Battling the Storm Within Blog

As the Author of the #1 Amazon National-International Best Seller War Memoir “Battling the Storm Within” about living 20 years undiagnosed with PTSD, MST and the GWI. My mission is to empower others to address their own personal traumas, be healed, restored and live again. I believe in telling the truth, living the truth and being the truth. I will share the truth for it sets you free. I have battled my storm that was within me and won, so can you! Peace and blessings Sgt. Stephanie J. Shannon

Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Female veterans who suffered sexual trauma fighting ‘second battle’

Army veteran Katie Weber, a survivor of military sexual trauma who now spends most of her time doing MST advocacy, prepares dinner at home in Santa Rosa, California on Dec. 4.

Thousands seek treatment and compensation on the grounds that they suffer from PTSD caused by assaults.

WASHINGTON — Thousands of female veterans are struggling to get health-care treatment and compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs on the grounds they suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder caused by sexual trauma in the military. The veterans and their advocates call it “the second battle” – with a bureaucracy they say is stuck in the past.

Judy Atwood-Bell was a 19-year-old Army private when she says she was locked inside a barracks room at Fort Devens in Massachusetts, forced to the cold floor and raped by a fellow solider.

Friday, December 26, 2014

Brownley Focuses on Link Between Veteran’s Homelessness and Military Sexual Trauma

Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-Westlake Village) participated in a House Veterans’ Affairs Committee hearing: “Evaluating Federal and Community Efforts to Eliminate Veteran Homelessness.” During the hearing, Brownley focused on the links between female veterans’ homelessness and military sexual trauma (MST).

During testimony before the committee, John Downing, CEO of Soldier On, noted that in his experience 100 percent of the female veterans who are homeless have experienced MST. He also noted that of all homeless veterans, approximately 25 percent are considered chronically homeless, and may never become self-sufficient, requiring a lifetime of intensive care. Brownley used her time during the hearing to hone in on these statistics

Read more...
http://tricountysentry.com/blog/brownley-focuses-on-link-between-veterans-homelessness-and-military-sexual-trauma/

Learn more...
www.battlingthestormwithin.com

Female veterans fighting for redress -Victims battle PTSD from sexual trauma

PRESTON GANNAWAY/The Washington Post

Army veteran Katie Weber, who lives in Santa Rosa, Calif., is a survivor of military sexual trauma who now spends most of her time doing MST advocacy.

WASHINGTON – Thousands of female veterans are struggling to get health-care treatment and compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs on the grounds they suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder caused by sexual trauma in the military. The veterans and their advocates call it “the second battle” – with a bureaucracy they say is stuck in the past.

Judy Atwood-Bell was just a 19-year-old Army private when she said she was locked inside a barracks room at Fort Devens in Massachusetts, forced to the cold floor and raped by a fellow solider.

Sunday, December 21, 2014

Breaking the Cycle of Violence

Violence is taking a toll on the health of our country. Major events, like school shootings, bomb attacks and allegations of unnecessary police brutality, captivate our attention. But violence occurs every day — sometimes in public, but more often in private between people who know each other.

Violence comes in many forms — physical, sexual, emotional and psychological — and among families, gangs, elders, youth and spouses or domestic partners. Of course, the effects are devastating. Victims of violence may experience not only physical injury but also post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and anxiety, difficulties in school, and problems with substance abuse and delinquency.

Read more...

http://www.hhnmag.com/display/HHN-news-article.dhtml?dcrPath=/templatedata/HF_Common/NewsArticle/data/HHN/Daily/2014/Dec/behavioralhealth-violence-resnick

Learn more....

www.battlingthestormwithin.com

Holidays a time for suicide awareness

The holidays are supposed to be a season of joy, a time when loved ones come together to celebrate the traditions they hold dear. But for some people, loss, loneliness, depression and other mental health issues can make getting through the holiday season a life-or-death struggle.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the suicide rate in the United States was 12.5 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2012. Information is not yet available for 2013 or 2014. The highest suicide rate was among people between the ages of 45 and 59 years old. Adults aged 75 or older had the second-highest suicide rate. In general, men are four times more likely to commit suicide than women and firearms are the most common method of death by suicide.

Although white males accounted for 65 percent of all suicides in 2012, suicide can affect people from all walks of life.

Read more...

http://azdailysun.com/news/local/holidays-a-time-for-suicide-awareness/article_9879b066-ce18-525d-a64e-623363116ed7.html

Learn more...

www.battlingthestormwithin.com

Just How Little Is a Veteran’s Life Worth to a Senator?

