Going To The Police Harmful For My Health?

[VanZan]

I endured a succession of traumatic criminal incidents since PTSD really took hold during my teenage years. I gravitated towards dangerous people because tormenting them boosted my esteem, gave me a feeling of revenge and also there was the thrill factor.

I did see a counsellor a few years ago and was surprisingly told that if I reported all the things that happened to me to the police that it could destroy my mental health. In a roundabout way she said I'd end up at the local asylum. Think she said it would blow it all up in magnitude and it'd be harder to move on with my life.

Could someone tell me is there any substance to this please? I'm in a safe place at the moment and thanks to the medication I'm on I'm actually able to process and accurately detail every criminal incident. Perhaps it's better to just leave it and concentrate on recovering? I can't deny I have a thirst for justice though.

With all the numerous incidents I've accumulated over the years I wonder even would the police believe it! I remember I did go to the police whilst I had a psychosis and when I told my counsellor at the next session she looked absolutely horrified.

 

[lostforgottensoul]

when I told my counsellor at the next session she looked absolutely horrified.

Why in the hell is a counselor telling you to not go to the police or look horrified? I get that you're in a different country but still! My therapist wants me to bring civil charges (statue of limitation is up) on my mom (only living pair of my abusers/cult leaders as there were other cult members and "renters").

 

[Friday]

Dealing with the court system is incredibly stressful for most people, under the best of circumstances. The stress alone can and does break many people, even without PTSD & trauma being a factor. Add those? Much less the retraumatization, victim-blaming, failure to carry justice, & occasional tables turned (report someone else, and be brought up on charges yourself). Other people find it cathartic. Some a mix of both.

Did you get a sense which aspect she was worried about it being too much for you to bear at this time?

 

[lostforgottensoul]

Dealing with the court system is incredibly stressful for most people, under the best of circumstances. The stress alone can and does break many people, even without PTSD & trauma being a factor. Add those?

Much less the retraumatization, victim-blaming, failure to carry justice, & occasional tables turned (report someone else, and be brought up on charges yourself). Other people find it cathartic. Some a mix of both.

I didnt even think about any of that.

I didnt want to take my mom to court cuz shes my mom but i dont think i could go through w/ court and legal stuff anyway now that i think about it.

 

[LuckyDuck]

Coukd be PTSD set in beforehand. Your doc might be onto something. Give it awhile. Consider as you grow. Justice is a heavy handed double edged sword...

 

[EveHarrington]

I think your therapist was being very honest with you. The truth is that the justice system in many countries is anything but "justice." You could fight for years and get no real justice. It could destroy you in the process. Thinking ahead, do you want to potentially spend years of your life wrapped up in a legal case? I'm not advocating letting the bad guys get away with it. What I am advocating is doing what is in your best interest. And sometimes, simply walking away and not letting those who hurt you occupy any more space in your mind is the best. I had the choice to bring a suit against those who harmed me, and I ultimately chose to not pursue it. To me it wasn't worth dedicating so much of my resources to a process that could greatly hinder my healing process.

 

[Changing4Best]

Cross examination by a defense attorney can send you into a tailspin, which alone is probably why your therapist said that. I tend to agree.

 

[Anarchy]

Hi VanZan

I've been cross examined in an Irish court.

I was an expert witness, and the case was about a planning dispute, so, it was not covering triggering material.

The prosecution barrister ( representing a county council) was blatantly using tactics infront of the judge of trying to call my professional experience, personal integrity and motivation ( filthy profit - when she was paid from the proceeds of extortion) into question,

And! She Had privately issued threats to pursue and to bankrupt another witness...


While there are some absolutely great guards, there are more than a few who are lazy bullies, out to screw people over for money, sex or just ego trips ( see the Donegal enquiry, also the sound recording of gardai made when they failed to switch off a camera that they had taken from some female shell to sea protestors).

I'm not saying don't pursue your abusers,

If you do pursue them, please go in with your eyes open, its likely to be a long process, perhaps several years, perhaps never even reaching a court, during which attempts will be made to twist reality and to trigger you, in order to present you ( at best) as an unreliable witness. At worst... We'll not go there.
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I think that your T is very wise.

Your recovery, and you creating a fulfilling life for yourself, is in itself a huge slap in the face for your abusers.

It shows that you can rise above them and what they did to you.
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Have you started a diary here?
It would provide a forum for you to share, discuss and to receive other validating views on what you experienced.
@

 

[VanZan]

Yeah they're exactly the reasons she alluded to now that I remember. The only worry I have is that the "city" I live in is fairly small and maybe I'm not safe until I get the police involved.

Thanks for all the replies guys...:)