Women Vets Struggle With Invisible Wounds

Many Suffer From Post-Traumatic Stress After Being Exposed To Combat Situations

(CBS)  You wouldn't know it to watch war veteran Keri Christensen in action as she rushes around trying to get her two kids off to school, but the 33-year-old wife and mother can barely keep it together.

"There are days that I'll just stop and cry for no reason," Christensen says.

She doesn't look the type to break easily, CBS News correspondent Lee Cowan reports. But after a 10-month stint in Iraq and Kuwait — where she drove convoys through sniper fire, saw her colleagues injured, and lived under the constant fear of roadside bombs — Christensen was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD.

"You feel like a part of you is just ... lost and you want to get it back, but you can't," Christensen explains.

She's not alone. Women now make up 15 percent of the active duty force. Between Iraq and Afghanistan, it's the largest wartime deployment ever for women.

Although technically not assigned to combat, in a war with no defined front line, women are finding themselves in combat anyway. They are exposed to exactly the kind of life-and-death situations that contribute to PTSD.

"This is the first time we've had mothers and daughters and sisters coming back into our families and our communities having served in these kinds of situations," says Wayne Gregory, a clinical psychologist with the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Gregory says about a third of the 155,000 women coming back from Iraq and Afghanistan have reported some kind of mental health concern. Many cases go unreported.

What is often the hardest, they say, is the transition from soldier back to mother and caregiver.

Christensen found herself snapping at her kids, and at times was afraid to drive them anywhere — fearing flashbacks to that day her convoy was hit by that roadside bomb.

She doesn't like it that her children have to see her taking medication either, but she says they understand.

"My oldest daughter, Madison, just gives me a hug and tells me, 'It's OK mom, we know it's things that happened in Iraq,' and — God bless them — they're great kids," Christensen says.

Like so many women veterans, she thought the toughest part of being deployed was being away from home. Now it turns out that coming home is just as tough.

[samthetvcat]

This story kind of broke my heart - hearing about the little girl giving her mom a reassuring hug, and what her mom went through in her 'non-combat' position of driving convoys and getting shot at. Hopefully time and the support of her family will allow her to heal . . .

[bluestardad]

GOD bless the women in the Military. All women should have to register for the Selective Service and serve in the Military! Equal Rights means Equal Responsibility!

[bluestardad]

Senator Lieberman from Connecticut was even mentioned by President Bush. What an honor. Thank you Connecticut for putting someone like Joe Lieberman in Office. You can look to your election with pride. Why don%u2019t the entire state of Connecticut volunteer to go to Iraq and fight. In fact all the states who%u2019s senators and representatives who support the war should have to send their children to the war effort.

[jdclueless31088]

I am a woman vet and I know the daily struggles you will be going through. I have suffered from PTSD for 30 years (never recognized or compensated). The women in the military have always been second class citizens but, with the war in Iraq and so much publicity, maybe now they will be recognized for not only what they do but, for who they are. They are soldiers. You will need lot's of love and support from your family and medication doesn't hurt. I pray that you will receive all the help and compensation you deserve. Keep the faith, it will never go away but, it will get a little better over time. God Bless you for your dedication to both your family and your service to this wonderful country.

[jdclueless31088]

I am a woman vet and I know the daily struggles you will be going through. I have suffered from PTSD for 30 years (never recognized or compensated). The women in the military have always been second class citizens but, with the war in Iraq and so much publicity, maybe now they will be recognized for not only what they do but, for who they are. They are soldiers. You will need lot's of love and support from your family and medication doesn't hurt. I pray that you will receive all the help and compensation you deserve. Keep the faith, it will never go away but, it will get a little better over time. God Bless you for your dedication to both your family and your service to this wonderful country.

[ecuadoriana]

Women! Stop supporting the insanity of the world's oppressors! When you take up arms & stand by their side you are joining the very people who have historically set out to enslave, rape & pillage, & ultimately destroy the world & with it life itself.

