...Are women capable of serving in combat roles in the military psychologically? Kevin Carpenter BCOM/275 July 16th, 2012 Sandra Payne ABSTRACT According to an article in the Huffington Post women handle combat stress as well as men (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/06/08/women-combat-stress_n_873381.html). It is the purpose of this paper to show that psychologically women do not handle combat stress as well as men. Through research I will show that women have a higher chance of suffering from Military Sexual Trauma (MST) and have increased risk of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The definition of MST used by the VA is given by U.S. Code (1720D of Title 38). It is “psychological trauma, which in the judgment of the VA mental health professional, resulted from a physical assault of a sexual nature, battery of a sexual nature, or sexual harassment which occurred while the Veteran was serving on active duty or active duty for training.” Sexual harassment is further defined as “repeated, unsolicited verbal or physical contact of a sexual nature which is threatening in character.” In more concrete terms, MST includes any sexual activity where you are involved against your will (http://www.ptsd.va.gov/public/pages/military-sexual-trauma-general.asp ). PTSD as covered by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs can occur after a traumatic event. A traumatic event is something terrible and scary that you see, hear about, or that happens to you like combat exposure...
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...Coping with the Psychological Trauma of Cancer LaHoya Blount COM/172 November 15, 2011 Cassandra Baker Abstract After reading this research paper, it is understood how both men and women cope with the diagnosis of cancer as well as the psychological trauma they experience. Both positive and negative coping styles that patients experience are explained in this paper. Information is given that compares and contrast upon gender concerning patients’ posttraumatic stress disorder and the psychological trauma they face. Sources and coping styles are included that may become helpful in handling the emotional and physical trauma patients may have. Psychological Effects of Cancer Many Americans are diagnosed with various forms of cancer every day. Once diagnosed with cancer the patient go through some form of psychological trauma. Psychological trauma also known as post-traumatic stress disorder is associated with a specific medical illness in this paper it is cancer. Depending on the gender of the patient, the news of having been diagnosed with cancer takes each patient through some difficulties. Although all patients have to deal with being diagnosed with cancer, there are differences and similarities in each gender when dealing with the psychological trauma of cancer (Hagger & Orbell, 2006; Hampton, 2000). Men and women face emotional and physical trauma during treatment of cancer. Both men and women go through depression and anxiety. Men deal with the diagnosis...
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...nearly 35% of women. Emotional abuse by a spouse or romantic partner can often lead to negative psychological outcomes, including depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, posttraumatic stress disorder, learned helplessness, and resentment of the abuser that persists even when the abuse ends. There have not been designated therapies designed to help these women. Gayle L. Reed and Robert D. Enright (2006) examine the roles forgiveness therapy has on emotionally abused women in the article The Effects of Forgiveness Therapy on Depression, Anxiety, and Posttraumatic Stress for Women After Spousal Emotional Abuse. According to Reed and Enright (2006), forgiveness therapy is designed to help the client let go of the anger and resentment that stems from a justifiable wrongdoing. The researchers believe that forgiveness therapy will be beneficial to the women who were emotionally abused by their spouse because it targets the resentment the woman has for the abuser. These emotionally abused women often times experience learned helplessness and accusatory suffering. Learned helplessness often occurs when women develop self-blame in response to their abusive spouse’s criticism and ridicule. Whereas accusatory suffering is when the emotional abused spouse continues to feel like the victim and hold onto the resent. Because of the nature of emotional spousal abuse, forgiveness therapy can be very beneficial (Gayle & Enright, 2006). Gayle and Enright (2006) hypothesized that women who participate...
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...Understanding the Effects of Sexual Trauma Julie Johnson Liberty University Crisis Counseling 302-B04 March 8, 2015 Abstract Rape and sexual trauma are not just physical violations, but also violations of mental and emotional well-being that leaves the victim with a lifetime of emotional distress. Victims of sexual trauma are often left with devastating consequences that affect the physical, psychological, social and even financial part of their lives. Because the rate of sexual violence continues to increase, researchers study the side effects extensively. Adverse effects of sexual violence are individualized and very diverse, leaving victims with a broad range of impacts. This paper will define what sexual trauma is and the devastating effects it can leave on the lives of the survivors. It will cover different variables such as the psychological impact of the immediate, short term and long term as well as the physical, social, and financial effects of childhood and adult sexual trauma. This paper will hope to promote further discussions on the effects of sexual trauma left on the lives of the victim as to help any individuals and organizations that might work with the victims of such violent acts. The analysis of this report would aim to support individuals working with victims in the recovery process of sexual trauma from family support, spiritual support, and the counseling process. Understanding the Effects of Sexual Trauma According to Basile & Saltzman...
