When the System Traumatizes
The legal process is often designed for efficiency, not for healing. This can lead to "secondary victimization," where the system itself causes new trauma.
How the system re-traumatizes
Repetitive Questioning
Being forced to tell the most painful details of your life over and over to different people who may not be trained in trauma.
Aggressive Defense
Defense lawyers whose job is to discredit you, often by attacking your character, your memory, or your lifestyle.
Cold Environments
Police stations and courtrooms are often intimidating, loud, and lack any sense of safety or privacy.
Delays & Uncertainty
Cases can drag on for years, keeping you in a state of constant "fight or flight" and preventing you from moving on.
How to navigate the system safely
You have the right to protect your mental health even while pursuing justice.
- Bring a Support Person: Never go to a hearing or interview alone. Bring a friend, a therapist, or an advocate.
- Ask for Breaks: If you feel yourself dissociating or becoming overwhelmed, you have the right to ask for a 10-minute break.
- Know Your Rights: Understand what questions you don't have to answer and what protections are available to you (e.g., testifying behind a screen).
- Therapeutic Support: Ensure you have a therapy session scheduled for the day after any major legal event.
Your health is the priority
If the legal process becomes more damaging than the original trauma, it is okay to step back. No verdict is worth your sanity.