Understanding Boundaries & Accountability to Improve Scam Victims’ Recovery When They Communicate – 2024
Understanding Boundaries & Accountability to Improve Scam Victims’ Recovery When They Communicate
Communication is the Core of Recovery, but Communication Can Be Challenging for Scam Victims – This will Help Explain
Primary Category: Scam Victim Recovery Psychology
Author:
• Tim McGuinness, Ph.D. – Anthropologist, Scientist, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc.
About This Article
Triggers are especially challenging for scam victims because they often evoke intense emotional responses tied to their trauma. These triggers can be anything—words, situations, or even gestures—that remind victims of the scam or the betrayal they experienced. The brain’s trauma response system, particularly the amygdala, becomes activated when these triggers are encountered, which can overwhelm logical thinking and send victims into a state of emotional distress. This reaction happens because trauma alters how the brain processes stimuli, making victims hyper-sensitive to anything that resembles their painful experience. As a result, even benign situations can provoke fear, anxiety, or defensiveness, making it difficult for victims to engage in productive conversations or seek help effectively. Recognizing and learning to manage these triggers is essential for their emotional recovery and ability to move forward.