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...Christina Pickett Reflective Learning EDU-233022-01X December 3, 2014 Research Paper Trauma and Birth Healing from a traumatic birthing experiences could be achieved through reflection. A traumatic birth experience can be described differently by all demographics of women and cover a wide range of reasons for labeling the birth as traumatic. According to Katherine Stone of Postpartum Progress (1) One of the leading causes of post-partum post-traumatic stress disorder is when a women’s reflection of her birth includes some recollection of feeling as if either her life of that of her child was in danger. In some instances depending on if a mother was predisposed to depression or other mental illness, either by prior diagnosis or genetics this recollection of trauma may be very minor in comparison to another experience. We must be open minded when discussing something as a trauma, what might be considered traumatic to one person may have been no issue for another. Katherine Stone of Postpartum Progress describes this as “The actual experience, and how the mother feels about her experience, both matter.” Trauma is defined by Webster dictionary as “Any physical damage to the body causes by violence or accident or fracture etc.” as well as, ”an emotional wound or shock often having long lasting effect.” Synonyms: Psychic trauma. So how do we learn from a traumatic birth? First we must learn to ask the tough questions. We can’t be afraid to ask our healthcare providers...
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...Clin Soc Work J (2014) 42:323–335 DOI 10.1007/s10615-014-0496-z ORIGINAL PAPER Trauma Through the Life Cycle: A Review of Current Literature Shulamith Lala Ashenberg Straussner Alexandrea Josephine Calnan • Highlight every key term that refers to the following key concepts: 1) "trauma" generally a) "large T trauma" b) "micro-trauma" 2) "resilience" Published online: 31 May 2014 Ó Springer Science+Business Media New York 2014 Abstract This paper provides an overview of common traumatic events and responses, with a specific focus on the life cycle. It identifies selected ‘‘large T’’ and ‘‘micro’’ traumas encountered during childhood, adulthood and late life, and the concept of resilience. It also identifies the differences in traumatic events and reactions experienced by men compared to women, those related to the experience of immigration, and cross generational transmission of trauma. Descriptions of empirically-supported treatment approaches of traumatized individuals at the different stages of the life cycle are offered. Keywords PTSD Á Large-T and micro-traumas Á Neurobiology Á Gender differences Á Immigrants Á Treatment approaches The past is never dead. It’s not even past. William Faulkner The conflict between the will to deny horrible events and the will to proclaim them aloud is the central dialectic of psychological trauma. Judith Lewis Herman S. L. A. Straussner (&) Silver School of Social Work, New York University, 1 Washington...
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...Women and P.T.S.D 1 Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Women Women and Their Risk for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder 8 Oct 2012 PSY 121 Dr. Hornstein Women and P.T.S.D 2 Abstract This paper will explain the causes, symptoms, and treatment of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder as it relates to women. A multitude of studies were done showing the effects of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in men but recent studies show the severity of the psychiatric disorder on women. Researchers have found that non-combat veteran females had higher levels of PACAP (pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide) than patients without the psychiatric disorder and none in men.(2) Women and P.T.S.D. 3 Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (P.T.S.D.) is a serious condition that can develop after a person experiences or witnesses a traumatic or terrifying event in which serious physical harm occurred or was threatened. P.T.S.D. is a real diagnosable disorder, (3) although many health insurance companies refuse to acknowledge it by paying for it. P.T.S.D. is a lasting consequence of traumatic ordeals that cause intense fear, helplessness, or horror. People with P.T.S.D. may suffer flashbacks to the traumatic event, become aggressive, or numb, or withdrawn, have nightmares, and become emotionally numb or even violent. Most people who experience a traumatic event will have reaction that may include shock, anger, nervousness, fear, and even guilt. These reactions...
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...Abstract Addictions covers a range of maladaptive traits to include substance use, alcohol or behavior leading to significant impairments. There are various causes of addiction, but some theoretical frameworks indicates that addictions may have a genetic component that leads to a predisposition to develop addiction, a disease model of addiction or as the result of self-medicating of a primary disorder. This paper will take a theoretical view of the causes of addiction as well as developing a working definition of addiction. Causes of Addiction There are numerous theories regarding addiction and the causes of addiction; however, for the purpose of this paper we will discuss three areas or models of addiction as it relates to substance and alcohol related abuse. Before delving into the causes of addiction we will develop an understanding of what addiction is and what it is not by viewing a few theories and definitions of addiction. We will also develop an understanding of what constitute a diagnosis of addiction and causes one to develop an addiction in the context of genetic predisposition, disease and the prevalence of addiction among individuals with co-occurring disorders stemming from traumatic experiences such as childhood abuse. Addiction Defining addiction is not a simplistic task as there are many theories and definitions of addiction and how addiction develops. In Drugs and addiction: an Introduction to Epigenetics, Wong...
