In July, Kansas University student Ross Maddock was robbed in the 1200 block of Tennessee Street as he walked home from a party.

Any victim of a violent crime, like Maddock, is at risk for developing symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, said Fort Riley-based psychologist Bob Clifton, who’s worked with soldiers experiencing PTSD after combat. Those symptoms can include:

• Increased anxiety.

• Avoidance of going out alone, or avoidance of the area where a robbery occurred.

• Trouble sleeping and other abnormal physical symptoms.

But not everyone who is victimized by a violent crime, such as a robbery, will develop such symptoms, Clifton said.

For instance, Maddock said he avoided walking home alone for about a month, but never developed any of the symptoms Clifton describes as warning signs of PTSD.

“No, none of that,” said Maddock, who quickly resumed his normal routines.

And that’s the key to whether someone needs help, Clifton said. The first question to ask a victim is “Is this affecting your everyday life?” he said.

If so, the longer a victim goes without seeking help, the more serious effects he or she can experience.

Help might include professional counseling, but that isn’t always needed, Clifton said. Appropriate support can come from talking about the crime with friends and family, as well as “taking control” of your safety, which can include self-defense classes, picking safer walking routes and traveling with groups of people.