Can you put a price on the life of a soldier? That’s what Oklahoma Republican Senator Tom Coburn has essentially done. Coburn singlehandedly blocked a popular bill designed to fund a veteran suicide prevention program from being presented on the Senate floor out of concerns that it cost too much.

The $22 million program is by no means cheap, but it addresses a serious problem. The number 22 actually has a lot of significance to this particular issue. A Veterans Affair study found that, in 2010, 22 veterans commit suicide every day. Incidentally, these veterans accounted for 22% of all suicides in the United States. Given the prevalence of the problem, is $22 million really too lofty?

Read more ....
http://www.care2.com/causes/just-how-little-is-a-veterans-life-worth-to-a-senator.html

Learn more..
www.battlingthestormwithin.com

Saturday, December 20, 2014

Not every GI is a Joe! VA works to help growing number of female veterans

“Not every GI is a Joe.” “Please, don’t call me Mister”

These are the titles of a series of posters that the Department of Veterans Affairs has put up across its vast hospital system.

It’s all part of an effort to help the fastest growing veteran population — women — feel more comfortable in a system designed to serve and dominated by male veterans.
Today’s veterans are more likely to be women than at any other time in U.S. history: There are currently 2.2 million of them.

Read more...
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/federal-eye/wp/2014/12/20/not-every-gi-is-a-joe-va-works-to-help-growing-number-of-female-veterans/

Learn more...

www.battlingthestormwithin.com

Friday, December 19, 2014

New webpage allows vets with PTSD to apply for discharge upgrade

WASHINGTON (Army News Service, Dec. 16, 2014) -- Veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder who were discharged under "other than honorable" conditions can apply on a new webpage to have their discharge upgraded if it was due to PTSD.

The Army launched a webpage for the veterans to get information and ultimately enable them to apply for the change in status, said Col. Matthew B. Coleman, the military assistant to the deputy assistant secretary of the Army at the Army Review Boards Agency.
Read more....

http://www.army.mil/article/140067/New_webpage_allows_vets_with_PTSD_to_apply_for_discharge_upgrade/

Learn more...

www.battlingthestormwithin.com

Thursday, December 18, 2014

Surviving Rape in the Military

Jennifer Norris said she was drugged and raped by her recruiter after joining the Air Force when she was 21. She sat with her service dog, Onyx, at a fellow military rape survivor's home in Biloxi, Miss.

The issue of sexual assault in the military makes the news periodically, usually in articles with mouth-dropping statistics and official outrage.

Mary F. Calvert read such an article. It estimated that while 26,000 rapes and sexual assaults took place in the armed forces in 2012, only one in seven victims reported the attack and only one in 10 of those cases went to trial.

Clay Hunt Veteran Suicide Bill Blocked in Senate by Coburn

Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Oklahoma, has successfully blocked a vote on a veterans' suicide bill, leaving it to backers to re-introduce the legislation next year.

Coburn, who is leaving the Senate, said he opposed the $22 million Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans Act because it duplicated existing Department of Veterans Affairs programs and was not paid for by offsets elsewhere in the budget.

Read more...

http://www.military.com/daily-news/2014/12/16/clay-hunt-veteran-suicide-bill-blocked-in-senate-by-coburn.html#.VJHzAetTVqM.facebook

Learn more...

www.battlingthestormwithin.com

Monday, December 15, 2014

The Military’s Problem With Sexual Assault Is Not A Data Problem

Every day, 55 service members endure a sexual assault, according to a new comprehensive survey from RAND.

Sexual assault in the military is among the most contentious problems facing the American armed forces today. New data resulting from a comprehensive Pentagon-sponsored report reveals the problem is as serious as ever.

The RAND Corporation, a prominent global policy think tank, recently released the initial results of a massive survey titled the “2014 RAND Military Workplace Study,” which explores the prevalence of sex crimes in the military.

Powerful story of healing from a fellow male veteran MST survivor - Watch Video

Graduating from high school midterm 1973 I joined the United States Air Force, eager and proud to make a career in the military. I had given this a lot of thought and desired to be in the Air Force since the cartoon "Roger Ram Jet" came out. This was my chance to honor my country and become a proud citizen. Several months into the Air Force I was assaulted sexually by enlisted ranks higher than mine.

