Women’s Center of Brevard - What is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder?

By Delia Silva, B.A & Sue Kiley, M.S., LMHC

Many of us have had traumatic experiences, such as serious illnesses, deaths of loved ones, or other losses that may affect our lives. At the time of the stressful incident, we may feel very afraid, sad, or angry at the situation. Usually, these negative feelings fade with time, and life gets back to normal.

Sometimes people experience extreme traumatic experiences where the stress they felt at the time may have felt lifethreatening. The horror from such trauma may have been so distressing, that the memory of what happened does not seem to fade away with time. They may experience a heightened state of anxiety, persistent disturbing thoughts related to the trauma, flashbacks, avoidance of certain situations, people, or places; and depression. When these symptoms interfere with a person being able to move on with their lives and function normally at work or in social situations, this condition may be diagnosable as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

When most people think of PTSD, they may think of combat veterans. While it is true that many soldiers have been traumatized by the atrocities they experienced in combat, this is not the only population who may be diagnosed with PTSD. Victims of childhood sexual abuse or rape or victims of other crimes such as domestic violence or robbery may experience the symptoms of PTSD. A person may even experience symptoms of PTSD if they felt that their life was being threatened, without anything physical ever happening to them. The important factor in diagnosing PTSD is that the stress of the traumatic incident was so extreme, that the person may have felt that they were in severe danger and the person is experiencing symptoms related to that event and has been unable to let go of emotions and thoughts associated with that event. Approximately 1-14% of people experience PTSD at some point during their life. It can occur in childhood as well as adulthood.

Luckily, PTSD is not a permanent condition and is very much treatable with help from a mental health professional. If you think you might have PTSD, find a psychologist or mental health counselor who is experienced in treating the condition in order to receive proper diagnosis and treatment. Here are some considerations in finding the right therapist for you:

Ask the therapist about her/his experience in working with clients with PTSD. Find out what model of therapy they use (PTSD is often treated using a “cognitivebehavioral” therapy model, EMDR may also be utilized).

Ensure that the therapist you choose does not minimize your feelings. They should listen to you and give you feedback, as well as respect your opinions. Above all, make sure that you are comfortable with the therapist. Keep in mind that full recovery from the symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder may take some time and feelings of discomfort during treatment may arise at some point during therapy. The right therapist will make themselves available to you throughout your treatment and work with you to overcome your symptoms.

Ongoing Weekly Support Groups

Offered by the Women’s Center in Melbourne 242-3110

Domestic Violence Support Group. Mondays, 10:00am - 11:30am. An open support group for women to provide information and understanding of emotional and/or physical abuse at the hands of someone they love. Free. Therapist: Kellie Garza, M.A., RMHCI. Sexual Assault Recovery Support Group. Tuesdays, 5:30pm – 7:00pm. Support group for adults who are recovering from sexual assault. The group focuses on support, recovery & coping skills. Free. Therapist: Diana Pack, R.N., M.A., RMHCI.

Childhood Sexual Abuse/Incest Survivors Support Group. Wednesdays, 12:00pm - 1:30pm. Support group for adult women who have experienced sexual abuse as children. Focus on emotional reactions, resolution of feelings, the effects on everyday life, and on self-respect as a survivor. Free. Therapist: Kellie Garza, M.A, RMHCI.

Bipolar Disorders Support Group. Thursdays, 6:00pm – 7:30pm. Support for Men and Women. Whether newly diagnosed or dealing with this for a while, this group will give you new insight into this sometimes-confusing diagnosis and tools to help bring balance into your life. Fee: $15/session. Therapists: Angie Ream MA, RMHCI & Tracy Wills, B.A.

Living Well with Chronic Pain or Illness. Fridays, 4:30pm - 5:45pm. Ongoing therapy group sharing understanding, help, and hope with others, and learning you're not alone in your struggles. From the newly diagnosed or disabled to those dealing with illness for a while, this group will give you the tools to build hope into your life again. For men and women. Fee: $5. Limited scholarships available. Therapist: Angie Ream, M.A., RMHCI

Classes,Workshops, Seminars, and Volunteer Training

Offered by the Women’s Center in Melbourne 242-3110

Domestic Violence Class. 2nd Friday of each month. 12:30pm - 1:30pm. Provides education about the dynamics of domestic violence relationships, the cycle of violence, definitions of abuse, warning signs, and safety planning. Certificate provided. Scheduled by request in Spanish. Free. Facilitator: Glorimar Borges. Registration required.

Volunteer Orientation. Tuesday, February 5th or Friday, February 15th. 10:00am – 12:00pm. The volunteer orientation is intended to familiarize interested applicants with the Women's Center and volunteer opportunities available. Free. Contact: April Tabor at 242- 3110, ext. 331.

Résumé Development. Thursday, February 7th & 14th. 10:00am -11:30am. An informal résumé writing workshop where attendees can polish up their current résumé or begin to create a new on. Will also cover résumé Do’s and Don’ts, cover letters and reference lists, and any other questions, concerns, or assistance in writing a résumé. Bring copy of current résumé, if available. Free.

How to Repair Your Credit. Saturday, February 9th. 10:00am – 12:00pm. If you’ve ever wondered what makes up a credit score, how to dispute items on your credit report, or what steps you can take to increase your score, this workshop is the place to find out. The workshop is presented by Mary Ellen Troilo of Riverside Home Loans, Inc., who informally discusses and answers questions on topics we all need to be familiar with in regards to our credit score. Free.

Childbirth Preparation Classes. Wednesdays, February 13th, 20th & 27th, and March 5th &12th. (Series of 5 classes) Classes on all aspects of labor and birth, including nutrition, pain medication, breast feeding, and stress relief. Classes provided by Brevard Chapter of Florida Outreach. For fee and registration, call Terri Myers at 259-5598.

Legal Aspects of Divorce and Separation. Saturday, February 16th, 10:00am – 12:00pm. An attorney explains the legal rights of parties involved in separation or divorce. Includes fault/no fault divorce, spousal and child support, property settlement agreements, custody and visitation, distribution of property and retirement benefits. Fee $10. Facilitator: Jocelyn Lowther, Attorney.

Career Directions. February 19th, 21st & 22nd. 9:00am - 12:00pm. Whether you’re thinking about a new career or want to advance in your current position, the Career Directions three day workshop offers the personal attention and career advice to help you get there. Covered topics include goal setting, interviewing, resume writing, applications and job search skills, among others. Free. Facilitators are Cindy Schroeder and Meg Rayder.

Budgeting Workshop. Saturday, February 23rd. 10:00am – 11:00am. Covers basic budgeting knowledge, how to avoid falling into the maxed-out credit card trap, tips on why budgets fail, how to keep your budget on track, and creating a spending plan. Free. Facilitator: JoAnn Harvan-Chin.

Victim Advocacy Volunteer Training. February 27th, 28th, & 29th, 9:30-12:30 p.m. (3 Sessions) Training to assist victims of domestic violence in filing the petition from the court, and support in the courtroom when attending hearings related to the injunction process. Minimum commitment of 4-hour time slot per week. Two shifts available at the courthouse: 8:00am – 12:00pm or 1:00pm – 5:00pm. Volunteers can work one or both shifts. Free. Facilitator: Glorimar Borges. To register, please call the Women's Center at 242- 3110, Ext 331.