Legal Abuse Sydrome (LAS) -Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), sub category specifically from abusive legal

proceedings generically coined Legal Abuse Syndrome LAS) http://www.angelfire.com/ky2/multicare/lss.html You know you have traumatic stress when: there are no words to describe how you feel... your heart is saying, I CAN'T STAND TO BE HERE, NOW Peace, rest and recuperation are prevented by intrusive thoughts and emotions Legal Abuse Syndrome(LAS) is a psychic injury, not a mental illness. It is a personal injury that develops in individuals assaulted by ethical violations, legal abuses, betrayals, and fraud. Abuse of power and authority and a profound lack of accountability in our courts have become rampant. This adds greatly to the original distress requiring court assistance in the first place. This stress can and does lead to physical illness. AMA statistics show that around 85% of all physical illness is directly attributable to stress. Legal Abuse Syndrome is a public health menace in this country. It leads to massive medical intervention costs, burdens insurance companies, and adds to Medicare and Social Security costs. Most painfully it shuts down the brilliance and creativity of its sufferers. Legal Abuse Syndrome is detrimental to all of society, and nobody is immune. Whatever the court setting, whether it is regarding divorce, child custody, parental support, probate matters, personal injury, property disputes, legal or medical malpractice, criminal charges or other deeply personal issues, the frauds put forth in our courts add greatly to the trauma. When litigants are unable to get fair resolution to their issues, when the court dysfunction further adds to the litigant's burden, when no amount of actual case law compels an equitable outcome, litigants suffer often disabling levels of stress. When further attempts to achieve redress fail, litigants display the hallmark signs of Legal Abuse Syndrome(LAS). ----------Karin Huffer, MS/MFT, author of Overcoming the Devastation of Legal Abuse Syndrome, has achieved over twenty years of research and experience in diagnosing and treating Legal Abuse Syndrome. She has been an ADA Section 504 Consultant worked with schools, businesses, and the judicial system to provide effective accommodations for those who suffer from disabilities. She has put the groundbreaking new out based upon her research that our judicial system can and does cause traumatic stress in those who seek civilized, fair due process of law and redress of grievances. Many times litigation is combined with changes in life that, in and of themselves, can cause stress, depression or worse. Add the expense, injustice and insanity of the legal system and you double the problems.

Compound the above with the fact that many times help for the above is either non-existent, unaffordable, ineffective or, at best, hard to find. Add to that the fact most feel that the wrongs can never be made right and the war will never end And the result is a VERY SERIOUS situation that can break just about anybody. Know this - you will be changed -------------A Hundred Thousand Homeowners is a documentary that will deliver a cacophony of outrage over the way our government has addressed the foreclosure crisis. It will make loud the voices of a hundred thousand homeowners. The finished documentary will be distributed using the power of the Internet, but also on DVD, wrapped in high-impact A Hundred Thousand Homeowners packaging. It will land on the desks of every single elected representative in the House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate. It will be sent to the governors of all 50 states to every single banking industry CEO... to every major media outlet... and of course, to the Oval Office. It will be seen, the voices it represents will be heard, and the story will finally be told. http://homeownerrevolution.com/?page_id=6 Accommodations to those who suffer from LAS Devising Reasonable A.D.A. Accommodation Strategies http://www.fwlaw.com/Resources/Articles/EmploymentArticles/DevisingReasonableADAAccommodati onStrategie.aspx The Americans with Disabilities Act Titles II & III of 1990 http://www.ada.gov/t2hlt95.htm http://www.ada.gov/t3hilght.htm ADAAA of 2008 - http://www.dol.gov/ofccp/regs/compliance/faqs/ADAfaqs.htm International Treaty for the Disabled of 2009 - http://www.ada.gov/un_statement.htm

Case study/ witness reports; people are/have been fighting banks over foreclosure: Most cases are not reportedly a result from foreclosure litigation, very limited sources in this specific area. http://www.judicialaccountability.org/articles/lansoncase.htm (cause of extended litigations nonforeclosure) http://www.tulanelink.com/stories/jamesstory_box.htm http://www.tulanelink.com/tulanelink/legalabuse2_box.htm http://www.msfraud.org/articles/a-case-against-litton.pdf

