ST. LOUIS, Missouri, May 20, 2013 ─ Many believe that post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) exclusively affects war veterans. However, Licensed Master Social Worker Margaret Howard dispels this myth. In an interview earlier this month, Margaret explained how PTSD can affect survivors of human trafficking and sexual crimes. Since many are not familiar with the signs and symptoms of this disorder, Howard has agreed to continue the conversation with questions from survivors.

Can I have PTSD and not know it?  In other words, must a person be debilitated with terrifying flashbacks in order to be diagnosed with PTSD?

Yes, it is very possible to have PTSD and not know it. Flashbacks are only one possible feature of PTSD, and many people with PTSD do not have them. Usually when we think of flashbacks we think of something visual or auditory, like someone seeing or hearing sights and sounds that are of the original traumatizing event or events. However, traumatic re-experiencing probably more often looks or feels like one of these two things: hyperarousal or hypoarousal. Hyperarousal is an out-of-proportion emotional response to either something that is currently happening or an environmental cue associated with something that happened in the past. Hypoarousal is an emotional response that looks more like a person getting really quiet, spacing out, getting really tired or sleepy, or “going away,” which is dissociation.

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CORAL SPRINGS, FL, May 13, 2013 – Building working relationships with other advocates and organizations is important in any field of advocacy, including anti-human trafficking.  Listening to and learning from others increases personal growth and perspective.  Over the next few weeks, several advocates and organizations will share their ideas, efforts, and achievements.  Readers are encouraged to reach out to interviewees in order to learn more about their philosophies, goals, and strategies.

This week’s featured survivor advocate is Katariina ‘Kat’ Rosenblatt, President & Founder of There Is H.O.P.E. For Me, Inc.

Kat, what would you say is your personal mission statement?

To help set the captives free from slavery. – Isaiah 61:1

How did you get involved with anti-human trafficking advocacy/speaking?

Overcoming experiences…myself [while] growing up here in South Florida: Once in a hotel on Miami Beach, once in my middle school in Miami, [once in] my apartment bldg.. and finally a false modeling scam. After getting out of an abusive marriage, I started sharing my testimony to girls within juvenile detention centers and public schools: the response was immediate! [Other survivors of abuse and sex trafficking] just started coming forward!

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PHILADELPHIA, PA, May 7, 2013 – Building working relationships with other advocates and organizations is important in any field of advocacy, including anti-human trafficking.  Listening to and learning from others increases personal growth and perspective.  Over the next few weeks, several advocates and organizations will share their ideas, efforts, and achievements.  Readers are encouraged to reach out to interviewees in order to learn more about their philosophies, goals, and strategies.

This week’s featured Crime Victim Advocate is personal friend and professional ally, Greg Bucceroni. Greg is a powerful advocate for boys and girls at risk for abuse and exploitation. His voice is vital in the fight against child sex trafficking and other forms of commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC).

Greg, what would you say is your personal mission statement?

Advocating for victims of crime and at-risk youth.

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ST. LOUIS, Missouri, May 1, 2013 ─ Many believe that PTSD is a disorder that exclusively affects war veterans; however, professionals like Licensed Master Social Worker, Margaret Howard, have learned that many survivors of human trafficking have undiagnosed PTSD symptoms.  Since many survivors aren’t familiar with the signs and symptoms of this disorder, Margaret Howard, who is also a blogger for the Huffington Post, has agreed to help dispel some of the dynamics associated with PTSD.

Margaret, what is PTSD? 

PTSD, or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, is actually an injury to the nervous system. Some – but not all ─ advocates, researchers, and clinicians think PTSD should be classified as an injury, rather than a disorder, and renamed Post Traumatic Stress Injury, or PTSI. Traumatic injury to the nervous system occurs when a person’s natural “fight or flight” response is blocked or squelched by outside forces, such as being pinned down in a car accident or by an assailant in rape, kidnapping, or other violence. “Fight or flight” is a natural, protective response of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems.  These involuntary components operate outside of conscious control and take over when one is caught in overwhelming circumstances. But here’s the thing: If that protective response of “fight or flight” is blocked, then the human organism will go to the next level of emergency response in order to survive. That level can involve freezing, dissociation, or collapse. Of course, going to the next level is good because survival is good. But that level of response comes with a price, and the price can be traumatic injury. That traumatic injury is what we call PTSD.

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PEORIA, AZ, April 21, 2013 – Building working relationships with other advocates and organizations is important in any field of advocacy, including anti-human trafficking and anti-commercial sexual exploitation.  Listening to and learning from others increases personal growth and perspective.  Over the next few weeks, several advocates and organizations will share their ideas, efforts, and achievements.  Readers are encouraged to reach out to interviewees in order to learn more about their philosophies, goals, and strategies.