It's not ***!st to say that women are lifegivers, caregivers. That is a compliment! Men are the life takers & to join them means you deny the most beautiful thing a person can do- give & support the love of life. Bombing, shooting & torturing those you disagree with is counterproductive to nurturing life. Killing someone in another country is not protecting your children at home. Being at home to love & feed them, play with & teach them... THAT is how you protect your children.

Knowing their mother (or father) is out there killing other people, including other mothers & children, because you disagree with those others, only sends them the message that killing is the only way to solve your differences. If your child brings a gun to school & shoots a classmate will you be blaming TV & videos or will you have the guts to look in the mirror?!

[ffjeff319]

I have one word for Keri Christensen. Pathetic. It is sad that CBS chose to do a story on a fraud. It is concerning that a reputible news agency like CBS didn't take the time to research Ms. Christensen's alleged PTSD, or lack thereof. I am not a doctor. However, I served in the same unit Keri did while overseas. Something you all should be aware of. I know for a fact that Keri was only in Iraq 2 times. A majority of the photos that you saw were taken by other soldiers. Keri was injured at the beginning of the deployment and spent the rest of her time at either KCIA (Kuwait City Intl Airport) or manning a computer at our operations center. I am not aware of Keri being awarded a Combat Action Badge, which was awarded to over a third of the indaviduals in our unit. If she wasnt awarded one, it was because she was never involved in a combat operation. You as the public deserve the truth. Yes, ther are women in a combat zone, that doesnt mean that they are all in "Combat" persay. There are women who have been in combat, I am reminded of a soldier from the Illinois National Guard who recieved a Silver Star for her actions when her convoy was ambushed east of Baghdad. Or even more tragic, the death of SPC Michelle Witmer (The first woman in the history of the national guard to be killed in action) from Wisconsin (A funeral for which I personally attended). Bottom line, can women have PTSD? I say absolutely. Can Keri Christensen, I highly doubt it!

[pima6]

anyone else think bluestardad is the biggest moron on a site full of morons?

[yankee15613]

I hope she received the help she need faster then some of our other Vets.(I have been fighting for PTSD benafits since 1984 and am still getting the run around from the allmighty VA.
If they are still fighting Viet Nam vets the way they are how can you or anyone else beleive thatr they will take care of "The NEW VETS"
Bob Serena
VietNam 1970,71,12
USArmy 1968'1977

[delta5243]

anyone else think bluestardad is the biggest moron on a site full of morons?
Posted by pima6 at 11:52 AM : Jan 11, 2007

No, I don't. I think he's great American....I do however think that you pima6 might be a communist.

-Delta

[bluestardad]

I love you guys;)

[bluestardad]

pima6 ; I really do love you:)

[bluestardad]

pima6 have you registered for the draft?

[jimibear]

Ecuadoriana, once again you show your common sense and compassion.

Your Ecuadorian is lucky. :0)

[coyoterose1]

I am a woman Vet and I also served with Keri. I find it really funny that the convoy that she refers to she was not even on and she only was in Iraq maybe 5 times in which she was never in a really bad situation if you want to hear the real story watch a soap opera. Keri is one of those women that are starving for attention and will say anything that they can to get it Keri was never hit by a road side bomb and was never within range of a road side bomb. She was in a second sreial of the connvoy the only time that we were seriously hit and she wasn't the only woman that had kids that was over seas. Keri was having family issues the wole time that we were over there but to say that your problems started in Iraq Please!!!! You had head problems years before that and there are 299 people in your unit that served with you that would agree with me.

[delta5243]

wow, and the truth comes out........

[claimsratt]

More of the same ole' misreporting. Check you facts! I not only served in Kerri's unit, but in her platoon as well. She made the first mission and it was a very long time before she left Kuwait again. I agree with FFJeff there are women that have PTSD, but her, I dont know. I think she was "melting down" long before we left the US.
Now about the care that returning Vets are getting. I think it is awesome!! I have had three surgeries in the year since our return and I have no complaints. After all these years I think the military has finally gotten it right. The program is there but you have to make use of it. It is call the Community Based Health Care Organization (CBHCO). Granted you have to request additional medical care prior to your release from Active Duty, but it is there. So if you don't know what is happening, FIND OUT! Sorry it is the MSM and they can lie and make up facts.