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Post by lakhota on Jun 8, 2011 21:49:14 GMT -5
Women Handle Combat Stress As Well As Men, Study Shows From 2004 to 2005, Michelle Wilmot served in Iraq as a member of Team Lionness, the first female team attached to Marine infantry units to perform certain combat operations. She went on weapons and explosives searches, conducted house raids, and got shot at. When she came home, people praised the 29-year-old for her service. But that praise often took on a tone that Wilmot, who served in the Army for a total of eight years, did not like. "I'd hear, 'How did you do this?' And 'How do you deal with this as a woman?'" she said in a phone interview Wednesday. "I'd think, 'How ridiculous!' The question is, how do I deal with this as a person? It's not a gender thing." A new study out this week suggests that when it comes to mental health problems following deployment, Wilmot is exactly right. The article, published in the Journal of Abnormal Psychology, finds that women are just as resilient to the effects of combat stress as men. Looking at the answers from a survey of nearly 600 veterans, researchers including Dawne Vogt, a professor of psychiatry at the Boston University School of Medicine and researcher at the Veteran's Administration's National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, tracked stress measures like whether or not the soldiers had fired a gun or witnessed injuries or death. They then crossed those responses with four different post-deployment outcomes -- post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, substance abuse and mental health functioning. What they found surprised them. One year post-deployment, male and females reported experiencing the same degree of PTSD and depression rates and had comparable mental health functioning. The only slight difference in mental health outcomes came in terms of substance abuse, and their male respondents were slightly more likely to report problems in that area. "In the broader trauma literature, there is a general finding that women are more negatively impacted by combat than men," Vogt told the HuffPost. "We hypothesized that we would see some real differences, with women looking worse off than men, but we didn't." Vogt was quick to caution that their findings were not a result of women -- who are barred from serving in ground combat units -- seeing less action than men. "The difference between men's and women's exposure to combat in Iraq and Afghanistan is actually relatively small among veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan," she said. "Exposure to combat is not just restricted to people in ground combat roles. It's insurgency warfare, there are no front lines. So more women than ever before are experiencing combat." According to Linda DePauw, a professor of history at George Washington University and an expert on women and the military, these women can often feel an additional strain. "Women have been able to function in the military even though they carry the double burden of trauma and [having to] operate without the support of a 'brotherhood' of brothers or sisters," she said. In spite of that, DePauw said that the idea that women might be somehow less adept at coping with combat stressors is "clearly false." The new study's authors did not delve deeply into why men and women show similar resilience to combat stressors, but they did offer a few hypotheses. They wrote that the finding could reflect "improved training of female servicemembers in recent years," meaning that women are better prepared to deal with combat stress. Vogt also suggested that combat is a great equalizer of risk because it's such an intense, persistent stressor that it overwhelms most differences. Wilmot would likely agree. Though she believes sexism continues to be a problem in the military and reported encountering it in several veteran's organizations, she said gender differences were a "non-issue" when she was out on missions in Ramadi. "Women are in combat now," she said. "We're not inferior, or less capable or emotionally weak. I think it's funny that we even need a study to say that." www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/06/08/women-combat-stress_n_873381.html
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Post by marshabar1 on Jun 8, 2011 22:01:50 GMT -5
Men are big babies compared to women. I'm only little and when I was young nobody beat me at arm wrestling except the very strongest men. Plus when the going gets tough, I levitate. 'Course I was raised by a mean mama. ;D
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deziloooooo
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Post by deziloooooo on Jun 8, 2011 22:08:00 GMT -5
There are so many woman police officers, Prison administrators , guards who are in daily stress full situations...firewoman too I am imagining, there are woman in the Fire Department as fire People aren't there?
I am not surprised at these studies findings.
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Post by lakhota on Jun 8, 2011 22:08:02 GMT -5
This study doesn't surprise me!
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 8, 2011 22:32:45 GMT -5
Women Handle Combat Stress As Well As Men
Actually I think the test was a bit off. After being the the military for 20 & working around women (plus my wife was in for 24) I would have to say that they handle stress BETTER than men in general.
One only has to look at the Israeli military to see that women are at least as good as men.
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❤ mollymouser ❤
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Post by ❤ mollymouser ❤ on Jun 8, 2011 22:48:02 GMT -5
The study doesn't surprise me, either.
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Post by Savoir Faire-Demogague in NJ on Jun 9, 2011 6:12:58 GMT -5
If this is the case and everything else the other posters note, why do women completely become unraveled and go into an emotional meltdown, when their relationships/marriages fall apart.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 9, 2011 6:56:34 GMT -5
Speaking in pure generalities here--- Women are emotionally resilient. We have to be. AND we are tough, because we have to be. Women may melt down sometimes, but then we are stronger than ever and keep on going, against terrible odds sometimes. I've read that a good meltdown is actually much more healthy than keeping things pent up and festering inside, like some men do. I know in my ex marriage my husband could barely get through a 2 week vacation having to deal with the issues I dealt with 24/7/365 with all the kids, the home, the pets, yard, school, bills-- you name it. I'm not a bit surprised that women do as well in combat as men. Actually I am surprised they don't, in many cases, do better.
