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Individuals who are exposed to traumatic events that violate their moral values may experience
severe distress and functional impairments known as moral injuries” (Griffin et al., 2019). In
decades past, the study of Moral Injury and Post-Traumatic Growth was not given the attention it
has deserved. Now however, these topics are now receiving the proper research and support.
Why? I think this is possibly because, in the recent decade, a concentration on civilian and
military mental health support has exploded.
Griffin et al. (2019) describes the act of being exposed to or witnessing an action/event that
violates someone’s core beliefs as a potentially morally injurious events. It is no wonder that
veterans, and other members of public service, report feelings of religious and spiritual anguish.
Witnessing or engaging in acts of violence and war have rattled veterans to their core, and have
left them feeling abandoned by God, doubting their own beliefs and values, and leave them
questioning what their purpose in life is (Griffin et al., 2019).
After reading the study presented by Griffin et al. (2019), I found it quite interesting how the
effects on one’s religious beliefs impact their biology. The authors of this study found a
correlation between moral injury and stress-related illnesses. For example, injury to ones beliefs
can have a major (negative) impact on one’s physical abilities and pain sensitivity (Griffin et al.,
2019).
Dees (2011) defines post-traumatic growth (PTG) as a positive change experienced as a result of
a traumatic experience. True PTG can be fortified at the core level. It is hypothesized by Mark et
al. (2018) that the higher someone’s core values were prior to the traumatic event/moral injury,
the better the chance of growth because the foundation has already been established.
How do we treat moral injuries and promote post-traumatic growth? Moral injuries and PTSD
seem to be conjoined and by association, the treatment should be comparable and thus effective.
“Evidence based psychotherapies (EBPs) such as prolonged exposure therapy (PE) and cognitive
processing therapy (CPT) are the most recognized forms of EDP treatment and have shown
significant reductions in trauma-related guilt and shame” (Griffin et al., 2019).
What about the long term? If counseling professionals created interventions and programs that
are geared towards helping military members identify and promote positive outcomes, then we
can see the full benefits of the “Resilience Life Cycle” that was highlighted by Dees (2011).
The life cycle was broken down into three parts: before, during, and after.
1. In the “Before” stage, we set ourselves up to build resilience and prepare (or take
preventative measures) for conflict.
2. In the “During” stage, Dees (2011) describes “weathering the storm.” This stage is
vital for resiliency success. Dees (2011), notes that we are not immune to the storm,
but it is how we react to it that sets us up for success. This is the challenging stage
where many people run into religious and spiritual conflict and begin to doubt their
beliefs. If we call out for God’s light, He will show us the way through.
3. In the “After” stage, the person uses the strength and wisdom shown to them by God
to shift their inward grief to a positive outward focus and using their experiences to
comfort and help others that are still weathering the storm.
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As I mentioned in our first discussion board post, YOU have a purpose in life…sometimes it
takes us a little longer to understand what that purpose is and that is ok. That’s why this
Resiliency Life Cycle exists. When one person makes it through, they can help those who are
still stuck.
References
Dees, R. (2011). Resilient warriors. Creative Team Pub.
Griffin, B., Purcell, N., Burkman, K., Litz, B., Bryan, C., & Schmitz, M. et al. (2019). Moral
Injury: An Integrative Review. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 32(3), 350-362.
https://doi.org/10.1002/jts.22362
Mark, K., Stevelink, S., Choi, J., & Fear, N. (2018). Post-traumatic growth in the military: a
systematic review. Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 75(12), 904-915.
https://doi.org/10.1136/oemed-2018-105166
