Why is it still affecting me so long after the bank robbery?
“Shouldn't I have 'got over it' by now?” It is not uncommon for people to find themselves asking this question after a being the vitcim of bank robbery. However, the fact is that bank robberies are extreme events. Even though it is rare for someone to be significantly physically harmed during a bank robbery, we know that many people experience extreme emotional effects, such as Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or depression, after these events. Symptoms such as insomnia, nightmares, flashbacks, emotional numbness, trouble concentrating, forgetting things, feeling down, feeling agitated, losing your temper, etc. are not uncommon after a bank robbery. Other people experience few anxiety symptoms but significant depressed mood and lack of motivation.
The truth is there is no one “right” way for people to react following a bank robbery. The nature of people's reactions vary greatly and depend both on the circumstances of the event and the individual's own circumstances. You should not assume that you are somehow “weak” because you experience a post-traumatic emotional reaction.
Sometimes people who appear emotional “strong” in many other respects are affected very powerfully by being a victim of an armed robbery. The very fact that they are not coping can take them by surprise and in turn adds to their distress.
While some people recover over a period of days or weeks without professional assistance, others require therapy with an experienced psychologist or psychiatrist to assist in resolving their symptoms.
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