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

Monday, November 30, 2015

List Of Important VA Contacts for Veterans

Tuesday, November 24, 2015

More than 50 percent of sexual assault victims in the military are men, says study

More than half of sexual assault victims in the military are men, according to numbers provided by the Pentagon. The fact that more men than women are being raped and sexually assaulted in the military highlights the need to implement more safeguards and resources for servicemen who fall victim to sexual abuse.

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http://www.twisted.news/2015-11-06-more-than-50-percent-of-sexual-assault-victims-in-the-military-are-men-says-study.html

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What DOD doesn't want you to know about military justice

By The Associated Press

Posted: 11/18/15, 12:32 AM PST | Updated: 5 days ago

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The military justice system is opaque and that makes it difficult to locate information about crimes, trials and convictions. A brief guide to how the system works:

—Where can I find out about crimes committed by U.S. service members and how they were investigated and prosecuted?

U.S. Military sex assault claims jump 50%

WASHINGTON — Reports of sexual assaults by members of the military rose 50 percent after the Pentagon began a vigorous campaign to get more victims to come forward, prompting defense officials to order a greater focus on prevention programs, including plans to review alcohol sales and policies.

But officials are still unhappy with the low number of male victims who reported sexual assault, and they say there will be a greater emphasis in the months ahead on getting men to come forward and seek help. Final data obtained by The Associated Press show that about 14 percent of the reports filed last year involved male victims.

What it’s Like to Overcome PTSD After Being Sexually Assaulted

Recently I went hiking with my friends in Algonquin Park. We were walking on a trail. It was a beautiful day and I had been looking forward to it.

Then I looked behind me, and I thought I saw the two guys who raped me. I had a panic attack and I started freaking out. It was unbearable. My heart rate went up. I felt shaky and sweaty and extremely overwhelmed.

It didn’t feel like I was in Algonquin Park. It felt like I was in the same scenario as I was when I was 14, when it all happened. Every feeling and every emotion I had came back and it was happening all over again. I was lucky I was with two friends. But when you’re, say, working or at a mall and you experience a flashback, you’re back in this whole different state of mind. You kind of feel like you’re crazy and you’re being looked at. It’s not a pleasant feeling to start with, for obvious reasons, but you’re also forced to relive something that you never wanted to live in the first place.

Changing the Dialogue for Women Vets

According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, on September 30, 2015, the population of women veterans numbered 2,035,213.
The stories of female vets don't always get traction. In recent years, awareness of concerns like Military Sexual Trauma (MST) have received recognition, particularly through the documentary, The Invisible War.

How can women reclaim their bodies after sexual assault?

‘I typed “rape, body image, can’t go to doctor” into Google’ – years after being raped, student nurse Pavan Amara found it difficult to be touched or look in the mirror. Now, with the NHS, she has helped set up the UK’s first specialist clinic for women trying to overcome similar problems

Life as an American Female Soldier

STEPHANIE JAMES, 23

URBANA, IL

"THERE WERE SO MANY THINGS I COULDN'T CONTROL. LOSING CLUMPS OF HAIR WAS JUST ONE MORE THING."

I signed up for the army in June 2001, when I was 17. They were offering to pay for some of my college education. I wasn't concerned about the possibility of going to war; I just kept thinking, This is going to be cool.

Friday, November 13, 2015

The Challenges Of Transitioning From Soldier To Full-Time Mom

A former Army captain reflects on learning to connect with civilian parents.

I left my job in 2011 to care full time for my 3-year-old daughter and 10-month-old son. My days are now filled with crafts at the kitchen table, soggy diapers, Disney movies and playdates. I am so incredibly lucky to be able to spend this time with my kids everyday, but have discovered an unexpected challenge that I am still coming to terms with: connecting with other parents.

Study: Pentagon Vastly Underreporting Military Male-on-Male Rape

A study from the American Psychological Association claims that the incidence of male-on-male sexual assault in the military is vastly higher than what the Pentagon reports. In fact, the authors suggest “rates of military sexual trauma among men who served in the military may be as much as 15 times higher than has been previously reported.”

Study: Sexual Assault Among Male Service Members Higher Than Previously Thought

A study found that the rate of sexual assault among men in the military could be 15 times greater than originally believed. The study, which was published in a Nov. 4 special issue of the journal of Psychological Services, included two different surveys administered to a sample of 180 male combat veterans, reports Vocativ.

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http://taskandpurpose.com/skyline/study-sexual-assault-among-male-service-members-higher-than-previously-thought/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=tp-today

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Thousands Of Vets Are Getting ‘Less Than Honorably’ Discharged Because They Have PTSD

Two months after attempting suicide and receiving a less than honorable discharge from the Army, Kristofer Goldsmith received a post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) diagnosis from the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs.

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http://thinkprogress.org/health/2014/12/16/3604091/ptsd-veterans-benefits/

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What It Means to Me to Be a Female Veteran’

Eight women being treated for PTSD and substance abuse at the Brockton VA wrote a poem they were invited to read for Women Veterans Appreciation Day at the State House Nov. 6.

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https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/regionals/2015/11/06/what-means-female-veteran/zVY59CQWSLP3QhwvP1BDAL/story.html

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