Thursday, March 26, 2009

Traumatic Experiences Support Group

People react on all types of traumatic experiences in similar ways: they are overcome with feelings of fear, helplessness, or horror. Some common traumatic experiences include being physically attacked, being in a serious accident, being in combat, being sexually assaulted, and being in a fire or a disaster like a hurricane or a tornado. After traumatic experiences, people may have problems that they didn't have before the event. If these problems are severe and the survivor does not get help for them, they can begin to cause problems in the survivor's family.

Because most trauma survivors are not familiar with how trauma affects people, they often have trouble understanding what is happening to them. They may think the trauma is their fault, that they are going crazy, or that there is something wrong with them because other people who experienced the trauma don't appear to have the same problems. Survivors may turn to drugs or alcohol to make themselves feel better. They may turn away from friends and family who don't seem to understand. They may not know what to do to get better.

Our Traumatic Experiences Support Group is a group for people with all types of traumatic experiences, such as: domestic violence, emotional, physical, sexual abuse, all types of harassment at work place, being in combat, fire, disaster, serious accident etc.

Although individuals with PTSD may feel overwhelmed by their symptoms, it is important for them to remember that there are other, positive aspects of their lives. Survivors can restore their strengths, interests, commitments, relationships with others, past experiences that were not traumatic, desires, and hopes for the future.

This is a voluntary group with stable membership that provides a safe place to receive support and advocacy. It is cohesive, and self –reflective. Group is an integral part of our developmental experiences, from our early family unit, to the classroom; to the people we surround ourselves with at work, at play, and at home. Many survivors have experienced interpersonal alienation, isolation, anonymity, and social fragmentation.

The group is confidential and interactive. Members meet weekly in practitioner’s office.

Lucille Green, MSN, RPN is a facilitator of the Traumatic Experiences Support Group.

Please contact the Center of Revitalizing Psychiatry - (201) 488-5161 to make an appointment for the Traumatic Experiences Support Group or for further information.

You are not alone…