This weekend’s interview is with Dina Pratt and Rose Krison of the company, Let Freedom.

Dina, how did your company, Let Freedom, get started?

It was Rose who first learned about human trafficking and the sexual exploitation of our young girls through our church.  She also learned there was a lack of awareness in our state.  She wanted to help, and so she came up with the concept of designing and making jewelry she could sell.  This could both raise awareness and generate revenue to help the cause.

I have been in the jewelry business for over 30 years. Although I left the retail end of it many years ago, I still design custom jewelry for a large clientele following.  I also own an Interior Design business…so, yes, I love designing.  Rose approached me and told me what she wanted to do to help. I agreed and we have spent many months designing the jewelry line and our website, and trying to market to bring awareness to both.

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ATLANTA, GA, April 17, 2013 – Building working relationships with other advocates and organizations is important in any field of advocacy, including anti-human trafficking.  Listening to and learning from others increases personal growth and perspective. Over the next few weeks, several advocates and organizations will share their ideas, efforts, and achievements. Readers are encouraged to reach out to them in order to learn more about their philosophies, goals, and strategies.

This week’s featured organization is Frederick Douglass Family Initiatives (formerly Frederick Douglass Family Foundation):

What is your organization’s mission statement?

To stop human trafficking in our communities by educating students and empowering them to take action.

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RICHMOND, VA, April 13, 2013 – Building working relationships with other advocates and organizations is important in any field of advocacy, including anti-human trafficking.  Listening to and learning from others increases personal growth and perspective.

Over the next few weeks, several advocates and organizations will share their ideas, efforts, and achievements.  Readers are encouraged to reach out to interviewees in order to learn more about their philosophies, goals, and strategies.

How did you get involved with anti-human trafficking advocacy/speaking?

When I was 21-years-old I began speaking out to save my life and to help others who were being hurt in prostitution and pornography. The first time I spoke publicly was in the 90s at a ‘Take Back the Night’ rally in Madison, Wisconsin. I had just begun to deal with being used in prostitution and pornography as a girl and teenager.

I was very poor. I had no one to turn to, and I was afraid that some of the family members who had used me would do something to me. My experiences were that the audience, mostly women and mostly feminist, did not want to deal with the issue.

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RICHMOND, VA, April 8, 2013 – Building relationships with survivors, advocates, and other professionals across the country has greatly impacted my life.  Not only have many of these individuals and organizations supported me in my personal growth, but they have also educated me in my advocacy.  Even though I am a survivor of child sex trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation (CSEC), I do not claim to know everything about these issues.  Even as I write an academic book on these topics, I continue to learn different perspectives and ideas from others.

Over the next few weeks, several advocates and organizations will share with us their efforts and achievements.  I encourage readers to reach out to these interviewees in order to learn more about their philosophies, goals, and strategies.

This weekend I was excited to interview Ruth Jacobs, Author and Charity & Human Rights Campaigner.

What would you say is your personal mission statement?

To show the reality of prostitution and sex trafficking. Originally, I had only set out to be a writer. Through my fiction work, I wanted to show how prostitution at the level of being a call girl, which is far too often glamorized in the media, is still a dangerous and traumatic way to earn money.

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SAN BERNADINO COUNTY, Calif., April 2, 2013 ― Building relationships with survivors, advocates, and other professionals across the country has greatly impacted my life.  Not only have many of these individuals and organizations supported me in my personal growth, but they have also educated me in my advocacy.  Even though I am a survivor of child sex trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation (CSEC), I do not claim to know everything about these issues.  Even as I write an academic book on these topics, I continue to learn different perspectives and ideas from others.

Over the next few weeks, several advocates and organizations will share with us their efforts and achievements.  I encourage readers to reach out to these interviewees in order to learn more about their philosophies, goals, and strategies.

This week I’m excited to interview Anne-Michelle Ellis, Coordinator of the County of San Bernardino’s Coalition Against Sexual Exploitation (CASE).

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WASHINGTON, DC, March 28, 2013 – My path crossed with Candace Wheeler, Executive Director for Restoration Ministries, at a Shared Hope International (SHI) event in San Antonio, Texas,  in 2011. I happened to meet Candace over pastries one morning.  This gave me a chance to learn more about her ministry, including her work with juveniles in detention centers and psychiatric hospitals

As a survivor of child sex trafficking, I was both honored and overwhelmed by the experience and hope to meet with Candace in Washington, DC to join her in outreach with juveniles in detention centers and psychiatric hospitals.

I sat down with Candance to learn more about Restoration Ministries:

Restoration Ministries seeks to bring healing to men, women, and children who have been caught in the trap of sex trafficking and lead them into the freedom of Jesus Christ

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