ScamsNOW!
The SCARS Institute Magazine about Scam Victims-Survivors, Scams, Fraud & Cybercrime
Toxic Self-Narratives That Feed Depression in Scam Victims
Author:
• Vianey Gonzalez – Licensed Psychologist Specialty in Crime Victim Trauma Therapy, Neuropsychologist, Certified Deception Professional, Psychology Advisory Panel & Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc.
• Tim McGuinness, Ph.D. – Anthropologist, Scientist, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc.
About This Article
Toxic self-narratives wield profound influence over scam victims, exacerbating emotional distress and impeding recovery. These damaging beliefs, like “I was gullible” or “I can’t trust my judgment,” perpetuate feelings of worthlessness and vulnerability.
Recognizing these narratives is essential, as victims often exhibit negative self-talk and avoidance behaviors. The impact is extensive, deepening depression and hindering decision-making abilities. However, by challenging these narratives and seeking support through therapy or counseling, victims can weaken their hold.
Maintaining social connections and practicing mindfulness can further counteract isolation and foster self-empowerment. With awareness and proactive measures, victims can reclaim control over their narratives, fostering healing and resilience in the aftermath of scams.
Toxic Self-Narratives Can Profoundly Affect Scam Victims
How It Manifests, The Damage It Can Do, How To Recognize It, And Ways To Reduce Or Control It
Toxic self-narratives are prevalent in the aftermath of a scam, often amplifying the emotional distress and spiraling a victim into a state of deep depression. These narratives manifest as self-deprecating beliefs and destructive thought patterns that can significantly hinder the recovery process.
The damage can be extensive, affecting one’s mental well-being and ability to rebuild trust in oneself and others.
Recognizing these narratives is essential in mitigating their effects and paving the way toward healing. Here are insights into the manifestation, impact, recognition, and management of toxic self-narratives in scam victims.
Manifestation of Toxic Self-Narratives in Scam Victims
Post-scam, victims can experience a tapestry of toxic self-narratives: “I was gullible,” “I’m stupid for falling for it,” “I can’t trust my judgment,” are common examples.
The narratives often surround self-worth, decision-making abilities, and overall trust in oneself and others. The trauma from the scam leaves victims vulnerable to a relentless cycle of self-blame and negative beliefs.
The damaging effect is profound. It reinforces a victim’s feelings of vulnerability and shame, contributing to a lack of self-worth and belief in their abilities. Toxic self-narratives breed feelings of hopelessness, worthlessness, and perpetuate a sense of being forever stuck in a damaged state.
Of course, the irony is that scam victim’s decision-making has been significantly affected by the trauma that results from the scam. Victims should not trust themself after the scam, but the statements are usually not about momentary impairment following a scam but about their ability to trust themselves forever.
Recognizing Toxic Self-Narratives in the Aftermath of Scams
It’s crucial to identify these destructive thought patterns. Victims experiencing toxic self-narratives tend to exhibit pervasive negative self-talk. They often express feelings of hopelessness and often personalize the scam, believing they’re solely responsible for their misfortune. Victims may also exhibit avoidance behaviors, refusing to trust their decision-making skills or judgment in fear of making a mistake.
Additionally, victims might isolate themselves, withdrawing from social connections due to perceived embarrassment and shame, all resulting from the reinforced narratives of inadequacy and vulnerability.
Impact and Damage of Toxic Self-Narratives in Scam Victims
Toxic self-narratives significantly exacerbate the trauma experienced from the scam. They deepen the emotional distress, leading to a prolonged state of depression and anxiety. Self-blame can escalate, intensifying the victim’s sense of despair, hopelessness, and self-doubt. This results in a reluctance to trust oneself or others, and a depletion of self-worth, hindering the victim’s ability to rebuild a stable life post-scam.
Scam victims might lose the ability to make informed decisions and take necessary steps to recover due to the overpowering negativity feeding these toxic self-narratives.
Reducing and Controlling Toxic Self-Narratives
Acknowledging and accepting that these toxic narratives exist is crucial. Victims should challenge the negative self-talk and question the validity of these beliefs. Engaging in therapy, counseling, or support groups can be a vital step in breaking these cycles. Learning to reframe thoughts by focusing on personal strengths and fostering self-compassion can weaken the power of these narratives.
Social connections play a pivotal role. Encouraging victims to maintain supportive relationships helps counteract isolation, allowing them to receive perspective, validation, and emotional support. Positive experiences can aid in countering the negative beliefs, providing instances that prove these narratives wrong.
