Moral Injury

Beware the wounding of your soul.

Moral Injury

Moral Injury is the wounding of the soul.

I think this is my favorite definition, though it tells you little about the various forms this injury can take. Rogue military violence, George Floyd abuse-of-power events, even watching your countrymen assault Capitol Police in the halls of Congress can yield the kind of guilt, despair, and turmoil of moral injury. It upends your understanding of the rules of the world; violates your sense of right and wrong and leaves you feeling conflicted and ashamed.

As a form of PTSD, it is the most difficult to treat, because it requires not only facing personal guilt, but addressing the collective guilt that lies behind the act: the illegal order, the required cruelty; the inhumanity in the service of a mission. Those veterans I have treated who bring this back from military service are wounded souls indeed, and fare much worse than those with longer tours, more extensive combat, or more dangerous outposts.

When behavior and rationale do not mesh with our definition of integrity, we are left with pure questions of conscience: Who are we? What do I believe in? Is my silence collusion? What guilt do I carry?

I hear these questions everywhere I go lately, from those trying to disconnect from politics so they can just manage their own lives; those still hoping they voted for change that would be good for us all; and those who believe the current administration is an unredeemable disaster in motion.

How do we protect ourselves?

Wherever you fall on the political spectrum, there are some things you can do to inoculate yourself from the internal turmoil that festers into moral injury.

1. Be honest with yourself about your own moral lines. Separate the idea from the action. One can believe in capital punishment in principle and object to its manner of application or discriminatory use.

2. Speak out about the way goals are accomplished in moral terms. Our leaders need to hear not only from those who disagree with a government force reduction, but also from those who want that reduction, but are unwilling to sit silently while it is done randomly, dangerously, or illegally.

3. Refuse to fall into the black and white thinking of todays politics. We do not have to be on one “team” or the other, supporting every decision, but should argue for achieving goals in the most ethical way possible, consistent with overriding values of kindness, fairness and humanity.

4. Limit your indulgence in verbal name-calling. A little venting helps us all, but devolving into rabid, insult-laden attacks moves the focus from policy implementation to character assassination, and invites us all to become our meanest selves, not the strongest advocates for what we believe. Trust me, becoming the worst version of yourself is the FastTrack to regret and shame.

5. Remember that moral integrity is a choice we make, every single day. We use our churches, our professions, and our philosophical beliefs to define that integrity, and to give it structure. But ultimately, we are the decisions we make, and we must live with the morality they reflect.

6. Recognize that the histrionics of “breaking news” pulls us toward instant decisions. But the morality and ethics of complex issues are not always easy. They involve competing values and balanced reasoning. Give yourself, and others, the time needed to make a thoughtful decision, not just a quick one.

7. Refresh your soul. Do not let it become exhausted with fear, and anger, panic and outrage. Find whatever feeds your soul and keep it near. Music, art, prayer, relationships. Build something with a neighbor and rebuild your spirit, add perspective, and keep your moral compass strong.

Last night I watched David Brooks on TV, speaking about his shame, his disappointment, his sense that the country he has loved and defended as conservative Republican for most of his life is now leaving him in despair. I empathized instantly with the look of moral injury on his face. I do not want to be a part of this, it said. I am ashamed of the county I love.

When the extremists are gone, and majority Americans regain control of our institutions, our leadership and our public discourse, we will need to trust one another again. More than that, we will need to trust ourselves and feel ready to engage in the hard work of rebuilding a diverse America together. No doubt we will all have some things to forgive. We will have losses to grieve. But hopefully, we will arrive at that place with our integrity intact, ready to work together, knowing that we have not lost our souls.