𝗘𝗠𝗢𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗔𝗟 𝗗𝗔𝗠𝗔𝗚𝗘𝗦 𝗖𝗔𝗨𝗦𝗘𝗗 𝗕𝗬 𝗔𝗚𝗚𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗦𝗜𝗩𝗘 𝗔𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗦

Alexandre Breck

An assault, robbery, or aggression can cause severe emotional damage to the victim. The feelings of fear, insecurity, uncertainty, and vulnerability can become long-lasting and intense. Some individuals may develop post-traumatic stress disorder characterized by flashbacks, nightmares, and anxiety related to the incident. Other symptoms that may arise include guilt, anger, sadness, difficulty sleeping, memory problems, concentration issues, shame, nightmares, feelings of depersonalization, loss of appetite, and social isolation.
The victim may believe that the event was unjust and that their life will never be the same again, and in this aspect, they are correct, as a person changes after experiencing such an event. The victim may also blame themselves for what happened and hold themselves responsible for the incident, which needs to be clarified. They may not want to leave their home or engage with other people, leading to both physical and mental health problems such as depression and anxiety. In such cases, it is recommended that the victim seeks help from a mental health professional specialized in treating mental health issues to process the incident. Nevertheless, psychological support is necessary, and the support of family and friends can be helpful.
This is where combat sports come into play. They can aid in combating anxiety, stress, and flashbacks. Specific benefits include self-regulation of the body and mind. Through combat training, one learns to control stress, adrenaline release, increased heart rate, and more, which boosts the victim's self-confidence and self-esteem. This provides a reduced sense of vulnerability and insecurity. Learning self-defense techniques and the use of weapons increases the sense of security, as one gains the knowledge of how to react in a violent situation, armed or unarmed. This decreases the feeling of insecurity and powerlessness against others.
Improved focus and concentration will help combat flashbacks and memory loss related to the incident. Another aspect is decompression, which involves releasing any anger that may arise from the event. Combining physical and mental activities helps eliminate negative thoughts related to the incident. Externalizing anger and aggression, which are natural responses to a traumatic event, is crucial.
It is important to remember that combat sports provide a comprehensive activity to deal with such situations. However, if the victim's condition is severe, as mentioned earlier, the assistance of a mental health professional is necessary to ensure effective treatment for the clinical condition presented by the victim.
Prevention is always the best choice. Learning to anticipate and being prepared both physically and emotionally can greatly help if such a situation occurs. And if it happens to you, remember that the blame is not yours but the aggressor's. They are the ones responsible, even if the situation occurred due to an error made by the victim. The blame always falls on the attacker for their trivial motives. Sometimes it is necessary to react, either for personal reconstruction or self-defense.
I hope this text has helped you understand how to react in such situations.