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...During the acute phase, the victim may go through “physical trauma, skeletal muscle tension, gastrointestinal irritability, and genitourinary disturbance.” Also, during the physical phase they may experience “…emotional reactions. These range from fear, humiliation, and embarrassment to anger, desire for revenge, and self blame.” There is a theme of fear, humiliation, and self blame within these studies. These reactions can lead to a changed belief on the act of sex. The long-term reactions, as described by Cwik, include the victim beginning “to reorganize her lifestyle, even though mild to moderate levels of the symptoms from the acute phase may still continue. One-way rape victims may reorganize their lives is through a change in residence in order to achieve a feeling of safety and to return to a sense...
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...describes the word trauma as: “a disordered psychic or behavioral state resulting from severe mental or emotional stress or physical injury” (Merriam-Webster, n.d.). These emotional stressors can be caused from a wide variety of situations. Examples of damaging stressors can include: sexual abuse, verbal abuse, physical abuse, exposure to violence or death, as well as many others. The powerful effect of these stressors can ultimately lead to deep psychological damage. The term “trauma”, however, is specific to the affected individual. Though an event may be extremely traumatic for one person, a different person, on the other hand, may not be affected at all. The way a person reacts to trauma can be linked to their environment,...
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...victimization rates for various incidents among Aboriginal women compare to non-Aboriginal women. This research will look into differentiating between...
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...This papers offers insight on the struggle among veterans that suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) related to combat and other stressful situations that are endured during military enlistment. There are many articles available as well as research that has been conducted on the effects of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) among Veterans that are combat and non combat related. There are many articles that closely show similar variations of statistics of Veterans in the United States of America that suffer from Post- Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) which varies by service area. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder can also be related to other occurrences such as combat situations, military sexual trauma, and traumatic brain injury...
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...called sexual dysfunctions. Sexual dysfunctions are defined as persistent or recurrent difficulties in becoming sexually aroused or reaching orgasm. There are many different types of sexual dysfunctions. They are classified into four categories: sexual desire disorders, sexual arousal disorders, orgasmic disorders, and sexual pain disorders. The disorder I would like to touch on that affects both men and women sexual desire disorders. Female and Male Sexual Disorders The orgasmic disorder is split into two categories. The first category is the female orgasmic disorder. This disorder causes women a challenge to achieve orgasm if they can achieve it, but this does not always count for masturbation. Women with this disorder usually do not receive enough clitoral stimulation during sexual intercourse to be able to achieve orgasm. Performance anxiety or sexual guilt may provoke an outburst. Also, trying too hard causes the opposite. Another main problem women encounter is not participating to the fullest. They rather watch than engage when it comes to active sexual intercourse. Women can also experience premature ejaculation, but most of the times this is not even recognized or classified as orgasmic disorder. Types of sexual dysfunctions include hypoactive sexual desire disorder, female sexual arousal disorder, male erectile disorder, orgasmic disorder, and premature ejaculation. Hypoactive sexual desire disorder is a sexual dysfunction characterized by lack of interest in sexual activity...
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...The need for a clinical treatment of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) sits at the forefront of research in the psychiatric community. With its emergence as a defined disorder, rather than a label of “extreme trauma” or “shellshock,” PTSD exists as one of the more difficult psychiatric disorders to treat successfully. Although several treatments are available at the clinical level, the success rate for curing the PTSD patient remains small and pervasive. In recent years, mental health providers, through numerous studies and related experiments, concluded that PTSD patients respond most favorably to a multi-layered treatment process. With the use of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), drug therapy, group-based therapy and other forms of psychotherapy, patients are achieving a higher cure rate and lower rate of re-occurrence. PTSD is an anxiety disorder triggered as a result of an extreme traumatic event in a person’s life. This trauma might be the result of battle, death, abuse, or violence of any sort. The trauma can cause symptoms to manifest within a month of the event or lay dormant for a period of time, according to all definitions of PTSD. This disorder causes the traumatized to continually re-live the event, to separate from anything associated with the event, either perceived or real, and to become numbed to their normal life process. Another specific reaction to PTSD is hyperarousal, or a heightened sense of watchfulness or paranoia. These symptoms are usually...
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...Homeless veterans are people (men and women) served their tenure in armed forces of the country with no homes or proper accommodations in the country with different issues and psychological problems. It is observed that many of the people live with severe psychological disorders that affect the lives in regards to their living pattern including life and death. As observed in 2012, about sixty-five thousands of homeless veterans in the United States of America are living without the basic necessities of life and among them about eight percent include female population. Furthermore, there is an increasing trend of suicide cases among these homeless veterans because of severe PTSD, Aids, and other serious diseases. Casualties of Self- Sacrifices...
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