Story Highlights
Dept. of Veterans Affairs diagnosed 60,000 veterans with PTSD
Women have comprised 11 percent of military force in Iraq and Afghanistan
VA: 22 percent of women, 1 percent of men suffered sexual trauma in military
Expert says women afraid to report sexual harassment for fear of retribution
By Randi Kaye and Ismael Estrada
CNN
DENVER, Colorado (CNN) -- On a good day, Keri Christensen spends the day watching her children. She prepares their meals, gets them ready for school and helps them with their homework.
Christensen is now in therapy for PTSD to overcome depression, nightmares, anger and low self-esteem.
But this housewife and mother of two is far different than most of the women living in her Denver, Colorado, suburb.
She's an Iraqi war veteran, among the first women in the United States to be classified as combat veterans.
Even though she's been home from the war for more than 2½ years, she's now fighting another battle -- this one with depression, nightmares, sleeplessness and anger. She says all of it is caused by her time in Iraq.
"I start feeling those feelings of 'I'm not worthy. I can't raise my family,' " Christensen said.
Women have made up about 11 percent of the military force in Iraq and Afghanistan in the past six years, according to the Department of Defense; that's an estimated 180,000 women in the war zone. The figure dwarfs the 41,000 women deployed during the Persian Gulf War and the 7,500 who served during the Vietnam War, mostly as nurses.
Unlike past wars, women are assigned to combat support roles. Many are seeing violence firsthand in an unconventional war.
Watch CNN's Randi Kaye report on female veterans »
As a member of the National Guard, Christensen transported tanks in Iraq. She says she was shot at and was nearly a victim of a roadside bomb when a convoy in front of hers was hit.
"You have this fear, 'Oh, my God, I still have to go through there,' " she recalled. " 'Am I going to make it?' "
Christensen says that she was sexually harassed by a superior while serving in Iraq and that the harassment added to the pressure created by just being in a war zone.
The VA diagnosed 60,000 veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder. Of those, 22 percent of women suffered from "military sexual trauma," which includes sexual harassment or assault, compared with 1 percent of men.
Christensen, who has been diagnosed with PTSD, says she doesn't like leaving her comfort zone. She doesn't drive more than two miles from her home.
"When I get outside my familiar safe territory, I start to feel overwhelmed," Christensen said.
"It gets foggy. Not sure where I'm really going. Something comes over me where I don't feel like I have control over it."
"PTSD is actually something that shows up over time, and so the natural recovery process doesn't happen," said Dr. Darrah Westrup, who counsels female veterans at the VA-run Women's Health Clinic in Menlo Park, California.
"So three months out or so, you find yourself still not sleeping, still with nightmares, still having intrusive thoughts," Westrup said.
"I just know it took a big toll on me because I was trying to deal with it myself. Just trying to be a soldier," Christensen said.
In 2007, the Department of Veterans Affairs found that women are reporting signs of mental health issues when they return home at a higher rate than their male counterparts.
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http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/03/19/women.veterans/index.html
Thank you for sharing my story with the public. Also Thank you for continuing to bring such issues forward. There is so much of my story that has neither been told nor brought to justice. It's a daily struggle one which will always make me thankful for what I have and the family and friends that have helped me get help and support that I need.
ReplyDeleteGod Bless and God Speed
Keri, you have no idea what a gift you just gave me. Thank you so much for the comment. It's wonderful to hear from you. I hope you are getting the help you need. It sounds as if you are getting the support from your family, which you need to lean on.
ReplyDelete25 years ago I had no clue I'd still be doing this work. So much has changed over the years and most of it is remarkable. People like you are facing the fact this wound is a wound and the fear of talking about it is eroding because of all the stories being told. Men like my husband, didn't have the support they needed and they suffered in silence. Families like mine kept it a secret and we found excuses for the way things were instead of being able to speak freely about any of this. So long ago. The wound has not changed since the beginning of time, but the names have changed. I have never seen it this bad this fast but the blessing is that there are so many others working on this now, writing about it, talking about it and seeking ways to help ease the pain.
Bless you for your service but above all for your courage.