It was sort of a secret fraternity, something recently I learned has been going on for decades in all branches and is covered up. Well today, along with 100's of 1000's of other sexual assault victims over 40 decades I break the silence of the horrible Black Box these atrocities forced me to live in. However, recently with help from friends and others, I am learning life as it should be, and not a black box of fear, shame and guilt. This is my "Ode to Joy", meaning a "pathway to joy.

Learn More...
www.battlingthestormwithin.com

Why Rape and Trauma Survivors Have Fragmented and Incomplete Memories

James Hopper, Ph.D., trains investigators, prosecutors, judges and military commanders on the neurobiology of sexual assault. David Lisak, Ph.D., is a forensic consultant, researcher, national trainer and the board president of 1in6.

In the midst of assault, the brain's fear circuitry takes over while other key parts are impaired or even effectively shut down. This is the brain reacting to a life-threatening situation just the way it is supposed to...

Tuesday, December 9, 2014

Happy Holidays! Download your FREE Kindle E-Book "Battling the Storm Within" Bringing Awareness to Veteran's Issues

Bringing Awareness to Veteran's Issues

Please share...

Click here to download your copy of

#1 Amazon Best Seller Book "Battling the Storm Within"

Dec. 10th thru Dec. 14th 2014

http://www.amazon.com/Battling-Storm-Within-Stephanie-Shannon-ebook/dp/B00ON6EFNA/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?_encoding=UTF8&sr=&qid=

Learn more....

www.battlingthestormwithin.com

Sunday, December 7, 2014

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand: ‘No improvement’ in military sexual assault guidelines - Watch Video

http://www.msnbc.com/morning-joe/watch/-no-improvement--in-military-sexual-assault-367579203614

More of the same on military sexual assault: Our view

The Editorial Board, 12:18 p.m. EST December 5, 2014

The Pentagon certainly put an optimistic spin on its latest statistics on sexual assaults, crowing that the number reported to authorities – 5,983 assaults, up 8% from last year – shows growing trust in the military justice system.

That's one way to look at the numbers. Another is that in an average day in the U.S. military, at least 16 sexual assaults were reported. And that, according to a separate Defense Department survey, another 13,000 incidents of "unwanted sexual contact," from touching to rape, went unreported during the 12 months ending Sept. 30.

Read more...

http://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/editorials/2014/12/05/military-sexual-assault-editorials-debates/19917145/

Learn more....

www.battlingthestormwithin.com

Sexual assaults ‘alarmingly high’ in the US military: Veteran - Watch Video

Structural problems in the US military have contributed to an “alarmingly high” number of sexual assaults against both women and men, in spite of enormous efforts to stem the crisis, an Iraq War veteran says.

“The rate of sexual assaults in the military against both men and women is alarmingly high” despite “massive amounts of money being claimed to programs to prevent rape and sexual assaults,” said Seth Manzel, an Army sergeant and infantryman who was deployed to Iraq from 2004 to 2005.

Watch Video....

http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2014/12/05/388912/rapes-alarmingly-high-in-us-military/

Learn More...

www.battlingthestormwithin.com

Friday, December 5, 2014

New data shows Marine Corps has highest rate of sexual assault against women

Comedic Play Teaches Sexual Assault Prevention

Nearly 8 percent of women in the Marine Corps were sexually assaulted in the past year, according to new data released by the Defense Department and the Rand Corp. on Thursday.

The figure puts the Marine Corps' rate of past-year sexual assaults for female troops at more than 20 percent higher than the Navy's total, which has the next-highest rate. According to the data, 1.1 percent of male Marines also experienced a sexual assault in the last year, the second-highest rate following the Navy at 1.5 percent.

read more...

http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/story/military/pentagon/2014/12/04/marine-corps-highest-sex-assault/19910575/

learn more...

www.battlingthestormwithin.com

Retaliation still a major issue for troops who report sexual assault, study finds

Despite significant efforts to make military victims of sexual assault feel safe in reporting attacks, a new survey indicates that retaliation remains a major issue.

“When someone reports a sexual assault, they need to be embraced and helped, not ostracized or punished with retribution,” Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said Thursday while discussing a Rand Corp. report based on a massive anonymous survey of servicemembers, a review of the military justice system and a survey of about 150 sexual assault victims.

He announced several reforms, including new training and an additional study designed in part to prevent retaliation.

Official reports of sexual assault climb, even as estimated number of attacks declines - VIDEO

Watch Video....

http://www.stripes.com/news/us/official-reports-of-sexual-assault-climb-even-as-estimated-number-of-attacks-declines-1.317133#.VIFInlYCmIt.facebook

Learn more....

www.battlingthestormwithin.com

Thursday, December 4, 2014

Over 80% of Veterans with PTSD Believe Current VA Treatment is Ineffective

A new bill gaining speed on the Hill aims to make changes within the VA’s mental health care system that proponents hope will reduce the veteran suicide epidemic.

