The first step in helping youth is to recognize the common and varied reactions they might have. Some of these reactions might include:

• Changes in eating or sleeping habits
• Acting out: aggressive or inappropriate behavior
• Mood swings
• Attention-seeking behavior
• Increased risk-taking
• Difficulty concentrating
• School absences or fear of attending school
• Declining school performance
• Poor peer relations, withdrawal
• Physical signs of stress: headache, stomachache
• Nightmares or insomnia
• Anger
• Hopelessness
• Helplessness, loss of control, or powerlessness
• Clinginess
• Anxiety
• Depression

Rapid behavior changes can be indicators of victimization and trauma. Although keeping a child’s victimization quiet or trying to forget about it can be an instinctive response, a victim has little chance of healing from the experience if they want to talk about it with someone and can’t. Forcing a person to suppress feelings and memories can damage a person’s emotional, psychological, and even physical health.

Why it may be hard for teens to talk about their victimization

Youth who have been affected by crime may tell trusted friends about the victimization, but they often avoid or delay in telling adults about such experiences. Teens are at a unique developmental stage when physical, psychological, emotional, cognitive, and social changes have a significant impact on their ability to seek help when they are victimized. Some of these reasons include:

• Fear of consequences: Youth may believe that disclosing victimization will only make things worse. Some youth may believe that the abuser will retaliate against them or their family. Also, some youth may believe that parents will punish them if something was lost or damaged in the victimization.
• Shame: Fear of others’ reactions is a leading reason that youth delay in getting help. Youth victims may sometimes feel responsible for not preventing their victimization and think others will blame them too.
• Trust issues: Many forms of youth victimization include a violation of trust. Youth victims may think that adults won’t believe them or won’t understand what they have been through.
• Lack of awareness: Youth victims may not be aware that a crime has occurred or that anyone can help.
• Desire for privacy: During adolescence, the need for privacy becomes increasingly important. Victims may feel ashamed to have people know the details of their victimization.
• Need for independence: Adolescents struggle for autonomy during this time in their development. They may feel the need to resolve their problems on their own without involving an adult. Youth victims may fear that adults will take over and they will lose control and decision-making power in the situation. Youth may also worry that adults’ efforts to protect them will result in a loss of privileges or freedom.