficult to work through things on your own.