It is no secret that the veteran suicide rate is extremely high, with 22 veterans per day taking their own lives. It’s also no secret that health care in general, and mental health care in particular, is lacking in the VA health care system. Unfortunately, the VA is the only option that many veterans have for their care.

A new bill, called the “Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans (SAV) Act,” is currently being considered in the U.S. Senate with a version also in the House. The bill is named after Clay Hunt, a Marine Cpl. who committed suicide in 2011 after battling PTSD and depression following multiple combat tours. Hunt’s mother, Susan Selke, addressed the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee in November, urging lawmakers to pass the bill named for her son.

Read more...
http://ivn.us/2014/12/04/80-veterans-ptsd-believe-current-va-treatment-ineffective/

Learn more...

www.battlingthestormwithin.com

FBI warns U.S. military about ISIS threat at home, Alabama officials issue safety advice

In its strongest warning to date, the FBI is telling the U.S. military members they could be targets of terrorist attacks within the homeland.

ABC News was the first to report a joint intelligence bulletin from the FBI and Department of Homeland Security was issued overnight urging those who are in the military to remove anything from their social media accounts that might bring attention from what it described as "violent extremists."

ISIS flag.JPG

Tuesday, December 2, 2014

Study looks at psychological effects suffered by combat medics

Combat medics serve double duty, both professionally and psychologically.
In addition to bearing all the responsibilities of soldiering, medics must calmly treat the devastating wounds of modern warfare: legs and arms mangled by roadside bombs, bodies peppered with shrapnel, arteries severed by high-velocity bullets.

They are more exposed than other soldiers to seriously wounded or dead fellow servicemembers. Unlike hospital doctors or nurses, who rarely know their patients, medics have the added pressure of being close to the soldiers they are trying to keep alive.

VA Expands Eligibility for VA Health Care Related to Military Sexual Trauma

WASHINGTON, DC - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), under authority from the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 (“VACAA”), today announced expanded eligibility for Veterans in need of mental health care due to sexual assault or sexual harassment that occurred during their military service. This trauma is commonly known as military sexual trauma (MST).

This expansion, which primarily pertains to Reservists and National Guard members participating in weekend drill, gives the authority to offer Veterans the appropriate care and services needed to treat conditions resulting from MST that occurred during a period of inactive duty training

Read more...

http://www.kgwn.tv/home/headlines/VA-Expands-Eligibility-for-VA-Health-Care-Related-to-Military-Sexual-Trauma--284340171.html

Learn more...

www.battlingthestormwithin.com

Saturday, November 29, 2014

9 Reasons It's Still Incredibly Hard to Be a Woman In The Military

9 Reasons It's Still Incredibly Hard to Be a Woman In The Military

Since the majority of those serving in the Armed Forces are still men, their voices are the ones most clearly heard. But the truth is, women have long contributed to military efforts — and now on an unprecedented level — you just don’t hear our stories that often. We are recognized for our ability to “fit in” and not draw attention to ourselves, and to “hang with the guys,” with no acknowledgement of how freaking hard that actually is.

Read more....
http://www.bustle.com/articles/37036-9-reasons-its-still-incredibly-hard-to-be-a-woman-in-the-military

Learn more...
www.battlingthestormwithin.com

Posttraumatic stress disorder and preterm birth

The study authors note that preterm birth is a leading cause of infant morbidity (adverse health conditions) and mortality in the US

Many women who serve in the military suffer from posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It can also occur as a result of a traumatic experience, such as rape or a terrorist attack, in civilian life. A number of women who suffer from PTSD become pregnant. A new study examined the effect of PTSD on pregnancy. The study was published in the December edition of the journal Obstetrics & Gynecology by researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine and the Department of Veterans Affairs, Palo Alto Health Care System.

The study authors note that preterm birth is a leading cause of infant morbidity (adverse health conditions) and mortality in the US; 12% of deliveries are preterm, and approximately half occur spontaneously rather than a result of a medical indication. A number of risk factors for spontaneous preterm birth have been positively identified, including demographic characteristics, substance abuse, and multiple pregnancies, the cause remains poorly understood. Over the past two decades, little progress has been made in reducing the incidence of preterm birth. An increasing number of studies have suggested a role for psychosocial factors such as maternal stress and depression; however, the effect of PTSD remains unclear.

