In this article about the story of Olympian runner Emily Infeld’s stalking experience, I discuss how the crime of stalking impacts it’s victims.
From the article:
Stalking is a crime like no other in that the victimization has no definite beginning and no definite end. The average stalking case lasts 1.8 years which means the victim is constantly re-traumatized without any end to the trauma, at least not one the victim can trust. Unfortunately, the effects of stalking do not just end when the perpetrator leaves the victim alone, and there is often lifelong and damaging impacts on a victim’s mental health. The victims may become hypersensitive, hyper-vigilant, and live on adrenaline, always watching behind them and doing 360-degree risk assessments of every situation, wondering whether the stalking is watching them.
— Dr. Mary Beth Wilkas Janke
Author, Psychology Professor, and Self-Esteem Mentor
