Dr. Martinez, Sessions 1-8 Patient: Anonymous, 26F, American expat
Session 1 - October 12, 2024
Patient presents with: Anxiety, hypervigilance, sleep disturbance, trust issues
Chief complaint: "I've been robbed three times in four months and I can't stop checking my pockets"
Background: Patient moved to Barcelona in May 2024. First robbery occurred approximately 6 weeks after arrival.
Patient narrative (partial transcript):
"The first time was in June. I was on the metro. L3 line, going to... I don't remember where. Plaça Catalunya maybe?
Someone bumped into me. Said sorry. I thought it was just crowded.
Got off the metro and my phone was gone. My pocket was unzipped. I didn't even feel it happen.
I filed a police report but the officer literally laughed. Not in a mean way, just... tired? Like this happens a hundred times a day and why am I surprised.
I wasn't even that upset at first. It was just a phone. I got a new one.
But then—"
Patient becomes emotional, needs break
Dr. Martinez notes: Patient experiencing delayed emotional response to initial trauma. Minimizing first incident, but subsequent robberies have compounded effect.
Session 2 - October 19, 2024
Continuing robbery discussion:
"The second time was worse because I thought I was being careful.
It was July. I was at La Boqueria market. My bag was in front of me, I was holding it, I was AWARE.
This is what gets me - I was doing everything right.
I felt someone behind me, very close. Too close. I turned around and there were like four people around me, all acting like they were looking at something else.
Then they dispersed really fast.
My wallet was gone. They must have opened my bag while surrounding me. I didn't feel anything.
€200 cash, all my cards, my residence card, my insurance card. Everything.
The bank froze my accounts because of fraudulent charges - they'd used my card at like three different stores before I even realized it was gone."
Patient exhibiting physical signs of distress - checking bag repeatedly during session
Therapist question: "What changed for you after the second robbery?"
"I started... I don't know. Looking over my shoulder constantly. Not trusting anyone who got close to me. I stopped going to crowded places. I'd have panic attacks on the metro.
And I felt so stupid. Like everyone told me Barcelona has pickpockets and I thought I was being careful but I wasn't careful enough.
Or maybe you can't be careful enough? I don't know."
Dr. Martinez notes: Hypervigilance developing. Patient blaming self despite being victim of crime. Avoidance behaviors starting.
Session 3 - October 26, 2024
Discussing third robbery:
Patient very agitated this session, difficult to sit still
"This one was different because it was violent and I saw it coming and I still couldn't stop it.
August. I was walking on Carrer de Ferran, near Las Ramblas but not ON Las Ramblas because I'd learned to avoid that.
Two guys on a motorbike. They drove up onto the sidewalk next to me.
The passenger grabbed my bag. I held on - stupid, I know, everyone says don't resist - but it was instinct.
He pulled harder. I fell. Hit the ground. He got the bag and they drove off.
My knee was bleeding, my hands were scraped up, my bag was gone.
And people just... walked past me. Some people stopped to look but most people just walked around me like I was an inconvenience.
I sat there on the sidewalk crying and no one helped for like five minutes until finally a woman asked if I was okay in Spanish and I couldn't even answer because I was crying too hard."
Extended pause
"I think that's when I realized no one's going to help me here. Not the police, not random people on the street, no one.
It's just... you're on your own."
Therapist question: "How has this affected your sense of safety in Barcelona?"
"I don't feel safe. At all. Anywhere.
I check my pockets every thirty seconds. I don't carry a bag anymore, just a small crossbody that I keep in front. I don't use my phone on the street ever. I don't walk alone at night even though Barcelona is supposedly safe. I don't trust anyone who gets near me.
I'm exhausted. Being this vigilant all the time is exhausting."
Dr. Martinez notes: PTSD symptoms present. Hypervigilance, avoidance, emotional dysregulation. Patient needs trauma-focused therapy.
Session 4 - November 2, 2024
Exploring current coping mechanisms:
"I carry a decoy wallet now. Is that paranoid?
It has like €20 in it and an expired credit card and some random cards that look important but aren't. If someone robs me again they'll get the decoy instead of my real stuff.
My friend said that's paranoid but I don't care. It makes me feel safer.
I also... this is embarrassing but I practice what I'd do if someone robbed me. Like I mentally rehearse it. 'Don't resist, let them take it, don't get hurt.'
Is that normal? It doesn't feel normal."
Therapist question: "What would help you feel safer?"
"I don't know. Leaving?
But I can't leave. I have a job here. I signed a lease. My whole life is here now.
And I actually love Barcelona. The food, the architecture, the beach, the culture. When I'm inside, when I'm safe, I love it.
It's just... stepping outside fills me with dread."
Patient crying
"I didn't used to be like this. I used to be confident and independent and now I'm scared of everything."
Session 5 - November 9, 2024
Patient reports improvement in some areas:
"I've been going out more. Small steps.
I went to the beach last weekend. That felt good. I didn't bring anything valuable, just a towel and some cash.
No one robbed me.
