9/11 Hits Hard At Chronically Ill
August 26, 2002

Contact: Pauline Bartel
(518) 237-1353

As the one-year anniversary of 9/11 approaches, reverberations of shock and loss will haunt Americans, according to Patricia Fennell, LCSW, a nationally recognized Chronic Illness expert. Fennell warns that this will set the stage for triggering chronic illnesses and exacerbating symptoms in those already battling Multiple Sclerosis, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia.
"9/11 was a watershed event that will impact people physically, psychologically, and socially for the rest of their lives, not just on the one-year anniversary," Fennell says. "But with help, individuals can integrate the 9/11 experience, assemble the shattered pieces of their lives, and be stronger in the places that were broken."

She offers help in a comprehensive "Four-Phase" treatment plan that is an original, research-based approach developed from Fennell's extensive experience working with patients with chronic disease and syndromes. Chronic illness is a life-altering challenge currently faced by more than 50% of the United States population, according to the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Fennell is a clinician specializing in chronic illness, trauma, and bereavement counseling. She is the author of The Chronic Illness Workbook: Strategies and Solutions for Taking Back Your Life (Albany Health Publishing). Fennell is the President and CEO of Albany Health Management, an organization engaged in counseling, health-related research, professional training, community education, and chronic illness retreats.