Veterans Wounded By ‘Moral Injury’ Struggle With Guilt And Shame Over War Actions
The concept of moral injury -- the psychological scars left by something warriors did or witnessed in conflict -- is gaining attention. The symptoms often mirror those of PTSD and many suffering veterans engage in self-torment or are suicidal.
The Associated Press:
Soldier's Journey To Heal Spotlights 'Soul Wounds' Of War
[T]hey'd spent years torturing themselves over acts that tortured their conscience. "Souls in anguish" is how some experts describe this psychological scar of war now being identified as "moral injury." Unlike post-traumatic stress disorder, which is based on fear from feeling one's life threatened, moral injury produces extreme guilt and shame from something done or witnessed that goes against one's values or may even be a crime. ... While the idea of warriors feeling remorse over battlefield horrors is not new, moral injury has gained more attention following the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan as mental health providers point to it as a reason why veterans aren't improving with PTSD treatments. More than 390,000 veterans of those conflicts have sought help through the VA for PTSD. (Watson, 8/15)
The Associated Press:
Questions And Answers About The War Wound 'Moral Injury'
A psychological wound known as moral injury is gaining attention in the aftermath of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, with veterans now being treated for these injuries to the soul — even as medical experts debate whether moral injury is a condition unto itself or a subset of post-traumatic stress disorder. Some questions and answers about moral injury, and how it compares with and differs from PTSD. (8/15)