Read more...

http://www.examiner.com/article/posttraumatic-stress-disorder-and-preterm-birth

Learn more...

www.battlingthestormwithin.com

Our View: Help prevent vets’ suicides

Bipartisan bills moving through the U.S. House and Senate to address the suicide epidemic among veterans represent a good start to addressing this issue.

The legislation is aimed at shoring up some mental health programs for veterans, and offers some incentives to hire more psychiatrists or speed up wait times for vets needing to see mental health professionals.

Read more...

http://www.mankatofreepress.com/opinion/editorials/our-view-help-prevent-vets-suicides/article_4031ad0b-5adb-5a30-8332-dc2b552cfe33.html

Learn more....

www.battlingthestormwithin.com

Thursday, November 27, 2014

Why You Don't Know She's a Military Veteran and Four Things You Can Do

As I begin to process the whirlwind, recent Women Veteran Career Development Forum in Washington D.C., I've been wanting to write about the event. It included a keynote speech from First Lady Michelle Obama, the National Business Women's Week (NBWW) awards, actionable information for women veterans to communicate their valuable service stories and skills, mentors and employers eager to hire the women veteran job seekers and much more.

On my last day in Washington D.C., I met with a woman in the Women's Health Services section at the headquarters of the Department of Veteran Affairs; she had also attended the forum. I shared a story from the event that brought her to tears. Our conversation helped me realize something I truly didn't understand before - yet paradoxically, I'm realizing that it's the thing that motivates my work as a woman veteran and entrepreneur every day. In writing about this epiphany, it's my hope that more Americans will understand why there are women who served in our armed forces who do NOT openly identify themselves as veterans.

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Veteran Affairs Committee probes mental health, suicide among veterans

The Veterans Affairs Committee held a hearing on Wednesday that explored mental health treatment and suicide among veterans.

Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.), the ranking member of the committee, said the focus should be on improving mental health and cited a survey that found most veterans don’t believe their symptoms have improved. Read more.....

http://riponadvance.com/news/veteran-affairs-committee-probes-mental-health-suicide-among-veterans/9732

Learn more...

www.battlingthestormwithin.com

Friday, November 21, 2014

Veterans' suicides prove VA must improve services, mothers testify

The mother of an Army National Guard soldier who killed himself less than seven weeks ago pleaded with Congress on Wednesday to do more to save troops and veterans suffering from combat-related mental health conditions.

Valerie Pallotta, whose son, Pfc. Joshua Pallotta, 25, died Sept. 23, tearfully described the challenges she and her husband faced when Joshua returned from Afghanistan with post-traumatic stress disorder and the nightmare they've lived since police officers knocked on the door of their Vermont home at 3:37 a.m. to tell them Joshua was dead.

Thursday, November 20, 2014

Variety of VA benefits are available to female veterans

Women served in the United States military as early as the Revolutionary War. Since then, women of all ages, ranks and levels of authority have entered every branch of service, made significant contributions, and suffered the same sacrifices as men. As a woman with military service, you may qualify for a wide range of benefits offered by the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Female veterans may be eligible for a wide variety of benefits available to all U.S. military veterans. VA benefits include disability compensation, pension, education and training, health care, home loans, insurance, vocational rehabilitation and employment and burial.

Read more...

http://journaltimes.com/lifestyles/health-med-fit/variety-of-va-benefits-are-available-to-female-veterans/article_bf17614e-94ff-5eeb-b913-c4f28b38f9f5.html

Learn more...

www.battlingthestormwithin.com

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Robert McDonald: Cleaning up the VA - Watch Video

The Secretary of Veterans Affairs tells Scott Pelley about his personal mission to reorganize the troubled agency for his fellow vets.

The following is a script of "Cleaning up the VA" which aired on Nov. 9, 2014. Scott Pelley is the correspondent. Guy Campanile, producer.

Tomorrow, the day before Veterans Day, the new head of Veterans Affairs will announce the biggest reorganization in the history of the VA, which comes after the agency's biggest fiasco. It was last spring that we learned that tens of thousands of vets were waiting months for medical care while managers cooked the books to hide the delays. The former secretary was forced out. Tonight we have the first interview with the new man in charge. Sixty-one-year-old Robert McDonald has no government or medical experience but he does know management. He was chief executive officer of Procter & Gamble, the largest consumer products company in the world. And we wanted to know how a soap salesman will go about cleaning up the VA.

