Common Reactions Women Have After Being Trafficked
last updated September 1, 2005

The following is excerpted from: Victims of Trafficking Need Help, Nadejda Kostadinova, psychotherapist, Animus Association, Bulgaria. Available as Chapter Three of the Resource Book, Crossing Borders Against Trafficking in Women and Girls, Kvinnoforum.
  • Fear
    • to be alone;
    • to be found and punished by her violator;
    • that people will find out that she had been a prostitute;
    • that she will be punished and sued as an illegal immigrant;
    • of her own anger;
    • of venereal diseases and HIV/AIDS;
    • of nightmares.
  • Feeling Guilty
    • that she made a mistake and had been "stupid";
    • that she broke cultural and religious rules;
    • that she was not able to earn money to support her family.
  • Anger
    • toward herself because "she allowed all that to happen to her";
    • toward others, because they did not protect her;
    • toward society;
    • that her life had been ruined.
  • Feeling Betrayed
    • by the people who put her in touch with those involved in trafficking;
    • by God;
    • by the state;
    • by her family.
  • Distrust
    • of her own ability to judge people and events;
    • of the people around her, even those who had not betrayed her.
  • Feeling Helpless
    • that she has no right to control her own life;
    • that "it will never get better";
    • that being a woman means being abused all the time.
  • Shock
    • feeling stunned and unable to cry.
  • Suspicion
    • "Did this really happen?"
    • "Why did this happen to me?"
  • Feeling Disoriented
    • inability to stay calm in one place;
    • finding it hard to recognize the days;
    • memory problems.