Dear Catlady3999~
I'd like to welcome you here to the Forum, a non judgmental place where many of us have faced prejudice in one form or another.
It is an unfortunate fact that a person who carries out a crime is not just affecting themselves and their victim. If they come to notice and are given a conviction, and maybe incarceration it does not stop there.
It is bad enough but to be expected that the victim wil suffer loss, and maybe mental issues &/or physical issues as a result. What is not expected is that this act affects so many other people including particularly the person's family, and sometimes where they worked, and their friends.
In your case you are facing th worst that people hand out, they associate you with the crime without any reason, just because you were close to the perpetrator. They do not see the griff and loss you felt when you found out and the stress of interviews and his going to court.
Instead of shunning you people should be supporting you, understanding what you have gone though, sadly human nature does not always work that way.
Do you ever feel angry at them ? It can't hurt to tell them you are have been injured in so many ways, they are being cruel and you and expected better of them. Leave the door open for them to have time to reflect and make amends. you could even write this to those closest friends, perhaps it may do some good.
Of course this line of action may not work but it is something to try rather than just accept ill treatment and move away.
I would suggest you see your GP and explain the situation and what you feel as a result. While you may not be ill it could be that medication or therapy will stop the level of anxiety you feel now.
You know you are always welcome here
Croix