Video Results: http://wn.com/LEGAL_ABUSE_SYNDROME The Justice Network http://yousue.org/mortgage-foreclosure/

Phd or Masters thesis Surprisingly NONE

Encouragement to overcome LAS eBook gives you more insight about the syndrome, about related syndromes, about what is involved, resources that you can use and how to go about making a determination to see if you can be qualified as having the syndrome. http://www.alimonycentral.org/books/legal-abuse-syndrome.htm OCCs Independent Foreclosure Review for Homeowners http://mandelman.mlimplode.com/2011/11/occ%E2%80%99s-independent-foreclosure-review-for-homeowners-is-ready%E2%80%93-but-so-are-the-scammers/ PTSD treatment is compensable under most health insurance. To learn more about PTSD see http://traumacenter.org The difference between mental breakdown and stress breakdown http://www.bullyonline.org/stress/ptsd.htm#Breakdown When you finally climb out of the wreckage, you will be much wiser and stronger in many ways. You will be well equipped to help others in the same situation. Some of the valuable advice I received during this 10+ year crisis is: Choose your battles carefully. Get treatment...FAST. Don't be afraid to take medications whether for the body or the mind. Don't be afraid to acknowledge your problems may have started with, or evolved into, what is classified today as a mental problem or problems. Stop expecting people to be as outraged as you are. Try to find meaning, purpose or projects that don't involve the fight. Find SOME way to relax and enjoy yourself. Consider spiritual based assistance, solutions or activities. Ask for help! You probably need something you don't think or know you need. Remember - ALL WARS END! Your friends and family have left, not because they are necessarily bad, but because you have become too much of a weight for them to carry. For God's sake, do some exercise to help you unwind!

- Part of my recovery was accepting I would not see the justice I expected and deserved according to our Constitution. - Part of my recovery was realizing that this country has, in many ways, written off our Constitution and rights of redress. - Part of my recovery was accepting that corrupt, lying, thieving, completely callous people remain in positions of power without correction. - Part of my recovery was realizing that my wrongdoers would absolutely dread having to litigate anything with me again because I gave them a serious run for their money. - Part of my recovery was realizing I cost my wrongdoers a LOT of money - much more than they thought they would ever spend given the fight I gave them. - Part of my recovery is knowing that hundreds of people a day are using this site for various reasons and are helped or informed by it. - Part of my recovery was deciding I was going to find a way to live and achieve some degree of enjoyment out of life despite my knowledge of the unbelievable corruption of the American system that I have knowledge of. - Part of my recovery was accepting I can be legally right and be rejected by a corrupt system. We are no longer a country of laws, we are a country where laws are "creatively interpreted". - Part of my recovery was realizing that ALL OF US tend towards abuse of power when we get it. The one most likely to abuse power is the one who thinks they are above doing so. It takes a short time to learn to exercise power, but a lifetime to learn how to avoid abusing it. That is true for YOU, ME and ALL current abusers of power. If you don't fully comprehend that you will go from being abused to being an abuser. - A large part of my recovery was, and sometimes still is, bleeding. Bleeding mentally and emotionally and recovering physically...and I might add slowly. Some call it bleeding, others venting, processing, dealing with things or coming to terms with things. Whatever you call it, it will take time. A word of advice for those affected and infected by legal abuses: During the usually lengthy litigation process we tend to meet and perhaps befriend a lot of angry people on some level. Many turn into conspiracy buffs or people that are ANTI this and that thinking they have the system, conspiracies or 'the plan' all figured out. For many this becomes feeding on their anger in a negative way instead of recovering from it. Consider other friends. Treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) -Treatment for PTSD relieves symptoms by helping you deal with the trauma youve experienced. Rather than avoiding the trauma and any reminder of it, treatment will encourage you to recall and process the emotions and sensations you felt during the original event. In addition to offering an outlet for emotions youve been bottling up,

treatment for PTSD will also help restore your sense of control and reduce the powerful hold the memory of the trauma has on your life. In treatment for PTSD, youll:

