Welcome to The American Academy of Experts in Traumatic
Stress Trauma Response®
E-News. The Academy recognized
a need to share practical and timely information with survivors of traumatic events and those who care for them.
It is in this spirit that the Academy is providing this e-newsletter as a public service. |
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The Holiday Season
an Opportunity to Survive and
Thrive!
The holiday season is
finally here
a joyous time of year! The holidays present an opportunity to come together with friends and family
to share experiences of the past and dreams for the future.
For those who have experienced a traumatic event, this time of year may hardly feel joyous. Traumatic stress will
cast a dark shadow over the colors of the season. Although many survivors will benefit from the opportunity to
connect with others, far too many people will feel so alone.
Whatever happens to us during peak emotional experiences in our lives, the gifts of life and the losses of life,
becomes etched in our minds forever. During this holiday season, the season of emotion, we must help victims of
traumatic events to regain a sense of control that their traumatic experience seems to have taken away. We must
help victims to seize the energy from their stirred emotions. We must help victims to see that their decisions
and actions during this season can empower them to survive and thrive.
So many survivors of traumatic events cultivate a mission and purpose. They harness the energy from their traumatic
experience. It is in this spirit that that Academy's administration brings you Trauma Response E-News. Our mission is to increase awareness of traumatic stress throughout the world. Our purpose
to make a difference!
Wishing you the very best this holiday season.
Dr. Mark Lerner
President, AAETS
www.crisisinfo.org/DrMarkLerner
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Holiday Stress
A survey conducted by the American Psychological
Association found that 61 percent of Americans identify the lack of money as the primary cause of holiday stress
followed by the pressures of gift giving, lack of time and credit card debt. 20 percent of those surveyed worry
that holiday stress could affect their physical health.
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A Family Emergency Plan
The US Dept. of Homeland Security is unveiling
a new Ready ad campaign to encourage people to develop a family emergency plan in case of a terrorist attack or
other emergency. Homeland Security Tom Ridge stated, "The Ready campaign is another way in which we are galvanizing
public preparedness efforts along with our partners in cities and community organizations across the country."
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Trauma Response® E-News
Quote
"Turn your wounds into wisdom."
-Oprah Winfrey
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Stress Increases Risk of Asthma Attacks in Children
Researchers have found that
children with asthma are four times more likely to suffer an asthma attack within 48 hours of facing any stressful,
negative event. The most upsetting events were moving, births, deaths, separations, and changes in family relationships.
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Violence Against Women
In a statement marking the International
Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan, stated, "Violence
against women is global in reach and takes place in all societies and cultures. It affects women no matter what
their race, ethnicity, social origin, birth or other status may be." The systemic use of rape as a weapon
of war is a violation of human rights and demands urgent attention.
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Stress Leads to Mental Health Problems in Children
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), one in five children and adolescents suffer mental health problems.
Furthermore, neuropsychiatric disorders in children will grow by 50 percent compared with other health-related
problems by the year 2020. Many experts believe that this is related to increased stress and better diagnosis of
existing problems. |
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Traumatic Stress Impacts Clergy
Stress can lead to burnout and even suicide
in clergy who are overwhelmed with the work and the pressures of ministering. Peer involvement is crucial to help
pastors work through problems and to help lighten their stress. Pastors should also avoid getting involved personally
in the problems of their congregates.
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What are Kids Worried About?
The results of an Australian study of over
8,000 18 to 24 year olds found that drugs, alcohol, bullying and stress topped the list. One third of the respondents
ranked suicide and self harm as major concerns. Only 13.7 per cent of those surveyed said they would seek the help
of a school counselor. Mission Australia spokeswoman Anne Hampshire said the results of the National Youth Survey
showed that, "When facing issues of concern, most young people go to their friends first and their parents
or family second."
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Link Between Aging and Chronic Stress
In a study of the long-term
effects of chronic stress on the body, scientists have discovered a direct link between stress and aging. Researchers
found that the parts of chromosomes responsible for aging (telomeres) are affected by psychological stress that
speeds the body's deterioration. Researchers cautioned that these findings must be confirmed by further research.
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Long-Term Hurricane Recovery
FEMA has 1,300 workers stationed
in their Disaster Field Office (DFO) to help hurricane survivors begin the long-term recovery process along with
an additional 4,500 employees in the field. As of mid November, 1.1 million people in Florida had registered for
FEMA aid. Approximately 25 percent of the adversely affected residents of the hurricanes are 65 years or older.