Mindfulness practices, grounding techniques, and cognitive-behavioral approaches assist in redirecting negative thought patterns, fostering self-empowerment and awareness of positive self-attributes.
Also Read:
- The Self-Pity Trap & How To Overcome It (scamsnow.com)
- Scam Victims And The Reactivity Loop (scamsnow.com)
Summary
Toxic self-narratives are powerful contributors to the enduring trauma faced by scam victims. They’re intricate and insidious, silently chipping away at one’s mental well-being and recovery process. Awareness, support, and professional assistance are the key tools in recognizing, reducing, and controlling these narratives. By confronting and reframing these beliefs, victims can regain a sense of control over their own narratives, nurturing healing and resiliency.
More About Scam Victim Psychology:
- The Self-Pity Trap & How To Overcome It (scamsnow.com)
- Labeling Theory & What It Means For Victims Of Scams (scamsnow.com)
- Scam Victims And The Reactivity Loop (scamsnow.com)
- Projection And Scam Victims (scamsnow.com)
- Scam Victim Resiliency – Why It Is So Much Worse After The Scam (scamsnow.com)
- Confirmation Bias – Letting Your Desires Control What You See! (romancescamsnow.com)
- After A Scam, No One Can Tell You How You Will React (romancescamsnow.com)
- Immediate and Delayed Reactions to Trauma (romancescamsnow.com)
- Psychology Of Scams – Article Catalog (romancescamsnow.com)
SCARS Resources:
- For New Victims of Relationship Scams newvictim.AgainstScams.org
- Subscribe to SCARS Newsletter newsletter.againstscams.org
- Sign up for SCARS professional support & recovery groups, visit support.AgainstScams.org
- Find competent trauma counselors or therapists, visit counseling.AgainstScams.org
- Become a SCARS Member and get free counseling benefits, visit membership.AgainstScams.org
- Report each and every crime, learn how to at reporting.AgainstScams.org
- Learn more about Scams & Scammers at RomanceScamsNOW.com and ScamsNOW.com
- Global Cyber Alliance ACT Cybersecurity Tool Website: Actionable Cybersecurity Tools (ACT) (globalcyberalliance.org)
- Self-Help Books for Scam Victims are at shop.AgainstScams.org
- Donate to SCARS and help us help others at donate.AgainstScams.org
- Worldwide Crisis Hotlines: International Suicide Hotlines – OpenCounseling : OpenCounseling
- Campaign To End Scam Victim Blaming – 2024 (scamsnow.com)
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Important Information for New Scam Victims
Please visit www.ScamVictimsSupport.org – a SCARS Website for New Scam Victims & Sextortion Victims
SCARS Institute now offers a free recovery program at www.SCARSeducation.org
Please visit www.ScamPsychology.org – to more fully understand the psychological concepts involved in scams and scam victim recovery
If you are looking for local trauma counselors, please visit counseling.AgainstScams.org
If you need to speak with someone now, you can dial 988 or find phone numbers for crisis hotlines all around the world here: www.opencounseling.com/suicide-hotlines
Statement About Victim Blaming
Some of our articles discuss various aspects of victims. This is both about better understanding victims (the science of victimology) and their behaviors and psychology. This helps us to educate victims/survivors about why these crimes happened and not to blame themselves, better develop recovery programs, and help victims avoid scams in the future. At times, this may sound like blaming the victim, but it does not blame scam victims; we are simply explaining the hows and whys of the experience victims have.
These articles, about the Psychology of Scams or Victim Psychology – meaning that all humans have psychological or cognitive characteristics in common that can either be exploited or work against us – help us all to understand the unique challenges victims face before, during, and after scams, fraud, or cybercrimes. These sometimes talk about some of the vulnerabilities the scammers exploit. Victims rarely have control of them or are even aware of them, until something like a scam happens, and then they can learn how their mind works and how to overcome these mechanisms.
Articles like these help victims and others understand these processes and how to help prevent them from being exploited again or to help them recover more easily by understanding their post-scam behaviors. Learn more about the Psychology of Scams at www.ScamPsychology.org
SCARS INSTITUTE RESOURCES:
If You Have Been Victimized By A Scam Or Cybercrime
♦ If you are a victim of scams, go to www.ScamVictimsSupport.org for real knowledge and help
♦ Enroll in SCARS Scam Survivor’s School now at www.SCARSeducation.org
♦ To report criminals, visit https://reporting.AgainstScams.org – we will NEVER give your data to money recovery companies like some do!
