For Female Soldiers, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Is Very Real
Posted by: Kate Torgovnick
Filed in:
news
3:40PM, Monday November 2nd 2009
I’ve been pretty fascinated by the New York Times’ series “Women at Arms,” about lady folk in the military. Yesterday’s front page story might have been the most interesting so far. It looks at the lives of women who’ve returned from serving in Iraq and Afghanistan and are now dealing with the debilitating effects of post-traumatic stress disorder. Obviously, this affects dudes as well, but the article makes the argument that it can be even more severe for women, who feel such a disconnect between who they were before and after war that they isolate themselves from friends and family, sometimes for years. One woman in the story describes feeling paranoid of her kids. Another says she beats her husband in her sleep during especially intense combat dreams. Yet another woman reported wanting to jump over the counter and attack an Arab store clerk the other day, for no apparent reason. Experts at the newly formed Women’s Center at the VA Hospital in Tampa, Florida, explain that these are classic PTSD symptoms, but that women feel a whole ‘nother level of insane for having these thoughts because they are so typically “unfeminine.” And to add another layer to this story, these women feel ultra misunderstood because most people assume women in the military don’t see actual combat, when in truth many of them witnessed explosions and saw friends die. This year, more than 8,500 women have been diagnosed with PTSD, and those are only the ones who sought treatment through the VA. The VA expects that number to double over the next year. Anyway, read the whole article. And make sure to give it up for veterans, of both genders. [NY Times]
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Goldfinch86
wrote on November 2 2009 @ 04:07 pm: [report]
PTSD is very real, my mother served in Saudi Arabia during the Gulf War, she has had it since she returned sometime in late 1991. This affect women so much differently and although the men she served with may have been affected she and several of the other women she served with came back with various degrees of it, some of it can be attributed to the #&@$% they were injected with as the solders were used as lab rats for the government. I suggest if you know of friends or family members with it you give them all your support whether they have it or not as it is a very real problem for them.
Squidtermz
wrote on November 2 2009 @ 04:09 pm: [report]
SouthOC
wrote on November 2 2009 @ 04:36 pm: [report]
War Sucks!
gsplsngr
wrote on November 2 2009 @ 06:17 pm: [report]
PTSD studies can have a very profound difference in the way that we view woman in the military. With women getting more and more combat assignments if their PTSD rates are significantly higher than men, then this could be an argument against women in combat.
VsegdaOdna
wrote on November 2 2009 @ 06:18 pm: [report]
Squidtermz, do you have a link for that? I’d be interested in reading more if there is any.
I’m currently writing a research paper on whether or not the government is doing enough to help troops coming back from “the war” with psychological issues. Not just PTSD, but also combat stress, major depression and other readjustment/reintegration issues. All this goes beyond just what’s been seen in combat. It’s as simple what deployment life is like in general, and the vast difference it is to our own lives at home. So far my findings, not surprising have been, “no”. In my own experiences, it took me 9 months to seek help for my depression/adjustment issues. I was seen by your everyday therapist who was more interested in talking about my boy problems than the deployment problems. And I only got 10 visits. If they cant help me with minor depression, how are they going to help people like my Ex who suffer from severe PTSD?
VsegdaOdna
wrote on November 2 2009 @ 06:33 pm: [report]
Technically women aren’t being given combat assignments. The problem with this type of warfare is that there are no set combat lines. On base, off base, we’re at risk of being killed as much as our brothers. This is also one of the first lengthy wars where women aren’t pigeonholed in a medical job, sitting on base waiting for someone to be brought in. We’re out there driving in convoys, pulling security…there are even female Aerial Gunners. The only jobs we cant do are Special Forces (SEALs, PJs, CCT, JTAC, etc).
CheeeeEEEEse
wrote on November 2 2009 @ 07:08 pm: [report]
What is it good for?
Nothing.
Say it again now.
Obama you centrist craphole, bring our troops home. It’s already a Vietnam situation, stop it.
moonblossom
wrote on November 2 2009 @ 07:54 pm: [report]
I heard a story on NPR last year about women vets and PTSD. According to the author’s study the #1 reason for female vets to exhibit PTSD symptoms was not due to battle related experiences, but rather to the after effects of being sexually assaulted by male servicemembers.
As a vet myself I can personally attest to the woman-hating environment of the military…even in this day and age. Even women who aren’t actually assaulted are subjected to harassment and discrimination on a daily basis.
I’m happy to see a paper like the NYT writing articles like this. Its good to shine a light on what our female vets go through because of their service.
retro chic
wrote on November 2 2009 @ 08:29 pm: [report]
@Squid: thanks for the quote – and PSA wake-up call. To take make it worse, it’s been boiled down in the morass of too many other meaningless acronyms that can’t spell anything, further degrading it.
