Special Screening Of Lyme Disease Documentary

SOUTHBURY — Under Our Skin, a documentary film about Lyme disease, will be shown at the Southbury Public Library, 100 Poverty Road, Thursday, June 19. This event is free and open to the public.

One of the most misunderstood and controversial illnesses in the history of medicine, Lyme disease is the fastest growing vector-borne disease in the United States. Yet each year tens of thousands of cases go undiagnosed or are misdiagnosed as fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (sometimes referred to as “Lou Gehrig’s disease”) Parkinson’s, lupus, and other conditions. Research even shows a possible connection between Lyme disease and Alzheimer’s, and between Lyme disease and autism.

This groundbreaking documentary investigates the human, medical, and political dimensions of Lyme disease, an emerging epidemic destroying countless numbers of lives. The film follows the stories of patients and physicians as they battle for their lives and livelihoods.

A question and answer period with Sandy Berenbaum, LCSW, a noted Lyme-literate psychotherapist and Southbury resident, will follow the film. Ms Berenbaum has been working with adults and children with chronic Lyme disease for 17 years, and has a deep understanding of how the illness affects families.

She is a member of the International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society (ILADS), and has written and spoken widely on Lyme disease. She is an outspoken advocate for Lyme disease education in the schools and in Lyme endemic communities.

This event is being presented by the Tribury Lyme Disease Task Force, whose mission is to raise awareness of Lyme and other prevalent tick-borne diseases. The task force serves Middlebury, Southbury, Woodbury, Bethlehem, and the surrounding communities of northwestern Connecticut.

Doors will open at 5:30 pm, the introduction to the film will start at 5:45, and the film will start promptly at 6. Seating is limited and is by reservation only. To reserve seats, call 266-6512 and provide your name, phone number, and how many in your party plan to attend.

Medical professionals, educators, and parents are especially encouraged to attend. This is the time of year when most new Lyme cases occur, particularly because nymphal ticks are out. These nymphs are the size of a pencil point and often go undetected. Children are at the greatest risk of contracting chronic Lyme, since they often play outdoors, and early symptoms may be overlooked.

To learn more about the film, visit www.UnderOurSkin.com. For more information about Lyme disease and the monthly Tribury Lyme disease support group meetings in Southbury, visit www.TriburyLyme.org.