Life As An MST Survivor - Understanding

Life As An MST Survivor - Understanding 2024

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LIFE AS AN MST SURVIVOR - UNDERSTANDING

In this segment we will focus on "Understanding" for MTS Survivors. Before a survivor can move on from the experience, they have to first have a greater understanding of it and what comes next.

SELF PERSECUTION AND LACK OF TRUST | PROPER RECOGNITION AND TREATMENT
PROPER RECOGNITION AND TREATMENT - CONTINUED

	Self Persecution and Lack of Trust Blaming yourself and losing trust in others is a part of MST "As each week passed, the physical measurement / punishment evolved to an even greater degree, but so did the anger and desire to fight back. In a moment of defiant rage I finally struck the officer."
"Expecting someone would be sure to understand my actions once informed of the abuse was far from correct. Instead, I got a reduction in rank and told the hearing was not about my complaint but about my striking an officer.
* A quote from one of the Veteran MST Survivors interviewed
Many MST survivor Veterans are fighting for their VA compensation for in-service sexual abuse, yet are told "No record of your ever filing a complaint or report to anyone during your military service." Despite having in fact reported the sexual assault, this can become the end result.
The above information was given by another Veteran, an MST survivor who I interviewed for this article. He was seeking help yet found there was none. In reviewing his service records, I found that no report was could be found on the sexual abuse on this man, only his retaliatory action.
For a survivor who faces such a situation as detailed above, they are left with with no option but to internalize their anger and pain, turning against their own self. They are left with an event in their military service where no record is ever made of their reporting the abuse.
While my own experience as an MST survivor has been what seems at times an overwhelming challenge, it is but a mere ripple in a pond in comparison to other fellow MST survivor Veterans whose experiences have been shared with me.

Treatment for any physical or mental health condition related to MST
is provided be free of charge, regardless of when the MST occurred

Proper Recognition and Treatment - Part 1
Recognizining you are not at fault, the first step in getting the help you need

Whether a woman or man, sexual assault and / or harassment by a person of the same sex is common in the military, This generally tends to be more prevalent with males, although not entirely. The assault can be MST, (Military Sexual Trauma), MSH, (Military Sexual Harassment), or MSA, (Military Sexual Assault), with MST the most prevalent.

Men and women alike find themselves becoming a victim of the abuse of authority in the military. Contact is made with someone in the chain of command to report the assault(s), yet that person's consideration of consequences for their reporting it can overwhelm their moral thinking. The question of trust to report the incident(s) can become an action deferred out of fear by the victim and those they trust most.

Because of the lacking in full understanding by many doctors / mental health professionals of what MST is and the effects from the resulting PTSD are, the challenge for MST survivors is a looming concern. This feeds the anger and confusion creating the impression you are just going circles, never to see an end except perhaps through suicide for many. Despite this, a person must realize they are not at fault and see qualified assistance.

Proper Recognition and Treatment - Part 2
Understanding the importance of Cause and Effect

First, we need to recognize that MST is the cause; PTSD is the effect; PTSD is the result of MST, They are not two different illnesses or traumatic conditions. One of the biggest threats of PTSD itself is it's not always so viable in a Veteran. This is where proper recognition and treatment are of the highest concern.

Despite the overwhelming increase of soldiers describing similar symptoms all the way back to World War 1 and continuing to present day, PTSD and MST were not recognized by the American Psychiatric Association until 1980.

It is important to understand that despite the overwhelming increase of soldiers describing similar symptoms all the way back to World War 1 and continuing to present day, MST and the resulting effect of PTSD were not recognized by the American Psychiatric Association until 1980. This has created quite the conundrum for patients and doctors alike in the treatment for MST Survivors.

In one recent study, 12.5% of male troops and 42% of female troops reported
experiencing some form of MST while deployed.

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