♦ Follow us and find our podcasts, webinars, and helpful videos on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RomancescamsNowcom
♦ Learn about the Psychology of Scams at www.ScamPsychology.org
♦ Dig deeper into the reality of scams, fraud, and cybercrime at www.ScamsNOW.com and www.RomanceScamsNOW.com
♦ Scam Survivor’s Stories: www.ScamSurvivorStories.org
♦ For Scam Victim Advocates visit www.ScamVictimsAdvocates.org
♦ See more scammer photos on www.ScammerPhotos.com
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Psychology Disclaimer:
All articles about psychology and the human brain on this website are for information & education only
The information provided in this and other SCARS articles are intended for educational and self-help purposes only and should not be construed as a substitute for professional therapy or counseling.
Note about Mindfulness: Mindfulness practices have the potential to create psychological distress for some individuals. Please consult a mental health professional or experienced meditation instructor for guidance should you encounter difficulties.
While any self-help techniques outlined herein may be beneficial for scam victims seeking to recover from their experience and move towards recovery, it is important to consult with a qualified mental health professional before initiating any course of action. Each individual’s experience and needs are unique, and what works for one person may not be suitable for another.
Additionally, any approach may not be appropriate for individuals with certain pre-existing mental health conditions or trauma histories. It is advisable to seek guidance from a licensed therapist or counselor who can provide personalized support, guidance, and treatment tailored to your specific needs.
If you are experiencing significant distress or emotional difficulties related to a scam or other traumatic event, please consult your doctor or mental health provider for appropriate care and support.
Also read our SCARS Institute Statement about Professional Care for Scam Victims – click here
If you are in crisis, feeling desperate, or in despair, please call 988 or your local crisis hotline.
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A Question of Trust
At the SCARS Institute, we invite you to do your own research on the topics we speak about and publish. Our team investigates the subject being discussed, especially when it comes to understanding the scam victims-survivors’ experience. You can do Google searches, but in many cases, you will have to wade through scientific papers and studies. However, remember that biases and perspectives matter and influence the outcome. Regardless, we encourage you to explore these topics as thoroughly as you can for your own awareness.
Very informative article on negative self talk. I ran into this subject back in February. I had called the company who assisted in locating my debt resolution team. I felt at the time that the debt people just weren’t doing their job; I was upset and ready to rip into someone. My mind had been occupied all day with negative self talk. Apparently that aspect came through when I called this company. The person who took my call actually called me out on a statement I had made. He came right out and told me (and this is a religious reference) that I have to be careful what I think and what I say as Satan can use that against me. One of the strategies I had adopted as my New Year’s Resolution is to be grateful, everyday. I created a jar and cut some strips of paper, each one dated. Each day I write down something I am grateful for. I am pleased to say I have not missed a day since I started this exercise. It has had an effect on negative thoughts and negative self talk. When I called that company in February I was still really new to practicing gratitude. But after that gentleman admonished me during the conversation I really started to pay attention to what I think and say. I have filled my gratitude jar one time so far and have nearly filled it again. I have 160 slips to date of gratitude. I am keeping them all and on New Year’s Eve I will read all my gratitude. I will compare it to how I began 2025 to gauge the effects of gratitude on me and my negative self talk, depression and self pity. I know right now in June I am more calm, focused, and do not often travel down the grey road of negative thought.
Negative self-talk can really prevent you from recovering. And if you already had low self-esteem and negative thoughts about yourself, falling victim to a scam seems to you like evidence of those negative thoughts about yourself. I appreciate all the guidance and help I have received from SCARS and mental health care providers to challenge those negative thoughts.
For me the healing journey happens on the inside. Getting to know what hurts inside and what to do to address it is the change required. Kind, compassionate self- talk after my scam ended have allowed me to reconnect with my inner self quickly; Learning about the scam, their tactics and the pain they inflicted through SCARS Institute gave me the tools needed to address my trauma from the inside out. With the passage of time, I am feeling better and better every day.
The daily affirmations from SCARS has been fuel for positive self talk for me. Life is full of challenges. There always seems to be one around every corner. How we deal with our challenges determines our future.
Every crisis seems to reactivate this pattern, so it’s a life-long learning how to break the cycles of negative self-narratives. Thank you for the article!
Very informative. Thanks