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

Tuesday, February 16, 2016

The link between Gulf War Syndrome and depleted uranium

I recently penned an article, “Why are our Gulf War veterans dying?” Some of the comments touched my heart, and I want to update the article and discuss another serious consequence of those wars, the 1991 Gulf War, and the Gulf War II — wars that have been and continue to be fought against our own military by an incompetent and corrupt Department of Defense. But I also want to condemn the entire U.S. government for its level of arrogance and feeling that we are a nation that is above law. It seems that when we go to war, there are two enemies: the one we face on the battlefield and the one sending us off to war. We as a nation must stand up for our forgotten heroes. Let us be the wind beneath their broken wings.

Veteran: 'I would really have a problem with them drafting women'-VIDEO

Stephanie Shannon displays some of her medals from her service in Iraq. Credit: WNEM.com

GENESEE COUNTY, MI (WNEM) - Stephanie Shannon is a decorated military veteran. She served in Iraq during Desert Shield and Desert Storm.

Shannon said she saw the effects of combat first hand. She doesn't like the idea of eligible women being forced to sign up for the military draft.
"Military is not for everybody. It's a certain type of strong willed individual that's willing to risk to risk their life to serve their country. Not everybody is cut like that," Shannon said.

The First All-Female U.S. Navy Construction Team Breaks Building Records in Afghanistan

It was an ordinary task that was taken on by an extraordinary group — in Helmand province in Afghanistan, a project to build four 20-by-30-foot barracks in the mountains was handed over to the U.S. Navy’s construction forces, the Seabees. Not an unusual request. However, for the first time ever, the Seabees team tasked with building the barracks consisted of all women. Not only did they complete the project, but they completed it way ahead of scheduled, breaking Navy records. Not too shabby, ladies!

Individual Unemployability: Understanding the basics

As a VA claims processor, Veterans often ask me about Individual Unemployability (IU), also called Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU). The following is a more formal version of what I tell them.

What is IU?
Individual Unemployability allows VA to pay certain Veterans at the 100-percent disability rate even though their service-connected disabilities are not rated as 100-percent disabling. Veterans may be eligible for this rating increase if they are either unemployed or unable to maintain substantially gainful employment as a result of their service-connected disability (or disabilities).

House bill requires women to sign up for draft

Female Marine recruits practice rear hand punches during training at Parris Island, S.C., in July 2011.
Javarre Glanton/U.S. Marine Corps

The Marine Corps commandant and Army chief of staff told the Senate on Tuesday that they believe women should be required to sign up for the military draft now that they are being integrated into all combat positions.

WASHINGTON — Two House Republicans introduced a bill Thursday requiring eligible women in the United States to sign up for the military draft, just days after it was recommended by the Marine Corps and Army.

Alarming rate of female veteran suicides addressed in Brown bill

Last February President Barack Obama signed the "Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans Act," which calls for evaluation of existing Veterans Affairs (VA) mental health and suicide prevention programs. Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown has just introduced a bill that would require the VA to include an emphasis on suicides among female veterans in that evaluation. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

CLEVELAND, Ohio – A bill aimed at stemming a disproportionate rate of suicides among female veterans has been introduced by Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown, a senior member of the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs.

The "Female Veterans Suicide Prevention Act" would expand the Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) annual evaluation of mental health and suicide-prevention programs to include data regarding female veterans.

Read more...

http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2016/02/female_veteran_suicides_adress.html

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www.battlingthestormwithin.com

ALS, Gulf War Illness Caused by Toxic Exposures, Report Says

A report from the Boston University School of Public Health shows that Gulf War Illness is a result of exposure to pesticides and other toxins used in the Gulf War. The report also notes that in addition to Gulf War Illness, deployed Gulf War veterans suffer higher rates of stroke, brain cancer and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) compared to non-deployed veterans – a finding that was supported by a 2009 study from the Department of Veteran Affairs.

Toxic exposures caused illness in Gulf War veterans, new report says

"Toxic wounds" resulted in damage to veterans' nervous systems and immune systems, including neuroendocrine and immune dysregulation, autonomic nervous system irregularities, and reduced white and gray matter in veterans' brains, a new review on Gulf War veterans says.

Credit: © John Gomez / Fotolia

Twenty-five years after 700,000 U.S. troops fought and won the first Gulf War with remarkably low casualties, research "clearly and consistently" shows that exposure to pesticides and other toxins caused Gulf War Illness, a complex and debilitating disorder that affects as many as 250,000 of those deployed, according to a new report.

Senators offer legislation to reduce VA appeals wait time

A bipartisan group of senators is offering legislation aimed at cutting down the amount of time it takes for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to handle a disability claim.

Sens. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Bob Casey (D-Pa.), Dean Heller (R-Nev.) and Jon Tester (D-Mont.) have introduced legislation to create a five-year pilot program that would serve as a voluntary alternative to the VA's current appeals process for disability claims.

The VA Will Now Pay For Robotic Legs For Veterans

Navy volunteers are framed between the prosthetic legs of a Paralympic Military Sports Camp participant at Balboa Naval Medical Center.

Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Travis K. Mendoza

For paralyzed veterans with spinal cord injuries, a new technology involving robotic legs may allow them to walk again, according to The Associated Press.

TOPIC: Women Veterans--Speaking Up and Moving Forward

Battling the Storm Within Book - FREE Nationwide Veteran Advocate Services's photo.

Linda Vettrus-Nichols CEO of EvolutionaryHealer www.evolutionaryhealer.com is interviewing 6 Women Veterans who are Speaking Up and Moving Forward. I am honored to be one of those experts. If you think Blab or Periscope are cool, check out how these interviews are being done!

Register here:
https://sr108.infusionsoft.com/…/woman-veterans-landing-page

Women warriors have special health needs, researchers report

Women veterans are more at risk for lower life satisfaction, lung cancer, cognitive decline and hip fractures than non-veteran women, the Women’s Health Initiative reported in a new study.

What Little Steps Mean for Someone With Complex PTSD

I wake up most mornings, if I’ve managed to sleep despite the monstrous cocktail of medications I take, gasping for air, bolting to an upright sitting position and clutching my chest. It feels like my chest is caving in. It takes me a minute to figure out where I am, what year it is and if I’m in another nightmare. Yes, kind of like “Inception.” My mind has turned on me, warping every noise and every step into a dangerous situation. This is normal for me, although I use the term “normal” loosely.

Read more..
http://personalhealthrecords.in/2016/01/28/what-little-steps-mean-for-someone-with-complex-ptsd/

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www.battlingthestormwithin.com

Battling the Storm Within

Tuesday, February 16, 2016

"I would really have a problem with them drafting women," Shannon said.