Psychological Issues Encountered by Women in the Armed Forces and How they Might Be Resolved (Essay Sample)

Psychological Issues Encountered By Women in the Armed Forces and How they Might Be Resolved Name Institution Psychological Issues Encountered by Women in the Armed Forces and How they Might Be Resolved Introduction After experiencing a traumatic event, it is usual to be frightened or be anxious. However, if the feeling does not die away and the experience continue to reappear and there is a feeling of sense of danger, this may be an indication that one is suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. This is a common problem among the enlisted men and women. Previously, the term military women referred to women who were caught up in military life such as wives of Armed forces men, women holding civilian posts within the Forces, and those involved in non-combatant services in the force. However, with time, this changed and women started to serve closer to combat theatre. For instance, women engaged fully in a combatant mission in 1998 for the first time (Osbone, Gage, & Rolbiecki, 2012, 166). Military women or service women have a widespread history in the Military. They have been participating in U.S. Military operations since the Revolutionary war. However, they were not allowed to join all departments of the Armed Forces until World War II when the Congress permitted them to be employed on permanent basis even when the country is not at war setting a ceiling of 2% of the Military (Alliance for National Defense, 2005). By 2008, more women were actively serving actively in the US military duties representing about 15% of total U.S Forces and about 17% of National Guard and Reserve Component members (Military Family Resource Center, 2009) with about 14% of deployed forces being women. Both male and female military personnel are faced by both physical and mental health problems though women have a higher risk compared to men. These health concerns include post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), traumatic grief, depression; sleep instability, increased use of drugs such as tobacco and alcohol, and increased aggression and conflict. Anger is a materialization of emotions characterized by failed goals or hostile environment while aggression is the behaviors resulting from anger and can be in form of physical or verbal (Angkaw et al., 2013, p.1044). This paper considers psychological issues faced by service women and ways to solve them. Background Information Post-Traumatic Stress disorder is a condition that occurs after an upsetting tribulation involving physical injury or threat of physical harm (National Institute of mental Health, 2008). It results from one's exposure to war-zone. This harm may have been experienced by the one suffering PTSD or his/her friends or a relative or have witnessed another person being injured. Those suffering from PTSD may experience flashbacks of painful events, be aggressive, and become violent. The victims of PTSD may also suffer from reduced interest in vital activities or detach themselves from the company of others. These symptoms of PTSD usually begin to manifest after a period of about three months after the experience of the traumatic event. Service Women have twice the risk of suffering from PTSD than their male counterparts and time to remission these signs is longer. Only a small number of service women who suffer from mental health issues seek medical care. Most of them fear being stigmatized; they do not trust the medical intervention, lack of sensitization on how to access medical care, and lack of societal support. PTSD affects the health status of military women negatively. Those suffering from PTSD have poor overall body functioning and are at a higher risk of suffering from anxiety, depression, and substance abuse. There are two major traumas with service related PTSD (Ouimette et al, 2004). They are Combat trauma and Sexual trauma. Combat Trauma As the number of women continues to be deployed in combatant zones, the number of injured military women also continues to rise and some losing their life. Due to exposure to such incidences, female members are at risk of suffering from serious mental problems (Kline et al., 2013, p.257). Though women are more inclined to disclose their status compared to men, there still exists some barriers to access medical attention especially in VA scenery. They are hesitant to report military related trauma with VA medics because they fear stigmatization and there is no continuity with the treatment (Zinzow et al, 2007). There is also inadequacy in consistency of following up the treatment. Military Sexual Trauma Any woman can suffer from Sexual trauma. However, service women face the challenge of disclosing this encounter. This reduces their chance to have medical attention as well as legal process compared to civilian females. This experience often results to various co-morbid disorders lie depression. Military Sexual Trauma is a major contributor of PTSD among service women than being exposed to combat operations. Service Women are at a higher risk of being sufferers of sexual harassment and attack than service men but they are hesitant to place charges against their fellow soldiers or their bosses. However, there are various interventions being put in place to encourage service women to report sexual assaults. The Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR) program was created by the Department of Defense in 2004. However, most service women fear jeopardizing their career and opt to keep quiet due to the various barriers to conceal their identity and fear harassment from colleagues. Traumatic Brain Injury This condition occurs due to head injury caused by bullets or blasts and may damage brain without leaving a blot. Symptoms include emotional issues, dizziness, sleep disorders, and memory loss. Some of this symptoms overlaps with PTSD symptoms and may lead to the wrong diagnosis, which is a major challenge to women veterans. Other Mental issues Affecting Women in Combat missions The institutional sexual disparity, and uncertainties regarding a service woman roles in the Forces also contribute to stress and results in psychological issues that affect women. Historically, the military environment has been a male dominated environment characterized by masculinity, which undermines service women affecting their morale and causes environmental stress. To receive recognition, they have to work extra harder in comparison to their male counterparts. This pressure to prove their worth again may lead to depression and obsessive-compulsive disorders. Serving in the Forces sometimes makes women to feel it is a typical career for them. Because of this, they may feel isolated and lack of support from fellow service members, family, and friends. In most cases, women are the primary caretaker for their families – both to their children and the elderly. Extended deployment may compound their stress for taking care for their families. Furthermore, inadequate and poor sanitation for women in combat situations can lead to physical and mental health problems. For instance, inadequate facilities for urination needs can lead to bladder complications. Women may also feel a sense of insecurity due to the isolated latrines. These stresses can compound and complicate diagnostic measures and treatment of PTSD in them. The Effects of Psychological Problems in Military Women Mood Disorders Service women have a greater risk of suffering from anxiety and mood disorders, especially those deployed on to combat operations. For instance, women veterans who participated in Gulf War and were exposed to combat operations, showed a high rate of developing anxiety and depression in comparison to those who were not exposed to combat operations (Black et al., 2004, p.138). In a study conducted on the soldiers deployed on both Iraq and Afghanistan missions, revealed that service women were more prone to be diagnosed with depression compared to men (Haskell et al., 2010, p.269). There is also increased rate of committing suicide and attempts among the young serving military women (Wojcik, Akhtar & Hassell, 2009). 25% of service women deaths occurred from suicide, which was the leading cause of death among the military women. This is accredited due to lack f access to health care. Substance Abuse Substance abuse especially use of alcohol, tobacco and other remedy drugs has been a concern for service-women trying to deal with stress and other mentor health disorders. The working conditions such as relocation from their homeland and separation with their families encourages substance abuse among the women military. Alcohol is the main substance that is abused especially during service enlistment and pre-deployment (Service Women's Action Network, 2010). Heavy alcohol drinking is reported amongst the deployed military personnel compared to those who were not deployed. However, prevalence of substance abuse among the service women is lower compared to service men particularly to alcohol and tobacco. Amongst military women, the rate of drinking alcohol is about 15% higher compared to civilian women (Williasmon & Mulhall, 2009, p.9). Treatment of alcohol abuse attracts the attention of the commanders and may have negative career impact. Because of this, service members avoid accessing alcohol abuse treatment hence the cause factors are not resolved. Family Issues Social support is a significant portion contributing to the risk factors to develop PTSD among service members. According to Vogt and colleagues (2011), social support plays a major role in mediating PTSD symptoms in enlisted females. Military operations not only affect the service members involved, but also the members of their families. Amongst the military operating in foreign land, infidelity has been a major problem and most families faces divorce ...