Mental health problems are also common. Victims may suffer from anxiety, depression, or stress. The student who was cyberstalked by a classmate became very withdrawn and had trouble sleeping because of the constant worry and harassment.
Their personal and professional lives can be severely disrupted. The actress who was cyberstalked couldn't focus on her work due to the constant intrusion. And the victim of the ex - partner might have to change jobs or move to a new place just to get away from the cyberstalker, which shows how much it can mess up their normal life.
The victims often feel very scared. For example, they might be afraid to go online or use their devices.
The impacts are far - reaching. In Mark's case, his love for art was nearly shattered by the bullying. He started to doubt his own interests. Victims may also experience a loss of confidence. They might struggle in school or at work later in life because they lack the self - assurance that was eroded by the bullying experience. And sometimes, if the bullying is severe enough, it can even lead to more serious mental health issues like post - traumatic stress disorder.
Another is monitoring someone's online activities. Stalkers may keep track of what websites the victim visits, who they interact with on social media. In a real story, a man monitored his ex - girlfriend's every move on Instagram, liking and commenting in a menacing way. They also might try to access private accounts. This could be through guessing passwords or using hacking techniques. A lot of times, they'll use the information they gather to further harass the victim, either by spreading it around or using it to intimidate them.
One common psychological impact is trauma. Victims often suffer from post - traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). They may have nightmares, flashbacks of the horrible experiences. Another impact is a sense of shame and guilt, even though it's not their fault. They might isolate themselves from society and have difficulty in building normal relationships.
There was a case where a student was cyberstalked by a classmate. The stalker would follow all of the victim's social media accounts and make mean comments on every post. Then the stalker started sending private messages with threats, like 'I'm watching you all the time.' It really affected the victim's mental health and school performance.
One common element is the feeling of being constantly watched. Victims often notice that the stalker seems to know a lot about their daily activities, like where they go shopping or when they leave for work. Another is the use of technology to harass. For example, bombarding with unwanted messages or hacking into personal accounts.
The psychological impacts on victims in molester stories can be devastating. Victims often experience fear, shame, and guilt. They may have nightmares and difficulty sleeping. Their self - esteem can be severely damaged, making it hard for them to trust others in the future.
The victims often become withdrawn. For example, they might stop socializing like they used to. They lose their confidence and start doubting themselves.
One of the main psychological impacts is a sense of violated trust. A boy may find it difficult to trust other people, especially men. This can lead to isolation as they may withdraw from social interactions. Depression is also common. They might feel worthless and hopeless. Their view of masculinity can be distorted as well, as they struggle to come to terms with what has happened to them in a society that often has rigid ideas about male strength and vulnerability.
Victims may also experience physical harm that can have lasting consequences. Broken bones, bruises, and other injuries are common in family violence situations. And these physical injuries can sometimes lead to disabilities, like a person who had their arm broken during an assault and then had limited use of that arm afterwards. Moreover, the victims may have trust issues and find it difficult to form healthy relationships in the future.