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mmhmm
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Post by mmhmm on Jun 9, 2011 7:15:25 GMT -5
Here's another who's not surprised. Heck, we raise children, for crying out tears! Raising teenagers is kinda like trying to nail jello to a tree! Yep, I'd say we can handle stress ... combat, or otherwise.
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mmhmm
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Post by mmhmm on Jun 9, 2011 7:22:52 GMT -5
If this is the case and everything else the other posters note, why do women completely become unraveled and go into an emotional meltdown, when their relationships/marriages fall apart. They don't, necessarily. Some may, just as some men may have a meltdown under the same circumstances. It depends on the person, the marriage, and the circumstances leading to the breakup. I'm not known for meltdowns under any circumstances. Neither are most of the women I know well.
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Post by privateinvestor on Jun 9, 2011 7:25:14 GMT -5
Women Handle Combat Stress As Well As Men
I don't think this should come as any big surprise. I think and not an expert but women seem to handle emotional and physical stress as well as if not better than men.
However, sadly we are seeing increase in suicides among the military. But not sure what the ratios are for women vs men..
It has been my experience that handling combat stress is an individual situation. Some men and women seemed to handle it better than others. However it has also been my experience to see many women not seek help for combat stress because they don't want to be seen as being weak.
i work in this field at the VA Hospital in Palo Alto, CA so I could probably write a few pages on this subject Re: "Woman Handle Stress As Well As Men"...and bore you all.
But in summary I think Women do handle combat stress as well as men and in many case probably even better.. Younger women to me seem to be able to put their combat experiences behind them and move on with their lives but a lot depends on that combat experience because they all differ.
However there is one combat stress known as "Survivors Guilt"...where men and women in later years are haunted by the fact they survived a lot of combat while so many others did not survive or were permanently physically and emotionally wounded.
I think "Survivors Guilt" seems to be more devasting to men than women because so many more men experience it than women..But as the women who served in Iraq and Afghanistan reach their golden years I hope they seek help if they have this issue. There is help there if they want it...IMHO..
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cme1201
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Post by cme1201 on Jun 9, 2011 7:33:29 GMT -5
Here's another who's not surprised. Heck, we raise children, for crying out tears! Raising teenagers is kinda like trying to nail jello to a tree! Yep, I'd say we can handle stress ... combat, or otherwise. This is not something that is limited to women only, there are many single fathers doing it alone in this country, because the fetus carrier decided to walk out.
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ChiTownVenture
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Post by ChiTownVenture on Jun 9, 2011 7:35:55 GMT -5
If this is the case and everything else the other posters note, why do women completely become unraveled and go into an emotional meltdown, when their relationships/marriages fall apart. IMO some women tend to show their emotions (hence the emotional meltdown) much more then some men, this give the illusion that they are not able to handle the stress in reality opening up and talking about it allows them to deal with the stress much quicker and healthier then their male counterparts who keep the stress bottled up. When stress levels are high (in men or women) and more stress is added this is where a normal person begins to either vent or shutdown. Women tend to be better at venting. To give credit to us guys, I think that because we do try to handle stress without venting too much we are much better at working on auto pilot (i.e. just get the job done), and then tend to vent when it's all over.
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Post by privateinvestor on Jun 9, 2011 7:43:15 GMT -5
IMO some women tend to show their emotions (hence the emotional meltdown) much more then some men, this give the illusion that they are not able to handle the stress in reality opening up and talking about it allows them to deal with the stress much quicker and healthier then their male counterparts who keep the stress bottled up.
The first time a woman or a man experiences combat, they each deal with their emotions differently. The first time is probably the worse because they have never witnessed anything like that before. I knew guys who actually enjoyed combat and got a big rush, and talked about it for days. While others were shocked and silent..so each person deals with combat differently and gender is not the factor that makes each combatant have issues rather it is that person and their emotions that do come into play.
Anyhow I think I have said enough about this OP and let our so called expert here agree or disagree with my thoughts on this subject..
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Post by pig on Jun 9, 2011 8:03:47 GMT -5
Who cares how well they handle combat stress they can't and never will fight as good as a man. Hand to hand any woman would lose to a man. that is all.
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Post by privateinvestor on Jun 9, 2011 8:06:18 GMT -5
Who cares how well they handle combat stress they can't and never will fight as good as a man. Hand to hand any woman would lose to a man. that is all. Don't try it Pig you might just get your butt kicked..