Squidtermz
wrote on November 3 2009 @ 10:57 am: [report]
@VsegdaOdna - I sent you a PM… but here is the entire routine. http://www.iceboxman.com/carlin/pael.php#track15
@retro chic - Thanks always loved that bit. My father was shot twice in Vietnam and never really got any help after his wounds healed and he started his own family. But he has never been right in the head. And has trouble discussing what happened. It’s always bugged me, but I feel helpless. I know that he’s moved on obviously. But trauma like that stays with you. I could tell multiple stories. But “War is hell” I wouldnt know first hand. But I’ve seen it in the eyes of many a family member and friend that has been there and back.
joyy
wrote on November 3 2009 @ 11:05 am: [report]
@Squid - I like the gist of the bit, but it’s kind of naive to think that calling PTSD (or any other condition) one thing or another would actually change the military (and civilian) culture that views mental illness with so much stigma and in some cases (like the military) actual discrimination.
Squidtermz
wrote on November 3 2009 @ 11:33 am: [report]
@ joyy - I hear ya. I’m not saying and theres many more examples in the rest of the bit, that point out other euphemisms that have drained the potency out of simple direct things in life. Just saying it always reminds me of this. It’s a sad state that where in is all. I agree it’s not going to remedy anything at this point. But I think it would def. get more people to address it as a real concern. I dunno, I’m just a bad idea anyways.
joyy
wrote on November 3 2009 @ 11:40 am: [report]
Eh, I’m not sure going back to older more battle-specific terms would help, since ptsd can be caused by non-combat trauma. And forming the acronym/new name, as I understand it, was part of legitamizing the condition with inclusion in the dsm (which would let dr’s bill to insurance for it, etc).
I think if anything, the subdued language helps with stigma reduction, but I do agree that at the same time it kind of ho-hums the reality and severity of many people’s experiences.
retro chic
wrote on November 3 2009 @ 11:48 am: [report]
@joyy: I’m sure you know this, but unfortunately gov’ts and military (who actually create these names) know all too well the power of language and word choices, and how it ultimately shapes the public’s hypnotizable attitudes and actions. Hitler was a master of it, starting with his “Final Solution.”
If a condition is neutralized with words to begin with, perceptions soften, leaving the vacuum for stigmas and inadequate services. The will of the people is not behind a change… and the years pass… people forget… The military/gov’t is OK with this collateral damage.
On the flip side: ED is now an accepted euphemistic medical “disorder” since no insurance company, pharma, nor any man, would acknowledge “limp dick” as a normal condition of aging – not when there’s money to be made.
Words definitely have an impact on public perception and any consequent changes.
CheeeeEEEEse
wrote on November 3 2009 @ 11:52 am: [report]
FYI they recycled 20 tons of steel from the twin towers into a new Navy WARSHIP. F*cking morons.
MuchoMacho
wrote on November 3 2009 @ 12:03 pm: [report]
yeah b/c we all know that war never solved anything… except slavery, fascism, nazism, communism, etc…
CheeeeEEEEse
wrote on November 3 2009 @ 12:09 pm: [report]
All of those things still exist.
MuchoMacho
wrote on November 3 2009 @ 12:14 pm: [report]
in america?
CheeeeEEEEse
wrote on November 3 2009 @ 12:21 pm: [report]
Quite a world view you have…
30 thousand people died to bring you your icon picture, most of those were Japanese.
retro chic
wrote on November 3 2009 @ 12:31 pm: [report]
@CheeeeEEEEse: we have a lovely fountain memorial fashioned from charred TT I-beams, and chunks of concrete from the Pentagon, at the Firestation down the street as a souvenir for being one of the early responders (yeah, way out here… seriously). They were called in as rescue and tall-building specialists.
@MuchoMacho: I respect your work; I participate in services that support troops. But, yes, war in and of itself doesn’t solve anything. More like the multiagendas behind wars in the name of freedom and civil rights.
CheeeeEEEEse
wrote on November 3 2009 @ 12:34 pm: [report]
@retro chic: I was going to ask why you had some chunks… Either way, those are acceptable memorials, a warship is not.
Frederica Bimble
wrote on November 3 2009 @ 12:35 pm: [report]
PTSD is common for both sexes who have served in combat environments. The numbers reported have been low and it is good to see that more and more are starting to come forward.
Why? Because EVERY person who is exposed to such things as one sees in combat SHOULD be disturbed by it. We really don’t want people who are not affected by it to come back into the civilian population. Folks, that is the making of a socio-path (to use an old term). I am ex-military. I saw things that I have now put in a box in my mind and detached myself from the memory. As for those who joined the military along with me, it was the ones who relished in the violence that we had to watch and keep away from them. It would take me a few pages to describe just how sinister it is to watch large groups of people become militarised and lose their humanity. I am happy to say that after about 10 years of therapy, I am reasonably healthy minded and wouldn’t dream of willfully hurting another living creature.
