Fibromyalgia & Mental Health: The High Costs Survivors of Trauma Pay

Mildred Velez, FCSA Founder & Executive Director recently compiled a report from data collected through the Fibromyalgia Care Society of America’s (FCSA) application for supportive services.  It was important for her to better understand the needs of the 351 people waiting for our support.  What she found was that many in our community have survived traumatic experiences prior to being diagnosed with fibromyalgia-83%. Many of these people also reported experiencing multiple traumas. Through her work, she also learned that many of these people once had thriving careers. The injustices people living with fibromyalgia face force them into a cycle of poverty. Survivors of Trauma should not be subjected to a life sentence of illness and poverty! You can read the published article via SocialHealthNetwork.Com . A full length article is also available via Milly’s Linked In page.

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Milly Velez, FCSA President & Executive Director

Mildred was born and raised in the Bronx, New York. Prior to her 18th birthday she was able to check off all 10 points on a psychological assessment tool that gauges childhood trauma. She has survived rape, domestic violence and homelessness. Her life experiences have propelled her to advocate for social and racial justice causes. Her career began in 1997 at a drop in center for homeless young people ages 13-24. Mildred went on to lead the operations department of a nationally recognized LGBTQ+ youth shelter in New York City from 2002-2020. In 2015, she founded the FCSA in response to the lack of services for the fibromyalgia community. She is committed to using her personal and professional experiences to bring support, care and hope to everyone living with fibromyalgia and their families.

Mildred lives with her adult children and granddaughter in the West Ward of the City of Newark, New Jersey.