Military Sexual Trauma (MST)

What is military sexual trauma (MST)?

Military sexual trauma, or MST, is sexual assault or sexual harassment that Veterans experienced while serving in the military. MST includes any sexual activity that happened against your will or without your consent.

Here are just a few examples: 

• Someone pressured or manipulated you into having sex
• Someone forced you to have sex
• Someone touched you in a sexual way when you didn’t want them to, or when you weren’t able to say “no” — for example, when you were asleep, when you had been drinking, or during hazing
• Someone made repeated comments about your body or sexual activities in a way that made you uncomfortable

MST can happen to anyone, of any race, age, gender, or sexual orientation. And it affects every Veteran who has been through it differently. Even years later, MST can show up in your life in different ways, affecting your emotions, your relationships, and your health. 

No matter what you experienced, or how long it’s been, MST doesn’t have to control your life. With treatment, you can heal from the effects of MST. Learn how VA can help.

How MST can affect your life

While every Veteran’s story is different, there are some common themes that connect many Veterans’ experiences after MST.

Many Veterans struggle with feelings of anger, guilt, shame, anxiety, or sadness — even years later. Disturbing, vivid memories can come up suddenly and repeatedly, and nightmares can make it hard to get a good night’s sleep. Some people use alcohol or drugs as a way to deal with these powerful memories and emotions.

MST can also make it hard to build and maintain relationships. After experiencing MST, it’s common to have a hard time trusting others and feeling safe in relationships. This can lead to conflict with family, friends, and coworkers — or just feeling isolated or alone.

Veterans who’ve experienced MST are more likely to develop some types of mental health concerns, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety. Some people may also have physical health problems like headaches, stomachaches, or chronic pain. 

If the effects of MST are causing problems in your daily life or relationships, treatment can help — whether or not you have PTSD.

Choosing to talk about your experience 

MST can be isolating — sometimes, it can feel like you’re the only person in the world who has been through it. Some Veterans blame themselves or feel like they should have done things differently to prevent it.

These feelings can make it hard to talk about what you’ve been going through. It’s also common to worry about what others will think of you if they know about the MST.

Though it can be hard at first, many Veterans who choose to share even a part of their story say they feel relieved after opening up to the right person — like a therapist, or a supportive family member or friend.

Some Veterans say they feel lighter, like the secret they carried for so long isn’t weighing them down anymore. And the support of family, friends, and professionals can help Veterans to heal and move forward with their lives.

Healing is possible — and treatment can help 

MST may be a part of your story, but it doesn’t have to be your whole story. Through treatment, you can learn to manage the effects of MST in your daily life.

VA offers free treatment for mental and physical health conditions related to MST, including PTSD. You don’t have to show proof that you experienced MST, and you may be able to get MST-related treatment even if you don’t qualify for other VA care.

Evidence-based treatment can help Veterans process and deal with the effects of any kind of trauma, including MST. Learn more about different types of evidence-based treatments.

MST survivors can also benefit from therapy groups, which offer a chance to learn new coping skills and connect with other Veterans who’ve gone through similar experiences.

The most important thing to remember is that it’s possible to heal from the effects of MST. Treatment works, and it’s worth it!

Hear Veterans’ stories

Find out how MST has affected other Veterans — and how treatment has made a positive change in their lives. 

Hear more from Veterans who have experienced MST.

Ready to take the next step?