After the Incident! What to Do if You’ve Been Followed or Attacked
Experiencing something frightening; being followed, grabbed, or confronted, can shake anyone up. It’s confusing, emotional and often overwhelming. At our Brixton self-defence classes we teach prevention and practical skills, but we also know the journey after an incident matters just as much.
If something has happened to you or someone you know, here are some calm, practical steps that can help with safety, clarity and recovery.
1. Prioritise Your Immediate Safety
If you feel you’re still in danger, call 999 straight away.
Move to a safe, well-lit place with people around, such as a shop, bar, tube station, or café. Ask for help! Trust your instincts fully, this is not a time to second-guess yourself.
2. Talk to Someone You Trust
After a shock, it’s normal to feel shaky, numb, angry or confused.
Tell a friend, family member or someone you trust what happened. Speaking it aloud helps you process the situation and stops you feeling isolated.
3. Report It to the Police (Even If You’re Unsure)
If you’ve been followed, threatened or attacked, reporting it is important, not just for your own safety, but because it may help protect others too.
You can report by:
Calling 101
Going to your local police station
Using online reporting through your local police website
If the suspect is known, repeat offender, or you feel at risk, tell the police immediately. They do take stalking, following, and unwanted approaches seriously.
4. Write Down What Happened
While it’s still fresh, make a quick note of:
What happened
What the person looked like
What they said or did
Where it happened
Time and date
It doesn’t need to be perfect, just the essentials. This helps you feel more grounded and can support any report you make.
5. Look After Your Emotional Recovery
Experiences like this can take a toll on confidence.
Common reactions include jumpiness, disrupted sleep, anger or feeling detached. All of these are normal.
Support options include:
Victim Support (free, confidential, UK-wide) https://www.victimsupport.org.uk
Mind for emotional wellbeing mind.org.uk
Specialist stalking and harassment charities
Talking to a GP if you feel overwhelmed
You don’t have to “just get on with it”. Getting support is a sign of strength, not weakness.
6. Rebuild Confidence Through Training
Many people come to self-defence after something has happened, not because they want to fight, but because they want to feel grounded again.
Learning simple skills like awareness, boundaries, creating space and breaking holds can help your nervous system settle and give you back a sense of control.
We see this all the time in our Brixton classes: people walk in shaken, and weeks later they’re standing taller, moving with ease and feeling like themselves again.
You’re Not Alone! Support Is Out There!
If you’ve been followed, threatened or attacked, it is not your fault.
You deserve support, safety and a clear path forward.
And if you’d like to rebuild confidence in a friendly, down-to-earth environment, you’re always welcome to book a free trial self defence class with us.
You don’t have to face these things alone.