Natosha Monroe

After over a decade as an Army Behavioral Health Specialist, BH-related experiences on 2 overseas deployments, from reports I was privy to while working in my active duty position in Washington, D.C., and from countless stories from military friends, co-workers, and clients, I have personally noted that interpersonal relationships were/are the most common theme amongst Troops contemplating or attempting suicide. This is something not “treated” with a diagnosis and a pill but that’s what our Troops typically get. Finally a U.S. publication has printed the truth: Our Troops need therapeutic counseling to address their most serious mental health needs. See the article link below.

How much time is spent being distracted, annoyed, angry, frustrated, or hurt by one’s own personal “shoulds?” Interpersonal strife and personal unhappiness often revolve around conflicting shoulds held sacred by different people. Such as the resentful wife whose husband should, according to her, be more romantic. Or the lonely man reeling from pain of a mother who should have shielded him from the abusive father who should have been kind and loving. What about the disgruntled employee who feels he should have received a promotion? And just consider the world-wide conflicts over differing political and religious shoulds. Are shoulds causing you or your clients discomfort?

Let’s face it: Today’s United States military faces more pressure than any other fighting force in world history. I’m not talking about the pressure to survive and emerge victorious from conflict or a battlefield—this has always been a pressure. What I’m saying is that in today’s military, the same individual named “Warrior” upon graduation from basic training must also answer to “Humanitarian,” “Scholar,” “Technical Expert,” “Model Family Man/Woman,” “Compassionate Leader,” “Professional,” “International Ambassador,” “Healer,” “Media Fodder,” “Political Pawn,” even…”Public Relations Guru?” All at the same time.

For the last three years I’ve been living in the Washington, D.C. metro area and my dog, Landry, has remained back home with my Nana in Texas. It might not happen every day, but occasionally it will hit me out of nowhere that I miss that little stinker! Whenever life gets a little hectic or I find myself being tempted to get wrapped up in the negativity around me, I miss Landry even more. He always cheered me up after a hard day. Now that I think about it, I think we could all benefit from taking some pointers from Landry.

According to StopMilitaryRape.org, a sexual assault or rape is reported as often as every four hours in the U.S. military. CNN’s Sanjay Gupta will feature a weekend report on sexual assault and rape allegations in the military. I was appalled (but not shocked) by what I read and heard in the online article, “Rape Victims Say Military Labels Them ‘Crazy.’” This article addresses the issue of how some survivors receive personality disorder diagnoses upon their report of a sexual assault or rape. I encourage you to read this article and to listen to the audio-recorded personal accounts of four military Service Women who experienced assault, rape, lack of support, and even a psychological diagnosis or military discharge: http://www.cnn.com/2012/04/14/health/military-sexual-assaults-personality-disorder/index.html?hpt=ju_t2