We all know trauma can be bad, but do you know how bad and for how long? Turns out the emotional aftermath of those bad things happening to us can change our lives.

J.Gayle Beck, PhD., is a professor at the University of Memphis, and she’s made it her focus to investigate the assessment and treatment of adult anxiety-based disorders with an emphasis on post-trauma responses. She’s published widely on panic, anxiety, PTSD, and the processing of psychological distress.She heads up the Athena Project at U of M, a research clinic that provides free assessment and treatment to women who have experienced Intimate Partner Violence and abuse.

Who better to clue us in as to the impact of trauma on survivors?