Who gets MST?
MST can happen during war, peace, or training. It can be man-to-woman, woman-to-man, woman-to-woman, or man-to-man. • Among veterans using VA health care, about: • 23 out of 100 women (23%) reported sexual assault when in the military.2 • 55 out of 100 women (55%) and 38 out of 100 men (38%) have experienced sexual harassment when in the military.2, 3 What happens? There is no set reaction to MST. You may feel fear, shame, anger, embarrassment, or guilt. You may have a response right away, or it may be delayed for months or years. You may feel sad or scared months or years after the assault. After MST you may: • Avoid places or things that remind you of what happened. • Avoid your friends, family, and other people. • Have trouble sleeping or have nightmares. • Feel numb or feel nothing at all. • Have relationship problems. • Think about death or killing yourself. Some people try to deal with their feelings by pulling away from other people, working all the time, or using drugs or alcoh
