Post-traumatic-stress-disorder is a problem for some returning veterans with women being affected differently than men, according to Gundel Metz, who coordinates the women’s veterans assistance program for the State of Wisconsin.Â
Metz says a woman’s dynamic in the home dealing with their families can be altered upon returning from combat. She says a woman can either suppress their difficulties when assuming her role as mother or caretaker of the home, or detach themselves from her children going so far as to treat them like subordinate troops.
Metz serves on the Veterans Administration Advisory Committee on Women Veterans. She says although they have been addressing women’s specific needs, an inherent problem is the federal agency was initially designed to handle men.
The state veterans official says 20-percent of recruits going into the military are women and the fastest growing population of veterans is also women.