Watch Video....

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/robert-mcdonald-cleaning-up-the-veterans-affairs-hospitals/

Learn More...

www.battlingthestormwithin.com

Monday, November 17, 2014

New data show long wait times remain at many VA hospitals #VAreform

WASHINGTON — More than 600,000 veterans — 10% of all the Veterans Affairs patients — continue to wait a month or more for appointments at VA hospitals and clinics, according to data obtained by USA TODAY.

The VA has made some progress in dealing with the backlog of cases that forced former secretary Eric Shinseki to retire early this year. For instance, the VA substantially cut the overall number of worst-case scenarios for veterans — those who had waited more than four months for an appointment. That figure dropped from 120,000 in May to 23,000 in October. Much of that improvement occurred because patients received care from private providers.

Read more...

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2014/11/16/long-wait-times-persist-at-many-va-hospitals/19033789/

Learn more...

www.battlingthestormwithin.com

Sunday, November 16, 2014

Despite efforts, veteran suicides remain alarming. #22toomany

The statistics are jarring, and they don't seem to be changing.An estimated 22 veterans take their own lives every day in the United States, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

In Minnesota, it's a similar pattern. A St. Cloud Times analysis of death records found that 102 people who had served in the armed forces killed themselves in Minnesota in 2013.

Veterans in Minnesota are dying by suicide at a rate more than double that of the general population — an estimated 30 per 100,000 last year, compared to 12.5 per 100,000 in the general population.

Saturday, November 15, 2014

America's women veterans deserve better

More than a quarter-million American women served honorably in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. These brave women sacrificed much to keep us safe. Now that they are home, our country has a solemn obligation to help them transition back to civilian life.

Yet there is mounting evidence that America is not fulfilling this obligation. Based on currently available data, it is clear that our country isn't fully meeting the unique physical, emotional and employment needs of women veterans. When they return home, they receive less support than their male counterparts from government programs primarily designed for men.

Read more....

http://www.turlockjournal.com/section/26/article/27943/

Learn More....

www.battlingthestormwithin.com

Friday, November 14, 2014

Veterans and suicide: a local Marine pleads for action - VIDEO #22toomany

A Marine veteran who lost 20 members of his battalion in Afghanistan is searching for answers and searching for help after losing 20 more to suicide after they came home.
"Nobody expected to deal with it 20 times," said Sgt. Will Rollins, now a deputy with the

Montgomery County Sheriff's Office. "We've lost 20 Marines, 20 men in combat and we're now up to 20 on suicide. I just don't think that should be a number that's even close to each other."

Watch Video....

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/11/12/veterans-suicide-plea-for-action/18906421/

Learn More...

www.battlingthestormwithin.com

Wednesday, November 12, 2014

What is Military Sexual Trauma - Video

We often hear about veterans being neglected. Homelessness, unemployment, wait times at the VA. But what about sexual abuse? Not many have heard of the Military Sexual Trauma Diagnosis, an many are afraid to come forward. Laura Neal tells us more about MST and how many veterans are learning they're not alone.

Watch Video...

http://www.ktul.com/clip/10839316/military-sexual-trauma

Learn more...

www.battlingthestormwithin.com

Tuesday, November 11, 2014

Moral Injury Is The 'Signature Wound' Of Today's Veterans

U.S. soldiers stand at a checkpoint around Lakokhel camp in Afghanistan in 2010. Many soldiers return from war suffering from "moral injuries," or dealing with the fact that their sense that right and wrong was violated.

The biggest thing that [the veterans] told me was that they're carrying around this horrible idea that they are bad people because they've done something bad and they can't ever tell anybody about it — or they don't dare tell anybody about it — and may not even be able to admit it to themselves.

- David Wood, journalist

Military Veteran Authors are Pledging 100% Royalties to Charity on 11 November 2014 #vetsgiveback

Veteran's Day 2014 Charity Challenge: Gone, but Not Forgotten!

On Veteran's Day 2014, 50 veteran authors will pledge 100% of their print, ebook and audio book royalties to their favorite veteran's charity or a large flat-rate donation for the day. In most cases, these are organizations that assisted the authors personally and they are trying their best to give back.

Veterans from each service branch and every conflict period, from Vietnam to even one author deployed to Afghanistan at this moment, are pledging. This diverse collection of works includes New York Times and USA Today Bestsellers and covers most genres. From romance to action-adventure and everything in between, there's something for every taste here!

