PTSD survivors praise Zoom group therapy for helping them through Covid lockdown

Survivors of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) who must shield during the pandemic say a new online counselling course has made a huge difference in helping them cope.
Andrea Brown was surprised at how secure she has felt within the group.Andrea Brown was surprised at how secure she has felt within the group.
Andrea Brown was surprised at how secure she has felt within the group.

The programme was developed by the South East Fermanagh Foundation (SEFF) after it realised that many people battling PTSD were struggling during lockdown, as they could no longer enjoy their grandchildren, hobbies and friends.

Serena Hamilton from Cookstown is one of those who have benefited. She was only seven in 1977 when she was told that her father, a part-time UDR soldier, had been murdered.

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Looking back she realised she grew up being hypervigilant. And when she got married and had her second child she suffered heart failure.

Serena Hamilton is a PTSD survivor who was struggling to cope while shielding during the pandemic.Serena Hamilton is a PTSD survivor who was struggling to cope while shielding during the pandemic.
Serena Hamilton is a PTSD survivor who was struggling to cope while shielding during the pandemic.

“Then I realised I had been struggling throughout my life dealing with daddy’s murder,” she said.

Having to shield during the pandemic due to her heart condition has been “a nightmare” as she misses face-to-face contact with others. But the Zoom sessions have been “unreal”.

“It has been ‘my time’ and made me feel important and normal and given me thoughts and guidance to help my anxiety. Every Monday I so look forward to the Zoom call.”

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She has been taught breathing, relaxation and visualisation techniques and art therapy.

Andrea Brown from Moira was only 12 when her father, RUC sergeant Eric Brown and another officer, were murdered by the IRA in Rostrevor.

Five years later, in 1988, she was caught up in the Lisburn fun-run bombing by the IRA, which killed six soldiers and left her in a wheelchair.

The pandemic has been “very difficult” because she has not been able to see her grandchildren or her daughter.

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“Zoom calls just aren’t the same - children don’t like it and it is not the same as a cuddle,” she said.

“But by the end of the first online therapy session I felt so connected to everyone on the call. It was just an instant feeling of belonging. I felt very capable of talking about things openly and honestly.”

She was taught techniques to deal with PTSD and also learned how it affects her physically.

SEFF Director of Services Kenny Donaldson said many PTSD sufferers had been suffering a “heaviness” during the pandemic.

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“So we engaged the services of therapists and developed a programme of PTSD psychoeducation to be delivered via Zoom conferencing,” he said.

The programme was funded by The victims and Survivors Service.

“The feedback we have received has been extremely positive. Some people say it has been ‘transformative’.” 

The sessions are open to any Troubles victim with PTSD. For information call 028 6772 3884.

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