It sounds stupid but I keep waiting for something bad to happen and when it doesn't I'm almost... surprised?"
Discussing cognitive distortions:
"You're right that I'm probably overestimating danger now. Rationally I know most people in Barcelona are not pickpockets.
But emotionally I can't shake the feeling that everyone is a threat.
I saw a guy walking behind me yesterday and I had a full panic attack. Heart racing, couldn't breathe, had to duck into a store. He was just a normal guy walking to work.
This is not sustainable."
Session 6 - November 16, 2024
Patient discussing conversation with other expats:
"I talked to other people in my expat group about this.
Apparently everyone gets pickpocketed here. Like everyone. Multiple times.
One woman has been robbed SIX times in two years. Six!
And she's still here. She just... accepts it as part of living in Barcelona.
I don't know if that makes me feel better or worse. Better because I'm not alone, worse because it means this is just... how it is?"
Therapist question: "What would accepting this reality look like for you?"
"I guess... not blaming myself? Not feeling stupid every time I remember it?
Understanding that this is a systemic problem with Barcelona - the city has a massive pickpocket problem and the police don't do anything about it because there's too many cases and they're not prioritizing petty crime.
It's not about me being careless or stupid. It's about living in a city with organized theft gangs targeting tourists and expats.
That helps a little. Reframing it."
Session 7 - November 23, 2024
Patient reports continued improvement:
"I'm sleeping better. Still checking my pockets constantly but not as much.
I went on the metro yesterday and didn't have a panic attack. That's progress.
I'm thinking about staying in Barcelona long-term. Despite everything.
Is that crazy?"
Therapist question: "What would make it not crazy?"
"If I could accept that getting robbed is a risk I'm willing to take for everything else Barcelona offers.
I'm not there yet. But I'm working on it.
The robberies were traumatic. They changed how I move through the world. I'm more cautious now, maybe too cautious, but also more aware.
I don't think I'll ever be the person I was before. But maybe I can be a different version who's adapted to this."
Dr. Martinez notes: Patient showing resilience. Reframing trauma as adaptation rather than permanent damage. Still work to do on hypervigilance and trust issues.
Session 8 - November 30, 2024
Patient discussing future plans:
"I'm staying. I decided.
I'm not letting three robberies ruin the whole experience for me.
But I'm also not pretending it didn't affect me. I'm different now. More guarded, less trusting, always alert.
Maybe that's not entirely bad? I was probably too naive before.
Though I wish I could have learned this lesson without losing €800 and having multiple panic attacks."
Patient laughs - first time showing humor about situation
"My friend said I should write all this down. Like a guide for people moving here. 'What to expect when you expect to be pickpocketed.'"
Therapist question: "What would you want people to know?"
"That Barcelona is beautiful but it has a serious crime problem.
That getting pickpocketed is incredibly common and it's not your fault when it happens.
That the police won't help you. Like, at all.
That it will probably affect you emotionally more than you expect.
That you can still love the city despite this.
That being vigilant is not paranoia when the threat is real.
And that it's okay to be angry about it. I was really angry for a long time and I thought that meant I was being negative but actually it's just... a normal response to violation."
Dr. Martinez notes: Patient has processed trauma significantly over 8 sessions. Still experiencing some PTSD symptoms but functioning better. Recommend continued therapy but less frequently. Patient resilient and adapting to environment while acknowledging impact of trauma.
Diagnosis: Adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood (improving)
Plan: Monthly check-ins, continue CBT for hypervigilance, medication not indicated at this time
Patient's Own Notes (provided to therapist)
These are disorganized thoughts I've had between sessions
Things I've learned about Barcelona crime:
- Pickpockets work in groups
- They target people on phones, with bags, looking at maps (tourists)
- Metro is prime location especially L3
- La Ramblas is pickpocket central
- La Boqueria market is high risk
- They're professionals, you won't feel it
- Police don't prioritize this at all
- Everyone gets pickpocketed eventually
- It's not personal even though it feels personal
Things I do now that I didn't before:
- Crossbody bag in front always
- No phone on street
- Check pockets every few minutes
- Decoy wallet
- Keep hands on bag in crowds
- Avoid metro during rush hour
- Don't carry anything I can't afford to lose
- Keep copies of documents separate
- Put cards on freeze when not using
- Walk with purpose/confidence (even when faking it)
Things I'm still working on:
- Not having panic attacks in crowds
- Trusting people who are just being friendly
- Not assuming everyone is a thief
- Going out at night alone
- Enjoying Barcelona without constant fear
- Forgiving myself for "letting" it happen
Things I want people to know:
This is real. Barcelona has a serious problem with organized theft. It's not exaggerated. It's not stereotypes. It's reality.
You will probably get robbed if you live here long enough.
It will probably affect you emotionally.
That doesn't make you weak or dramatic. It makes you human.
And you can still love Barcelona despite this. The two things can coexist.
Treatment ongoing. Patient granted permission to share these notes anonymously to help other expats understand the emotional impact of repeated theft.
Last session: November 30, 2024 Next session: December 28, 2024