Explore your thoughts and feelings about the trauma Work through feelings of guilt, self-blame, and mistrust Learn how to cope with and control intrusive memories Address problems PTSD has caused in your life and relationships

Types of treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Trauma-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy. Cognitive-behavioral therapy for PTSD and trauma involves carefully and gradually exposing yourself to thoughts, feelings, and situations that remind you of the trauma. Therapy also involves identifying upsetting thoughts about the traumatic eventparticularly thoughts that are distorted and irrationaland replacing them with more balanced picture. Family therapy. Since PTSD affects both you and those close to you, family therapy can be especially productive. Family therapy can help your loved ones understand what youre going through. It can also help everyone in the family communicate better and work through relationship problems caused by PTSD symptoms. Medication is sometimes prescribed to people with PTSD to relieve secondary symptoms of depression or anxiety. Antidepressants such as Prozac and Zoloft are the medications most commonly used for PTSD. While antidepressants may help you feel less sad, worried, or on edge, they do not treat the causes of PTSD. EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) incorporates elements of cognitivebehavioral therapy with eye movements or other forms of rhythmic, left-right stimulation, such as hand taps or sounds. Eye movements and other bilateral forms of stimulation are thought to work by unfreezing the brains information processing system, which is interrupted in times of extreme stress.

Self-help treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) Recovery from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a gradual, ongoing processing. Healing doesnt happen overnight, nor do the memories of the trauma ever disappear completely. This can make life seem difficult at times. But there are many things you can do to cope with residual symptoms and reduce your anxiety and fear. Reach out to others for support Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can make you feel disconnected from others. You may be tempted to withdraw from social activities and your loved ones. But its important to stay connected to life and the people who care about you. Support from other people is vital to your recovery from PTSD, so ask your close friends and family members for their help during this tough time. Avoid alcohol and drugs

When youre struggling with difficult emotions and traumatic memories, you may be tempted to selfmedicate with alcohol or drugs. But while alcohol or drugs may temporarily make you feel better, they make post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) worse in the long run. Substance use worsens many symptoms of PTSD, including emotional numbing, social isolation, anger, and depression. It also interferes with treatment and can add to problems at home and in your relationships. Challenge your sense of helplessness Overcoming your sense of helplessness is key to overcoming post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Trauma leaves you feeling powerless and vulnerable. Its important to remind yourself that you have strengths and coping skills that can get you through tough times. One of the best ways to reclaim your sense of power is by helping others: volunteer your time, give blood, reach out to a friend in need, or donate to your favorite charity. Taking positive action directly challenges the sense of helplessness that is a common symptom of PTSD. Bankruptcy, Legal Abuse Syndrome, And The Way Out http://www.arizonadebtrelief.com/bankruptcy-legal-abuse-syndrome/#ixzz1f6koqmDI

Online support groups/ In person groups in Southern California, etc. There is, once again, very limited resources for specifically LAS http://www.peacejourney.net/2011/07/legal-abuse-syndrome.html http://ptsd.supportgroups.com/ http://www.mentalhelp.net/selfhelp/

Who is qualified to make a diagnosis of LAS by way of Mental Health Professionals. The six criteria for a PTSD diagnosis are: Criterion 1 A person must have experienced a traumatic event where both of the following occurred:

The person experienced, witnessed, or was confronted with an event where there was the threat of or actual death or serious injury. The event may also have involved a threat to the person's physical well-being or the physical well-being of another person. The person responded to the event with strong feelings of fear, helplessness, or horror.

