Podcast Guests Rachelle Smith Podcast Guests Rachelle Smith

Surviving Assault Secrets: The Stunning Repercussions For Men That Speak Up (Part 3)

Brian, a Marine Corps veteran, shares the next part of his journey from Marine to civilian in this episode. Explore the lasting impacts of military sexual trauma, PTSD, and the urgent need for support for male survivors. Read the full story and access helpful resources.

USMC veteran, Brian, shares his story in the latest episode of The Silenced Voices of MST

In the final part of this series, Brian, a Marine Corps veteran, gives us the meat and potatoes of managing PTSD, sleep, and intrusive thoughts. He credits much of his growth to guided meditations and continuously searching out new and different types of coping strategies that help him regain his power.

Brian's New Outlook on Life and Coping

Continuing his story from Part 2, Brian describes importance of meditation, finding the right therapist, and using storytelling as a tool for recovery. He also discusses the toxic culture within the military and why systemic change is necessary to protect future service members:

Trying to receive help

Pin it!

Brian explains how sleep meditation and hypnosis techniques helped him process his trauma and find a sense of calm amid the chaos. Apps like Headspace are beneficial to those who have difficulty with insomnia due to anxiety, PTSD, and intrusive thoughts that can make it next to impossible to fall or stay asleep.

Like many survivors, Brian faced roadblocks within the military and VA system when seeking acknowledgment and assistance. He discusses how victim-blaming and also having mental health providers give up on him several times made it even harder for him to make progress. But he does stress that if you need help, keep trying. You will find someone that you mesh with, it takes time with different personalities to work together and build trust and rapport in therapy.

Toxic Military Culture & Systemic Failures

Brian and Rachelle discuss how harassment, abuse, and leadership failures create a culture where MST continues to happen unchecked. Although many members of the military are ready to ignore or outright deny the experiences of lives touched by MST, it doesn’t change reality. MST is a problem, and will continue to be until we address it as a systemic issue that is deeply ingrained in military culture. Brian shares why he decided to go public with his story, despite the stigma and backlash survivors often face. He explains how telling his truth helped him reclaim his power and encourage others to do the same.

Brian urges fellow survivors to seek help, share their stories, and find community in advocacy.

Click here to explore more survivors stories.

"Holding onto trauma is like a disease—it eats away at you.”

Key Takeaways:

  • Meditation can be a powerful healing tool for MST survivors.

  • Speaking out about trauma can be liberating and empowering.

  • The military must enact systemic changes to support MST survivors.

  • Finding the right therapist is crucial—don’t stop searching until you find one that fits.

  • Every survivor’s story matters, and sharing it can help others heal.

Don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel!

Join our mailing list to learn about upcoming episodes, new resources, and daily support.

Resources:

If this episode resonates with you, please share it, comment your thoughts, and leave a review to help amplify survivor voices. Together, we can change the conversation around MST and push for meaningful reform.

🎧 Full Episode Available on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/silencedvoicesmst

Part 1 of MSTy’s story will release on March 18, 2025.

Read More
Podcast Guests Rachelle Smith Podcast Guests Rachelle Smith

Surviving Assault Secrets: The Stunning Repercussions For Men That Speak Up (Part 2)

Brian, a Marine Corps veteran, shares the next part of his journey from Marine to civilian in this episode. Explore the lasting impacts of military sexual trauma, PTSD, and the urgent need for support for male survivors. Read the full story and access helpful resources.

Brian shares his story in the latest episode of The Silenced Voices of MST

In Part 2 of this 3-part series, Brian, a Marine Corps veteran, shares what it was like to navigate life after separating from the Marine Corps. He goes to college, tries to cope through partying, drinking, and promiscuity and doesn’t tell a soul that he’s a veteran. After landing a job with Jose Cuervo, he has a mental break that leads to him finding a magazine article that changes his life prior to leaving for China to rediscover himself. He explores finding his love of storytelling and expresses frustration with the lack of progress made by science in support of finding a treatment method for people with debilitating PTSD. Brian opens up about the struggles he faced after leaving the military, including the relentless grip of PTSD, the battle to be heard, and how he found strength in writing and advocacy.

Brian's Journey: From Dishonorable Discharge to Medically Retired

Picking up from where he left off in Part 1, Brian talks about the immediate aftermath, how his discharge affected his ability to get vital mental health care, and the lack of support he encountered after word spread among his peers. It was nearly impossible for him to seek justice, leaving him to process his trauma on his own. He earned the nickname “Blackout King” in college and hid the fact that he was a veteran from everyone and speaks about finding unhealthy coping mechanisms, including:

  • Substance use – Numbing the pain through alcohol and other substances.

  • Self-destructive behaviors – Using promiscuity as a means of dealing with what happened

Trying to receive help

Pin it!

One of the most difficult battles Brian faced was not just recovering from trauma and unhealthy coping, but fighting for his experience to be acknowledged. He details the legal and bureaucratic hurdles that male MST survivors face when they seek recognition and support.

He shares his frustrations with the military’s reluctance to acknowledge male survivors and finally seeing that he was not alone in an article from GQ, titled “Son, Men Don’t Get Raped”. The article mirrored how MST, being improperlty discharged, and stigma impacts not only mental health care access but also disability claims and post-service support. This segment highlights the systemic failures that leave survivors without the help they desperately need.

Why Men’s Voices Matter

One of the major struggles for male MST survivors is finding therapy that actually works. Brian discusses the lack of specialized care for male survivors, the stigma of seeking help, and how many veterans are dismissed or misdiagnosed.

He shares how he eventually found therapists who understood his experience, and how trauma-focused therapy, meditation, and support groups played a role in his healing journey. Brian also calls out the lack of research and resources dedicated to male survivors of MST. He discusses:

  • The gaps in mental health services for veterans.

  • The need for better education about the true extent and definition of PTSD

  • The lack of research on military sexual trauma and PTSD that actually heals those who suffer

He stresses that change will happen if more survivors feel empowered to speak.

Click here to explore more survivors stories.

Brian notes that male survivors are often overlooked and underrepresented in conversations about sexual violence. He talks about the challenges of breaking through societal stigma and why it’s crucial for men to share their experiences.

"I found my path in storytelling..” – Brian

Key Takeaways:

  • Brian illustrates the struggles many veterans face after leaving the military when they've been harmed and are not discharged under honorable conditions

  • The importance of finding a voice for male survivors of sexual assault is crucial.

  • Coping mechanisms can vary widely, and what works for one may not work for another.

  • Storytelling can be a powerful tool for healing and advocacy.

  • Brian's experience with the legal system highlights the challenges faced by veterans seeking justice.

  • The need for societal recognition of male sexual assault survivors is urgent.

  • Cultural rituals and ceremonies can play a significant role in healing for veterans.

  • Mental health treatment is often a long and challenging process for veterans.

  • Brian's transition to storytelling reflects a broader need for veterans to share their experiences.

  • The fight for recognition and support for veterans with PTSD due to MST continues.

Join our mailing list to learn about upcoming episodes, new resources, and daily support.

Resources:

Read More