Anxiety Disorders Association Holds PTSD and Anxiety Disorders Public Forums To Help Florida Families Cope with Recent Events

Silver Spring, MD, For immediate release -Recognizing the growing need for mental health support due to recent natural disasters in the area, the Anxiety Disorders Association of America (ADAA) will hold public forums discussing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other anxiety disorders. The forums, part of the ADAA 26th Annual Conference that runs from March 23-26, 2006, will be held on Wednesday, March 22 and Saturday, March 25 at the Hyatt Regency in Miami, FL.

"Only 1/3 of the over 19 million people with an anxiety disorder get the treatment they need,"said Jerilyn Ross, MA, LICSW, president and CEO of ADAA. "ADAA developed these public forums to help people who have an anxiety disorder and let them understand that they don't need to feel alone. ADAA wants to provide both them and their loved ones with the tools they need to triumph over their anxiety disorder."

The ADAA Conference attracts about 700 psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, counselors and others in the mental health profession from around the nation as well as internationally.

On Wednesday, March 22, beginning at 5:30pm, ADAA will present a free public forum, entitled, "Surviving Trauma: Hope and Help for Individuals and their Families.". In addition to those who have suffered from a trauma - war, natural disaster, abuse, families, friends and caregivers of trauma victims are encouraged to attend this forum to learn about the diagnosis and treatment of persistent anxiety, acute stress and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

"For those still feeling the traumatic effects from the recent devastating natural disasters and from military duty abroad this session will be a tremendous help," said Jerilyn Ross, MA, LICSW, president and CEO of ADAA. "It will provide hope, insight into the latest treatments and free materials from national and local mental health organizations.

The forum will be led by Ms. Ross and include other professionals. In addition to her role with ADAA, Ms. Ross also serves as the director of The Ross Center for Anxiety & Related Disorders, located in Washington, DC and is the author of Triumph Over Fear: A Book of Help and Hope for People with Anxiety, Panic Attacks and Phobia. She has appeared on several media programs including, Oprah, The Today Show and CNN and once hosted an award-winning talk radio who in Washington, DC. She has received numerous honors and awards including the American Psychiatric Association's 2004 Patient Advocacy Award.

A second full-day public education program entitled, "Help and Hope for People with Anxiety Disorders," will take place on Saturday, March 25 beginning at 9:15am. This program is also open to individuals with anxiety disorders, their family and friends and will focus on the causes of anxiety disorders, provide effective coping strategies and discuss treatment methods such as medication, cognitive-behavioral therapy and others. In addition, a panel of recovered and recovering patients will share their stories and respond to audience questions. Attendees can participate in small, discussion groups as well. Speakers include Ms. Ross, C. Alec Pollard, PhD, St. Louis Behavioral Medicine Institute and Justine Kent, MD, Columbia University. The fee for this program is $50. Additional conference programs are also available to individuals with anxiety disorders and their family members and friends.

For more information on these programs or how to register, visit the ADAA website, www.adaa.org or call (240) 485-1032.

About ADAA
The Anxiety Disorders Association of America (ADAA) is the leading national, non-profit organization dedicated to the early diagnosis, treatment and cure of anxiety disorders. ADAA offers free educational information and resources on anxiety disorders, local treatment providers, self-help groups, self-tests, clinical trials and more. Each year, the ADAA Annual Conference brings together over 700 leading clinicians and researchers from around the world to discuss the causes, diagnosis, innovative treatments and management of anxiety disorders and related illnesses. ADAA is the unified voice for anxiety disorders, promoting the message that anxiety disorders are real, serious and treatable.