Emotional Impact
Moral Injury can wreak havoc with a person’s emotional world and sense of meaning and purpose. It is important to identify the emotions at play and then take steps to acknowledge, accept, and heal the emotional turbulence. This can be done with serious self-reflection and identifying your values.
On this page you will find:
Self-Reflection Questions
Emotion Wheel
Moral Injury Experience Wheel
Veteran Ted Talk: Overcoming Moral Injury
Self-Reflection
Questions to Consider Regarding Emotions & Values:
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How does punishment/withholding forgiveness make your life harder?
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What does your pain tell you about what you value?
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How would forgiveness help you live in line with your values?
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Who do you care about?
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Who do you like to spend time with?
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What matters to you?
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What inspires you?
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What infuriates you?
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What makes you sad, happy, angry, scared?
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What do you enjoy?
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When do you feel grateful or appreciative?
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When do you feel you’re living life your way?
Download:
A quick look at your Values
Download this 2 page Reflection Work Sheet, created by Dr. Russ Harris (shared with permission).
Corrective elements for Moral Injury are self-compassion and self-forgiveness.
Compassion can help break through feelings of hopelessness, and disconnection.
Forgiveness can be thought of as repeatedly letting go of the negative feelings associated with an event.
Both compassion and forgiveness take practice. (see Self-compassion page for more on this)
There are a range of emotions for
humans to experience