Criterion 2 The person experiences at least one of the following re-experiencing symptoms of PTSD:

Frequently having upsetting thoughts or memories about a traumatic event. Having recurrent nightmares. Acting or feeling as though the traumatic event were happening again, sometimes called a "flashback." Having very strong feelings of distress when reminded of the traumatic event. Being physically responsive, such as experiencing a surge in your heart rate or sweating, to reminders of the traumatic event.

Criterion 3 The person experiences at least three of the following avoidance symptoms of PTSD:

Making an effort to avoid thoughts, feelings, or conversations about the traumatic event. Making an effort to avoid places or people that remind you of the traumatic event. Having a difficult time remembering important parts of the traumatic event. A loss of interest in important, once positive, activities. Feeling distant from others. Experiencing difficulties having positive feelings, such as happiness or love. Feeling as though your life may be cut short.

Criterion 4 The person experiences at least two of the following hyperarousal symptoms of PTSD:

Having a difficult time falling or staying asleep. Feeling more irritable or having outbursts of anger. Having difficulty concentrating. Feeling constantly "on guard" or like danger is lurking around every corner. Being "jumpy" or easily startled.

Criterion 5 The symptoms described above must have lasted for more than a month. If the symptoms have lasted for less than a month, you may have another anxiety disorder called Acute Stress Disorder. Criterion 6 The symptoms described above have a great negative impact on your life, interfering with work or relationships. Making the Diagnosis

If you think you may have PTSD, it is important that you meet with a mental health professional trained in assessing and treating PTSD. Types of PTSD Treatment Providers To determine whether or not you have PTSD, the clinician will interview you. The clinician will ask about all of the above symptoms, and he will determine whether or not they are being experienced strongly enough to be considered a problem. Being Diagnosed with PTSD: What to Expect In addition to PTSD, your treatment provider may also ask you about other psychological conditions often found to co-occur with PTSD, including major depression, substance use disorders, eating disorders, or anxiety disorders. PTSD can be a difficult illness to cope with. Yet, there is hope. We are learning more and more about PTSD everyday, and a number of treatment options are available. You can learn more about treatments for PTSD through the following articles: Cognitive-Behavioral Treatments for PTSD Cognitive-Behavioral Treatments (or CBT) for PTSD focus on changing the way in which people evaluate and respond to situations, thoughts, and feelings, as well as unhealthy behaviors that stem from thoughts and feelings. Exposure Therapy for PTSD Exposure therapy is a behavioral treatment for PTSD that aims to reduce a person's fear, anxiety, and avoidance behavior by having a person fully confront (or be exposed to) thoughts, feelings, or situations that are feared. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Acceptance and Commitment Therapy is a behavioral treatment that is based in the idea that our suffering comes not from the experience of emotional pain, but from our attempted avoidance of that pain. Its overarching goal is to help people be open to and willing to have their inner experiences while focusing attention not on trying to escape or avoid pain (because this is impossible to do) but instead, on living a meaningful life. Treatments for the Co-Occurrence of PTSD and Substance Abuse PTSD and substance abuse frequently co-occur, and therefore, several treatments have been developed that specifically target this cooccurrence. Seeking Safety is one such treatment. Psychodynamic Psychotherapy for PTSD Psychodynamic psychotherapy focuses on numerous factors that may influence or cause a person's symptoms, such as early childhood experiences, current relationships and the things people do to protect themselves from upsetting thoughts and feelings. Unlike CBT, psychodynamic psychotherapy emphasizes the role of the unconscious mind in our behaviors. You can find PTSD treatment providers in your area through UCompare HealthCare from About.com, as well as the Anxiety Disorder Association of America.
Source: American Psychiatric Association (1994). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders

Suggested Reading:

Traumatic Events Connected to PTSD

Acute Stress Disorder and PTSD - Relationship between Acute Stress Disorder...

Additional Citations:
http://www.bluenc.com/legal-abuse-syndrome%E2%80%9D-las-or-post-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd http://caught.net/legalabusesyndrome.htm http://www.helpguide.org/mental/post_traumatic_stress_disorder_symptoms_treatment.htm http://yousue.org/disability-ada-legal-abuse-syndrome/