The ultimate goal of this event is to raise at least $10,000 for the 15+ veterans charities they're supporting. If you aren't interested in any of the books available, they have a page set up ranking the money raised for each charity and spotlighting bonus donations. Whether you contribute to the best performing or the least performing, either way your donation will be put to good use!Read more...

http://rappeters.wordpress.com/veteran-authors-pledging-100-royalties-to-charity-on-veterans-day-2014/

Learn more...

www.battlingthestormwithin.com

Sunday, November 9, 2014

Justice for Military Sexual Trauma Victims: Pass the Military Justice Improvement Act S.967 #MJIA

Of the 26,000 sexual assaults in 2012, only 3,374 were reported and only 302 were brought to trial. I am a retired U.S. Navy Veteran and Military Sexual Trauma (MST) survivor. And like many other victims in the military, I was harassed, and humiliated by my Chain of Command after reporting my abuse. But a bipartisan bill before the U.S. Senate right now can completely change how sexual assaults in the military are handled - the Military Justice Improvement Act.

As it stands now, any U.S. Military personnel, male or female, who are sexually assaulted or harassed are at the mercy of their own Commanding Officers who have full jurisdiction and discretion in prosecuting these cases. In many of the cases the perpetrator is not prosecuted while the victim is treated as the criminal, ostracized and harassed by their own command and often their military service stands in jeopardy. This is why so many assaults go unreported.

Friday, November 7, 2014

Is The Pentagon’s New Survey On Sexual Assault Too Graphic?

Recruits from Papa Company, 4th Recruit Training Battalion, practice rear hand punches at the battalion’s physical training field July 21.

In 2012, the results of the defense department’s survey on gender relations in the military caused a national firestorm. The data indicated that over 26,000 service members experienced “some form of unwanted sexual contact” in the year prior, with 6.1% of women and 1.2% of men reporting incidents.

But for many, the questions in the survey detailing the specifics behind the assaults were lacking. The choices given for responders only covered attempted rape, completed rape, and unwanted sexual touching; neglecting a wide range of possible criminal acts and leaving little room for gray area

Read more...
https://taskandpurpose.com/pentagons-new-survey-sexual-assault-graphic/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=facebook&utm_campaign=pentagons-new-survey-sexual-assault-graphic

Learn more...

www.battlingthestormwithin.com

Thursday, November 6, 2014

Pregnant women with PTSD more likely to give birth prematurely, study finds

Pregnant women with a recent diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder were 35 percent more likely to deliver a premature baby than were other pregnant women, a study of more than 16,000 births found.

A study of female veterans showed that pregnant women with post-traumatic stress disorder were at an increased risk of giving birth prematurely.

Pregnant women with post-traumatic stress disorder are at increased risk of giving birth prematurely, a new study from the Stanford University School of Medicine and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has found.

The study, which examined more than 16,000 births to female veterans, is the largest ever to evaluate connections between PTSD and preterm birth.

Another way the Army can deny justice to victims of sexual assault

The Pentagon estimated that 26,000 service members were sexually assaulted in 2012. But often, the sexual assault is just the beginning of the ordeal. Soldiers and advocates say many victims face retribution, unfair discharges and questionable psychological diagnoses. And now, a Fusion investigation has found that the one place service members can go to overturn these discharges often fails them.

The Board for Correction of Military Records (BCMR) is the only place within the Army with the power to change anything on a service member’s record. The Board can change a veteran’s discharge, including granting a medical discharge for service-connected disabilities, like PTSD caused by sexual assault. But we found that hardly ever happens.

All of My Friends are Dying

A veteran commits suicide every 65 minutes in the USA, with over 30% of veterans having considered suicide. “Only the dead have seen the end of war.” ― Plato

Today, for the second time in less than a month, a veteran in my circle of activist-friends has committed suicide. His name was Ethan. Last month, my friend Jacob, another anti-war veteran, took his life in rural Arkansas. Earlier this year, I lost two members of the platoon I served in; they died of cancer; neither of them smoked or drank. In fact, both Stephen and Sinbad were some of the most straitlaced veterans in our platoon. In the previous three years, two other anti-war veterans died prematurely—Anthony from a drug overdose and Joshua of cancer. As the years roll along, I'm beginning to better understand Plato's statement on war. I've now lost more friends since returning home than I did in the combat-zone. The first time I read Plato's famous quote, I was thinking about personal struggles, how to remember, or forget, the war, and how to move forward. I didn't expect my friends to keep dying. But they are vanishing at an astounding pace.

