Moral Injury: Another worldly experience

Moral Injury, sad to say, is a fact of life and has been with us for a long time.?

Though the pain and the trauma may linger, it does not need to be your life sentence.?

Introduction

The far reaching tentacles of Moral injury MI intrudes into every area of one’s life.?

Nothing escapes.??

Recently, we have explored the psychological, physiological and emotional ramifications of MI on humanity. The area of intimacy, close and sexual relationships, and how it is affected by MI, is under researched, however, another area requiring further development is its impact on a person’s spirituality.

Spirituality is one of those contested areas in the life of many, certainly in the West, but there are many waking up to the concept of something being bigger than us.??

I recall beginning my psychotherapy training over thirty years ago and one dare not even mention spirituality. I struggled to accept this denial in the context of where I studied in the? East Midlands.?

In the East Midlands, there were high populations of Hindus, Sikh’s’ Muslims and Christians where spirituality was an inseparable and integral part of their well-being. If one psychopathologises, (diagnosing one’s spiritual notion as a mental or social disorder), how could you, as a therapist, step into their world and accept them in a non-judgemental way? However, things have changed since the early 1990s in talking about spirituality, but there is still a way for further development.

What is meant by spiritual or spirituality?

Definitions of spirituality abound. However, I will use spirituality as defined by Maya Spencer, from the Royal College of Psychiatrists.?

Spirituality involves the recognition of a feeling or sense or belief that there is something greater than myself, something more to being human than sensory experience, and that the greater whole of which we are part is cosmic or divine in nature. Spirituality means knowing that our lives have significance in a context beyond a mundane everyday existence at the level of biological needs that drive selfishness and aggression (Spencer, 2012).

It is important to note that spirituality does not mean being attached to a religion or religious beliefs.

Among psychologists, spirituality seems to be much more accepted because there is a sense that what has happened to the individual is deep rooted and while we have various psychological tools at our disposal there is an intuitive recognition that ‘something deep within’ is at play, more than what we may understand.

I will contend that ‘something deep within,’ is what some may call the ‘human spirit.’ That part of us we often ignore until a major crisis occurs in our lives. In other words, the deepest part of ourselves which in one respect defies definition.?

The human spirit is more than our characteristics and our external selves. It is, as Kenneth Pargament and Patrick Sweeney describe, “more than a fixed set of traits and characteristics; It is an animating pulse- a vital, motivating force that is directed to realising higher-order goals, dreams and aspirations that grows out of the essential self” (Pargament and Sweeney, 2014, p 27).?

Thus continues Suzette Brémault-Phillips, et al, “When people encounter the trauma of MI,” and I have heard many stories since I began this series, “the? person’s core self, ideals, and perceptions of reality can be shattered and their spirit “broken,” leaving them spiritually and existentially struggling.

For those who have experienced, or are experiencing the devastating disruption of MI, most will conclude that it has significantly shifted something deep within, sometimes, defying words. The following quote by Irish author and broadcaster, Marian Keyes sheds some light on the phenomenon. “I think there is pressure on people to turn every negative into a positive, but we should be allowed to say, ‘I went through something really strange and awful as it was it has altered me forever,”?

One of the modern urges is to numb pain as quickly as possible and to move on to the next thing as soon as possible. However, if there has been a severe uprooting in our inner being it will take time to conduct inner reconstruction. I would add, before rebuilding begins, the one who has been injured must acknowledge ‘something’ has taken place.?

How is it possible to begin the process of recovery from such a traumatic and existential period in our lives? In this regard if we recognise MI as a deeply troubling spiritual experience how can we tend to those deep down invisible wounds?.?

Many of the psychological tools are available, as I have mentioned in earlier articles, but how effective are they in addressing or meeting the needs of such spiritual wounds???

Here is a list of spiritual models in which MI or soul repair can be treated. An important point to note is that major religious traditions have dealt with, and effectively treated MI for centuries

1. Find someone you trust who you can confide in.?
2. I have stated other MI models in my other articles.
3. Find a therapist who is trained in Spiritually Integrated Cognitive Processing Therapy: as it specifically uses the person’s religious or spiritual beliefs to aid recovery.?
4. Prolonged exposure where the person suffering with MI is exposed to traumatic memories through imaging the trauma.
5. Building Spiritual Strengths. This is a form of group therapy delivered within faith community settings.

Pastoral care treatments

1. I have stated Pastoral Narrative Disclosure in a previous article
2. Moral Injury Reconciliation Therapy (MIRT). While not as thorough as PND it is still useful for people experiencing MI.?

Here is the link for those who want to find out more information and treatments.

Moral Injury: An Increasingly Recognized and Widespread Syndrome | Journal of Religion and Health ( springer.com ) ?

There are other sources that may be helpful but one thing stands out. More research is required within the UK context, and in particular, within the workplace within British society.

Yours always. Wanting the best for you.?

Delroy Hall

www.delwes.com

With over three decades of experience as a psychotherapist, training, facilitation and keynotes talks and leadership development, I can work with individuals or organisations.??

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