The number of women in the military is twice as high as it was thirty years ago with more than 350,000 women in the armed forces on active duty. But, according to the Department of Veteran's Affairs, that means an increase in the number of women how are facing the symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder or PTSD. It is estimated that one in every five female soldiers who return home will deal with some level of PTSD.

Natara Garovoy, the Program Director of Women's Prevention, Outreach and Education Center at the Veteran's Affair Palo Alto Health Care Systems says that some of the differences in how women with PTSD are diagnosed and their symptoms changes how they are treated as well. With men, the major problem tends to be drug abuse, with many men during to drugs to cope with their visions and memories while women may enter a depression and have other emotional problems as well.

Long thought to only be a mental disorder, PTSD is now recognized as a disorder that has physical, mental and emotional symptoms that can be very different for each person. Both men and women in combat situations are at increased risk of the disorder, which affects both genders at about the same rate, currently 20%. There are still a number of questions surrounding PTSD, however, including why it affects one in five- when they have all been witness to the same event.

PTSD impacts the way that the body processes and handles stress and may involve an increased production of certain stress hormones and chemicals that in turn can impact how the body copes with that stress. Some people may become higher sensitive and ultra aware, overreacting to noises and going into defensive mode. They may also have problems with intense emotions, especially anger, leading them to escalate a confrontation from verbal to physical in a very short time frame.

Women, who are at a slightly higher risk for signs of depression are also more likely to manifest more of the emotional symptoms of PTSD, including detachment and avoiding anything that might remind them of the traumatic incident.

There is no cure for PTSD, only treatment. For some, it may begin with intensive treatment and then may be lessened over time while for others, the treatment will be long term and an ongoing. It is important that the treatment plan be devised so that all aspects of the disorder, including the mental, physical and emotional are being addressed equally.