Military Sexual Trauma (MST) Overview

Both female and male veterans may have experienced sexual trauma while serving on active military duty. Military sexual trauma is defined by the Department of Veterans Affairs as: “sexual harassment that is threatening in character or physical assault of a sexual nature that occurred while the victim was in the military, regardless of geographic location of the trauma, gender of the victim, or the relationship to the perpetrator.” This definition includes sexual harassment, sexual assault, rape, and other acts of violence. It further defines sexual harassment as repeated unsolicited, verbal or physical contact of a sexual nature, which is threatening in nature.

Examples include:

  • Being pressured or coerced into sexual activities, such as with threats of negative treatment if you refuse to cooperate or with promises of better treatment if you do cooperate.
  • Sexual contact or activities without your consent, including when you were asleep or intoxicated.
  • Being overpowered or physically forced to have sex.
  • Being touched or grabbed in a sexual way that made you uncomfortable, including during hazing experiences.
  • Comments about sexual activities or about your body that you found threatening.
  • Unwanted sexual advances that you found threatening.

Sexual violence is sexual activity when consent is not obtained or freely given. It impacts every community and affects both sexes and people of all sexual orientations and ages. Anyone can experience or perpetrate sexual violence.

Researchers know the numbers underestimate this problem because many cases are unreported. Survivors may be ashamed, embarrassed, or afraid to tell the police, friends, or family about the violence. Victims may also keep quiet because they have been threatened or do not think anyone will help them.

MST and Sexual Violence Signs and Symptoms

Considerable research has shown that sexual trauma is associated with increased physical and mental health problems. The consequences may be chronic.

Physical Symptoms:

  • Chronic pain (e.g., lower back pain, headaches and pelvic pain)
  • Gynecologic (e.g., sexual dysfunction, menstrual abnormalities, menopausal symptoms, and reproductive difficulties)
  • Gastrointestinal (e.g., diarrhea, indigestion, nausea, swallowing difficulties)
  • Chronic fatigue, sudden weight changes and palpitations

Psychological Effects:

  • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD
  • Depression
  • Suicidal ideation and attempts (especially among patients with PTSD)
  • Panic disorder
  • Generalized anxiety disorder
  • Obsessive-compulsive disorder
  • Substance abuse

Like women, most sexually assaulted men go on to develop PTSD symptoms. In addition, men who have been sexually assaulted are at higher risk for completed suicide than women. There is also some evidence that military sexual trauma may have a more deleterious impact on mental health than sexual trauma that occurred outside the military experience. As a result, veterans whose combat experiences are complicated by MST may have their psychological combat trauma effects amplified.

Impact of MST

Anyone can experience MST, regardless of age, sex, sexual orientation, racial or ethnic background, or branch of service. Like other types of trauma, MST can negatively affect a person’s mental and physical health, even many years later. These are some of the things you may experience:

  • Disturbing memories or nightmares
  • Difficulty feeling safe
  • Feelings of depression or numbness
  • Alcohol or other drug use to numb or escape from negative feelings
  • Feelings of isolation from other people
  • Difficulty with anger, irritability, or other strong emotions
  • Self-doubt, self-blame, or decreased self-esteem
  • Issues with sleep
  • Physical health problems

Treatment

Military sexual trauma (MST) can be a very difficult life experience. Recovery from the impact of MST is possible, and VA offers a range of services to meet MST survivors where they are in their healing. Treatment for any physical or mental health condition related to MST is provided free of charge, regardless of when the MST occurred. Individuals are not required to have reported their MST experiences when they happened or have documentation that they occurred to receive care.

MST is an experience, not a diagnosis. As with other forms of trauma, MST can impact you in different ways. No matter what you are experiencing, treatments and resources are available, and VA supports many paths to healing from the impact of MST.

For individuals who have mental health diagnoses such as PTSD or depression related to the experience of MST, evidence-based therapies are among the most effective treatments. They can include the following types of therapy, which are in many cases available at a local VA medical center.

  • Prolonged exposure (PE)helps individuals with a diagnosis of PTSD to gradually approach and address traumatic memories, feelings and situations. By confronting these challenges directly, you may see PTSD symptoms begin to decrease.
  • Cognitive processing therapy (CPT)helps individuals with a diagnosis of PTSD to identify how traumatic experiences have affected their thinking, to evaluate those thoughts, and to change them. Through CPT, you may develop more healthy and balanced beliefs about yourself, others, and the world.
  • Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR)helps individuals with a diagnosis of PTSD process and make sense of their experience of trauma. It involves calling the trauma to mind while paying attention to a back-and-forth movement or sound (like a finger waving side to side, a light, or a tone).
  • Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)is a structured, time-limited therapy that can help individuals who experience depression, anxiety, substance use disorders or other mental health difficulties. This treatment can help you develop balanced and helpful thoughts about yourself, others, and the future. CBT can help you modify your thought patterns to change negative moods and behaviors.
  • Interpersonal therapy (IPT)is a therapy that can help individuals who experience depression focus on identifying and evaluating relationship issues that may contribute to their depression. IPT can also help you build social skills to deal with problems in your relationships and improve your overall quality of life.
  • Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)helps individuals overcome their emotional pain by promoting positive actions and choices that align with their values. Through this therapy, you may improve your ability to recognize and achieve what truly matters most to you in life.
  • Motivational enhancement therapy (MET)helps individuals with substance use disorders focus on personal motivations for change. In this therapy, you’ll look at the reasons behind your desire to make a change and the potential benefits of that change.
  • Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT)helps individuals address stress and strong emotions, learn mindfulness and distress tolerance, and develop and practice new interpersonal skills.

Other Resources and Support

https://www.va.gov/health-care/health-needs-conditions/military-sexual-trauma/

https://www.cdc.gov/sexual-violence/about/

https://www.cdc.gov/sexual-violence/risk-factors/index.html

https://www.cdc.gov/sexual-violence/communication-resources/index.html

https://news.va.gov/129458/creating-a-safe-space-for-women-veterans-at-va/

https://mobile.va.gov/app/beyond-mst

https://www.socialwork.va.gov/IPV/Index.asp

https://news.va.gov/120413/seeking-support-after-harassment-sexual-assault/

https://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/msthome/treatment.asp