Hello friends.

This interview with a male MST survivor, is best introduced with these words from Lorrie Bunes, the wife of another man who survived MST:(and thank you for this Lorrie)

“When a person male or female is assaulted it changes their identity. The violation is part of them and they no longer trust their own instincts when judging a situation or the people around them. Its almost as if from that point forward they become a spectator in life hoping and praying that they will be safe. Some choose to cocoon themselves with familiar and safe surroundings but it affects them, their families, their children their entire way of existing. I think that the hardest part is watching the person you love just exist. It is a helpless feeling to try all you can to reassure a victim of MST that the world is not a horrible place and that there is hope.”
Lorrie Bunes.

http://www.servicethefilm.com/Wayne%20MEND%20MST%2010%2013%20logic.mp3

Thank you, Wayne…and thanks to all of you who have survived MST and shared your stories. Your courage will make it better for those who follow in your boots!

Patty

We interviewed Sue Downes, Alicia Thompson and Bridget Cantrell, Ph.D. Subject Matter Expert PTSD.  We’ve organized it by topic.  You can hear the complete interviews if you scroll down.

Alicia Thompson and Sue Downes served in Afghanistan together.  Sue’s humvee was blown up by an IED.  She was the only one to survive the incident and lost both her legs.  Sue and Alicia both suffered the loss of two fellow soldiers that day.  Alicia was with the first responders and arrived just as Sue was evacuated.  Alicia helped with the weapons clean up and the removal of the remains of their friends.  Both Sue and Alicia suffer from PTSD and have thought deeply about its effect on their lives and relationships.

Dr. Bridget Cantrell is a leading therapist dealing with PTSD.  She specializes in counseling war veterans and travels the country talking about transitioning from warrior to citizen soldier.

                SUE AND ALICIA (and Brown)                             Dr. Bridget Cantrell

• 1. What is PTSD and how do you recognize it?

Sue and Alicia’s experience in Afghanistan and coming home

Dr. Cantrell defines PTSD

• 2. Trust Issues

Sue and Alicia have difficulty trusting people who don’t know the new you

Dr. Cantrell— why it’s so hard to trust; loving the new you

• 3.  Welcoming your warrior home

Sue and Alicia’s experiences

Dr. Cantrell suggests ways to help your veteran transition home

• 4. Reconnecting with your children

Sue’s children helped pull her through

Dr. Cantrell explains how children can be a gift and a challenge for a mom with PTSD.

• 5.  Reconnecting with your husband or partner

Sue and Alicia’s experiences

Dr. Cantrell’s suggestions on how to reconnect

Talking is so important

• 6.  Getting help: survival techniques, how therapy works and other sources of help

Alicia learned grounding techniques to cope with her PTSD

Dr. Cantrell explains why these techniques work and how to find help

Sue and Alicia—dealing with the stigma of therapy

Dr. Cantrell on fighting a “pre-existing conditions” diagnosis

• 7. Does PTSD affect women differently?

Sue and Alicia think women are stronger because they can ask for help

Dr. Cantrell believes women are more vulnerable if they feel male soldiers don’t “have their back.”

• 8.  The importance of women vets bonding and the internet

How Sue and Alicia’s friendship helps each of them

• 9.  The ideal return

Dr. Cantrell’s ideal re-entry experience

• 10.  Final Thoughts

Sue and Alicia

Sue Downes and Alicia Thompson served together in Afghanistan.  They shared their thoughts and feelings with us on PTSD so others might recognize the symptoms and get help.

Interview with Sue and Alicia

Dr. Bridget Cantrell is a leading therapist dealing with veterans and PTSD.   In this interview, she discusses what PTSD is, how it manifests in women in particular, how it effects relationships, and how to heal from it.

Interview with Dr. Cantrell

We recommend the following books for veterans and the families of veterans.  They will speak right to you.

Books by Dr. Bridget Cantrell

SOULS UNDER SIEGE: THE EFFECTS OF MULTIPLE TROOP DEPLOYMENTS-AND HOW TO WEATHER THE STORM

Books by Dr. Bridget Cantrell and Chuck Dean

ONCE A WARRIOR: WIRED FOR LIFE

DOWN RANGE: TO IRAQ AND BACK

                 Lashonna Perry and Christina Roof at 2010 AMVETS Symposium

Christina Roof talks with Patricia Lee Stotter

Christina M. Roof is the National Acting Legislative Director for AMVETS . In other words, she has your back in DC. Whether presenting  testimony to the U.S. House of Representatives or addressing a variety of  federal agencies.  She and Patty discuss how women vets can get their VA benefits to treat emergencies, MST, PTSD and other health issues and get service dogs. She and Patty also talk about services for homeless vets and how Christina works to get your needs addressed by the VA and  Congress.

AMVETS National Service Officers can help you with your VA benefits.

Christina wanted you to have these too and encourages you to use them:

Contact Info for House of Representatives:

112th House Members by State and District

112th New House Members, Local Contact Info

House Telephone Directory

112th House Mailing Labels

An Interview with Susan Avila Smith on MST and getting your VA benefits

with an introduction, read by actresses, of comments by women veterans on the VA from our Facebook group page, Service:Disabled Women Veterans in Transition.

CHAPTER ONE: THE ECAD STORY

Patty interviews Dale Picard on working with the puppies and young children.

http://www.servicethefilm.com/VelmaHartInterview072910.mp3

Patty speaks with Velma Hart before she left AMVETS, before she became a celebrity for asking President Obama a pointed question during a press conference and before The Daily Show and The Colbert Report made her flavor of the week. Ms. Hart addresses the issues female veterans face with heart and expertise.