Abstract:Introduction: International research demonstrates that military sexual assault has far-reaching effects on the daily lives of women Veterans. The purpose of this study was to describe the impact of military sexual assault and subsequent posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) on participation in daily life activities among Canadian women Veterans. Methods: A qualitative exploratory study was based on interviews with 12 Canadian women Veterans purposively selected from a larger sample of 70 and on low participation scores. Qualitative interview data were analyzed using both inductive and deductive coding. Results: Participants identified five daily activities they struggled with: being out in public, relationships, starting the day, self-care, and productivity. Participants attributed these difficulties to known consequences of sexual assault, such as depression and substance misuse, and symptoms of PTSD, such as hyper-vigilance and flashbacks. In addition, they volunteered that their trauma had been exacerbated and their recovery had been delayed by feeling targeted, held back, bullied, and betrayed. They attributed these feelings to the military’s hierarchical culture. Discussion: This study emphasizes the difficulties women Veterans had many years later as they struggled at work, relationships, and community participation. Participants volunteered that they felt betrayed by peers, superiors, and Canadian Armed Forces administration. This further diminished their capacity to trust others, maintain relationships, and venture out into public places.