I cannot feel sorry for those who are still going into the military and I have no desire to “fight the good fight” when it comes to this subject because the reality is, there will always be unenlightened sorts who believe that wars serve a purpose. They will convince themselves they are “right” without seeing the, albeit humorous, reality and the understanding that the “other guy” is no different from themselves. I think that is the hardest thing for alot of people to understand - the painful realisation that there is no “us and them.”
To finish this off, I’d like to reiterate that PTSD is common for both sexes in the military….If you aren’t screwed up after seeing some of the sh*t I’ve seen, then I’d rather not know you, thanks…......
I’m just waiting for the “spin” that says that the research is evidence that women can’t “handle it.” Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha…
MuchoMacho
wrote on November 3 2009 @ 12:45 pm: [report]
@cheese - 2350 died at pearl harbor. and neither of us was alive for either event. ur a kid who lacks experience. in your opinion, a warship was innappropriate. in mine, making a warship out of the remains of two buildings destroyed in an act of war is pretty awesome. youre welcome to your opinon, and ill go ahead and keep mine.
peace.
retro chic
wrote on November 3 2009 @ 01:01 pm: [report]
Good post, Frederica.
I’d further add the kind of pathological detachment that was portrayed in the movie “In The Valley of Elah,” when your combat/bunk buddy could be the enemy at any moment for any reason, and be capable of torturing prisoners and victims. I don’t know how that is classified…
retro chic
wrote on November 3 2009 @ 01:14 pm: [report]
@CheeeeEEEEse: I was a little disturbed by the fact that these “souvenirs” were once a part of the assaulted/failed structures that burned with the remains of people in/on them. I felt this was a kind of desecration of the original site. It’s not a moon rock. I also object to the Navy’s “scrap metal recycling,” no matter how it was passed off to the public.
william.paul
wrote on November 4 2009 @ 11:26 am: [report]
@CheeeEEEEse: It’s only 7.5 tons (or 8.272 if you want to go standard). Keep your opinion, but kindly keep the facts straight.
As far as it being a fitting memorial or not, I suppose it depends on how you view the military and especially the navy. Personally, I would be pleased if USS Somerset and USS Arlington (for Flight 93 and the Pentagon) made similar tributes to their namesakes.
Getting back to the original article: I think we can all agree that the woeful state of the VA system really highlights how negligent the previous administration was when they began the conflict in Iraq.
CheeeeEEEEse
wrote on November 4 2009 @ 11:47 am: [report]
I swore I checked the weight against an article. Must of missed it.
VeronicaVaughn
wrote on November 5 2009 @ 03:43 pm: [report]
As a women in uniform, this artical is very very true. More and more women are faceing this. We ARE seeing real combat, we fight side by side with our fellow men in uniform as well. This is very real.
wonderfultonight
wrote on November 7 2009 @ 10:17 am: [report]
Thank you moonblossom - I am glad the subject of militar women and rape and sexual harassment has been mentioned. This is being done to them by the very men they are serving with - and sometimes their commanding officers. It is doubly hard to get help for that trauma when the person you must see is another man - and often not very sympathetic.
gsplsngr
wrote on November 7 2009 @ 12:13 pm: [report]
Wonderfultonight and moonblossom
It appears that your narrative may not be based in fact. Do you have statistics that sexual harassment is more or less prevalent in the military than it is in the civilian population. There will always be tension in the military between men and women as long as the standards remain different. Most will accept the different standards but diverge when females don’t pull there weight. This makes all females look bad. I have been told that female Marines are the most respect because the other female Marines do not allow their fellow FM’s to slack off or pull diva trips. Don’t get me wrong, I do not believe that the military is necessarily women friendly but neither do I believe that there is rampant sexual harassment.
PS Not all harassment is sexual. Weak and poor performing military personnel, will be given a hard time.
jessiecrombie
wrote on November 8 2009 @ 11:24 am: [report]
@MuchoMacho I have a war never solved anything but… bumper sticker on my car!
As a female servicemember who has only been enlisted for a short time I can agree that occasionally women will be disrespected and harassed basd soley on gender. The only way us women servicemembers can overcome this is by not letting a fellow man in uniform get away with it. Case in point: I had a lower ranking service member make a commment to me asking if I was “afraid to fight and bleed”. I replied “No, private, in fact I bleed one week out of every month and must always fight the ignorance of people like you” I haven’t heard one negative comment since.