Attention A T users. To access the menus on this page please perform the following steps.
1. Please switch auto forms mode to off.
2. Hit enter to expand a main menu option (Health, Benefits, etc).
3. To enter and activate the submenu links, hit the down arrow.
You will now be able to tab or arrow up or down through the submenu options to access/activate the submenu links.
Locator
Contact
Search
Menu
Menu
- MIRECC / CoE
- MIRECC / CoE Home
- Education
- Fellowships
- MIRECC-CoE Awards
- VISN 1 New England MIRECC
- VISN 2 Center for Integrated Healthcare
- CIH Home
- Research Core
- Education and Implementation Core
- Clinical Resources
- Brief Evidence-Informed Interventions Portal
- PPAQ
- Center Personnel
- Collaborations
- Post-Doc Fellowships - Buffalo, New York
- Post-Doc Fellowships - Syracuse, New York
- VA Integrated Care Links
- Other Integrated Care Links
- Center Locations
- VISN 2 CoE - Suicide Prevention
- VISN 2 New York MIRECC
- VISN 4 Philadelphia and Pittsburgh MIRECC
- VISN 5 Capitol MIRECC
- VISN 6 Mid-Atlantic MIRECC
- VISN 16 South Central MIRECC
- VISN 17 CoE - Returning War Veterans
- VISN 19 Rocky Mountain MIRECC
- VISN 20 Northwest MIRECC
- VISN 21 Sierra Pacific MIRECC
- VISN 22 Desert Pacific MIRECC
- VISN 22 CoE - Stress and Mental Health
- CESATE – Seattle
- NCPTSD
- More Health Care
- Veterans Health Administration
- Health Benefits
- Conditions & Treatments
- Wellness Programs
- Locations
- Research
- Special Groups
- Careers, Job Help & Training
- About VHA
Moral Injury
What are the Symptoms of Moral Injury?
The symptoms of moral injury can be grouped by who has committed the moral violation:
Symptoms Associated with Personal Moral Violations
- Recalling the experience when you do not want to (e.g., nightmares)
- Avoiding thoughts/feelings, and situations related to the experience
- Reduced interest in things and people that were once pleasurable
- Negative thoughts about oneself or the world
Symptoms Associated with Suffering from Others' Moral Failures
- Distressing beliefs about the self or the world which come from accurate beliefs about moral harms
- Shame or anger must be present
- Changes in one’s beliefs about the goodness of oneself or others
- Harshly judging oneself or others
- Social exclusion or rejection of others
- Behaviors that are harmful to the self or others
- Changes in beliefs about life’s purpose or loss of religious or spiritual beliefs or practices
When a person has done something that violated their moral code or has suffered because of others’ moral failures, all the moral injury symptoms can occur at once. If you or someone you care about is experiencing many of these problems and these problems have affected relationships, the ability to work, or leisure and self-care, you or the person you care about may be suffering from moral injury.
Next: How Can Someone Heal and Repair Moral Injury?