Tuesday, November 4, 2014

Fight continues for women veterans

Monday, November 3, 2014

Coenzyme Q10 Helps Veterans Battle Gulf War Illness Symptoms

Stigma: Breaking the cycle of mental health perception

Labels are for jars, not people.”
That’s what peer support specialist Cathy Karwatski repeats to herself and to the men and women in her support group.

At Chestnut Ridge Counseling Services, she works daily with adults diagnosed with mental health disorders, helping them develop goals and objectives.

“You see so much negative with mental health issues and we just want to bring the positive,” she said. “So many people who don’t get to apply themselves are so creative, so intelligent.”

Read more..
http://www.heraldstandard.com/new_today/stigma-breaking-the-cycle-of-mental-health-perception/article_cebe4adf-43e9-579f-ab8f-269eeb11ff03.html

Learn more...

www.battlingthestormwithin.com

PTSD survivor says: 'Everyone wants to help a soldier. No one wants to help a civilian'

Calls for help as thousands of North East soldiers face mental anguish on their return home and to Civvy Street

A Black Hawk over Kabul

Thousands of North soldiers who have spent years fighting for their country are facing loneliness and mental health agony on their return home.

And with thousands more on their way back from Afghanistan the problem is only going to get worse, military charities warned today.

Addictions, family break-downs, homelessness and lack of support are just a few of the problems leading to the spiralling rates of mental trauma among the North’s 375,000 veterans.

Saturday, November 1, 2014

AP EXCLUSIVE: Military sex survey draws complaints

WASHINGTON (AP) - Shocked and offended by explicit questions, some U.S. servicemen and women are complaining about a new sexual-assault survey that hundreds of thousands have been asked to complete.

The survey is conducted every two years. But this year's version, developed by the Rand Corp., is unusually detailed, including graphically personal questions on sexual acts.

(AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta, File). FILE - In this May 1, 2014 file photo, Nate Galbreath, Senior Executive Adviser for the Department of Defense Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office (SAPRO), leaves a news conference at the Pentagon.

Friday, October 31, 2014

Military sexual trauma as a risk factor for increased mental illness and poverty for veterans

With more than 250,000 women having served in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, the need for specifically tailored physical and mental health services for female veterans is especially dire. While both male and female veterans experience significant challenges upon their return from service, including high rates of homelessness, the prevalence of military sexual trauma (MST) presents a particular challenge for female veterans.

The experience of MST correlates to a high risk of mental illness: 20 percent of female veterans in the VA health system have been diagnosed with a mental illness as a result of MST. Additionally, a recent Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration study reported that veterans who had experienced MST had 2 or 3 times the likelihood of having a mental illness.

Thursday, October 30, 2014

Veterans check out the Free Tickets to events

http://www.vettix.org/index.php

Wednesday, October 29, 2014

Woman goes undercover to expose sexual harassment -VIDEO

Sexual Harassment - Unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature constitute sexual harassment.

A key part of the definition is the use of the word unwelcome. Unwelcome or uninvited conduct or communication of a sexual nature is prohibited; welcome or invited actions or words are not unlawful. Sexual or romantic interaction between consenting people at work may be offensive to observers or may violate company policy, but it is not sexual harassment.

Watch Video on Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10152817406529551

Learn more...

www.battlingthestormwithin.com

Tuesday, October 28, 2014

Sleep Study at Army Hospital Makes Case for Nightmare Disorder

The symptoms were common, but until this month, Army doctors did not have a good definition for the mix of nightmares and nighttime outbursts troops sometimes report after living through traumatic events at war.

Unlike civilians who have general nightmares, combat veterans would relive critical moments in their dreams. Soldiers who'd been trapped in burning vehicles, for instance, would feel their terror again.

Monday, October 27, 2014

COLUMN: Understanding mental illnesses, suicide

In the wake of Robin Williams’ tragic death, and in preparation for International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day (Nov. 22), I have been engaged in a number of personal and professional discussions regarding the nature of suicide and the view some have that this is a “selfish” act. In an effort to honor the lives of those who completed suicide, and the families left to struggle with the lifelong impact of such a painful loss, I want to take this opportunity to describe what my work as a mental health counselor has led me to believe about suicide including the events leading to such a final act.

I suspect many of you at one point or another have already read suicide prevention articles or pamphlets or sat in on presentations regarding the “warning signs” of suicide. Williams certainly fits the national profile of one most likely to complete a suicide – white, middle-aged, male and a history of mental illness. I believe it is of particular importance to note the “middle-aged” part of this description.