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ChiTownVenture
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Post by ChiTownVenture on Jun 9, 2011 8:16:06 GMT -5
Who cares how well they handle combat stress they can't and never will fight as good as a man. Hand to hand any woman would lose to a man. that is all. A rifle or gun tend to be a great equalizer, as is a tank, fighter jet, etc. Also, I've met some women that can take down men much larger then them, it's not always about strength, it's also about agility speed and intelligence.
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Post by ed1066 on Jun 9, 2011 8:25:25 GMT -5
Duh. Any guy who's married already knows this...
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Post by pig on Jun 9, 2011 8:26:10 GMT -5
I challenge any woman here to a nude wrestling match! No kicking no biting (nibbling is ok) and no nagging.
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cme1201
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Post by cme1201 on Jun 9, 2011 8:27:36 GMT -5
I challenge any woman here to a nude wrestling match! No kicking no biting (nibbling is ok) and no nagging. Yeah right
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floridayankee
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Post by floridayankee on Jun 9, 2011 8:29:39 GMT -5
Don't try it Pig you might just get your butt kicked.. Never wrestle with a pig: You both get all dirty, and the pig likes it.
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mmhmm
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Post by mmhmm on Jun 9, 2011 8:30:20 GMT -5
Here's another who's not surprised. Heck, we raise children, for crying out tears! Raising teenagers is kinda like trying to nail jello to a tree! Yep, I'd say we can handle stress ... combat, or otherwise. This is not something that is limited to women only, there are many single fathers doing it alone in this country, because the fetus carrier decided to walk out. No question about that, cme. When it comes right down to it, few things are exclusive to one gender (excluding some biological and physical characteristics). How one handles stress is less dependent, I think, on gender than on emotional make-up. I also believe some tend to misunderstand the ways in which different people express emotions.
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deziloooooo
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Post by deziloooooo on Jun 9, 2011 8:51:15 GMT -5
Who cares how well they handle combat stress they can't and never will fight as good as a man. Hand to hand any woman would lose to a man. that is all. With all respect..hand to hand , if anything close to a normal happening, some one screwed up..my feelings are the suspect of strength of able to hump and carry , live in conditions for long periods of , in conditions that are unable to describe for anyone who has no been there, stress on ones mind as conduct operations..but possible not the same today though from pictures I have seen of those out there, it doesn't seem to have changed except for uniforms, and all the technical gear they seem to carry, would have loved to have those knee and elbow pads, brilliant idea, and the self protection gear..communications, seem all are plugged in..WOW, but more weight..as always a young persons field of expertise , old ones, enthusiastic as one may be, need not apply.
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AgeOfEnlightenmentSCP
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Post by AgeOfEnlightenmentSCP on Jun 9, 2011 9:03:13 GMT -5
Rush Limbaugh has long advocated for the United States 1st Amazon Batallion- an elite group of women given the most difficult task that could get a month's worth of fighting done in just four or five days a month.
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Post by privateinvestor on Jun 9, 2011 9:40:21 GMT -5
The IDF women are pretty tough fighters and have engaged in hand to hand combat protecting Israel...
VC & NVA women were excellent snipers and also very tough fighters but it was almost impossible to tell if they were male or female since some wore identical black garb and hats And only after a VC removed her straw hat did you realize she was a young woman and NOT a young man....both were tough, hard, and very good fighters IMHO....
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pepper112765
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Post by pepper112765 on Jun 9, 2011 10:15:34 GMT -5
You bet we do. We raise kids.
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deziloooooo
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Post by deziloooooo on Jun 9, 2011 10:22:03 GMT -5
"both were tough, hard, and very good fighters IMHO.... "... correct, looks like my thoughts on the hump and carry... , been a while, forgot..age catching up to me...leery of all , forgot..me bad.
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AgeOfEnlightenmentSCP
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Post by AgeOfEnlightenmentSCP on Jun 9, 2011 14:01:45 GMT -5
My martial arts instructor is a woman. I have NO desire to get in a serious tangle with her. She would kill me and I'm 6'3" 242 lbs; she is 5'11" 140 lbs.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 9, 2011 14:11:20 GMT -5
Even if a woman is small and over powered-- we still have the power to use the guy against himself, seduce the guy, and put a knife in his back. That works sometimes.. and you big strong men can't do that. Just saying..
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deziloooooo
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Post by deziloooooo on Jun 9, 2011 14:13:41 GMT -5
Even if a woman is small and over powered-- we still have the power to use the guy against himself, seduce the guy, and put a knife in his back. That works sometimes.. and you big strong men can't do that. Just saying.. You da bomb, you go gal...personally I like the idea of handing over the wallet and asking them to please go away now.
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