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Trauma Response® E-News
Quote
"In times of great stress or adversity,
it's always best to keep busy, to plow your anger and your energy into something positive. "
-Lee Iacocca
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Do You Know Someone Who is Living Through a Traumatic Experience?
A New Audio Book Presentation On One
Compact Disc
Traumatic events are a part of life. In
the same way that we rush to address our physical needs, we must also address our emotional needs. Surviving and Thriving, Living Through a Traumatic Experience was developed to ease the pain, keep people functioning and lessen
the likelihood of long-term emotional suffering. Most importantly, it will help people to see the opportunities
that a crisis can bring. http://www.crisisinfo.org/DrMarkLerner
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Trauma Response® E-News
Quote
"Adversity is a powerful force...
a force that can disable us, or propel us to achieve beyond our dreams."
-Dr. Mark Lerner
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UN Disaster Response Team Based in Africa
The UN Disaster Assessment and Coordination team (UNDAC) is the UN's first African team that will be able to respond
to disasters and humanitarian emergencies in Africa and around the world. The team will be able to respond faster
to emergencies in Africa and strengthen both national and regional disaster response capacity. |
Stress and Miscarriages
It is being reported in the British New Scientist that a German study has found that stress is important factor
in miscarriages. Scientists monitored the stress and hormone levels of 864 pregnant women. The 55 women in the
study who miscarried were more likely to have reported stress and had lower levels of progesterone and PIBF (progesterone
inducing blocking factor) that are needed for the woman's immune system not to attack the fetus. |
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School Crisis Response: The Need for Structure and Process
Our schools must embrace a structure and
process for responding effectively to school-based tragedies. Our nation's schools are taking steps to provide
this structure through the development of school Crisis Response Teams. Unfortunately, little attention is being
given to addressing the process of helping members of the school family to deal with the emotional fall-out that
they experience during times of crisis. For example, once students are directed to a lounge or quiet area in a
school for intervention, who is truly prepared to address the raw emotion of a group of children who just learned
of the deaths of their friends in an automobile accident?
School crisis response can no longer be delegated solely to members of a school Crisis Response Team. Today, crisis
management is the responsibility of all educators. A Practical Guide for Crisis Response in Our Schools provides
a structure and process for effectively managing the wide spectrum of school-based crises. It is an invaluable
resource in preparation for, and during, actual crisis situations and continues to serve as a meaningful standard
for our nation's schools. For further information, visit http://crisisinfo.org/schoolcrisisresponse.
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Trauma Response® E-News Quote
"When written in Chinese, the word
"crisis" is composed of two characters. One represents danger and the other represents opportunity."
-President John F. Kennedy
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Membership with the Academy
The American Academy of Experts in Traumatic
Stress is a multidisciplinary network of professionals committed to the advancement of intervention for survivors
of trauma. The Academys international membership includes individuals from over 200 professions in the health-related
fields, emergency services, criminal justice, forensics, law, business and education. With Members in every
state of the United States and over 55 foreign countries, the Academy is now the largest organization of its kind
in the world. For information about Membership, the International Registry, the Academys Board Certification
Programs in Traumatic Stress Specialties, Certification in Acute Traumatic Stress Management (ATSM), the Diplomate
Credential, Fellowship and other benefits of Membership visit the Academy online at http://www.crisisinfo.org/AAETS.
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Trauma Response® E-News Update
Trauma Response® E-News, the Academys
online newsletter, is now sent to over 3.25 million people every month! If you wish to contribute practical
information for survivors of traumatic events
and those who care for them, please e-mail
news, limited to five sentences, to the Academy. News and questions should be e-mailed to the Academys administrative
offices at enews@crisisinfo.org. Please enter E-news in the subject field.
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Trauma Response® E-News is published by
The American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress®
Trauma Response® E-News is Edited by Mark D. Lerner, Ph.D.
The Academy wishes to thank Eileen Rodowicz
for her efforts in the development of E-News.
© 2004 The American Academy of Experts
in Traumatic Stress, Inc.
368 Veterans Memorial Highway
Commack, NY 11725
http://www.crisisinfo.org/AAETS
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American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress · 368 Veterans Memorial Highway · Commack, NY 11725 |
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