Transcript
Some things that
we've heard veterans say are
because of what I did in war.
I feel like a monster.
I feel like,
you know, I have to carry this
my entire life
and I can't get better.
So I think that
that is a really common
thing to hear and to hold
feeling like a monster
because of what you did.
And you know, when you can share
how you're feeling
0 with your therapist,
it allows you to understand
what that means to you.
And it allows you to also see
the path towards healing.
Other things that we often hear
are that what veterans
did continues to haunt them
in their everyday lives.
And as a result, you know,
it has an
impact on their functioning.
So if you feel haunted
by what you did,
if you feel self-hatred
because of what you did,
your relationships aren't
going to be as successful.
You're not going to be
as effective at work
and you're not going to be able
to show up
as much with your children
or loved ones.
And so these are all
really important things
that we know
are going to contribute
to people's well-being.
And so looking
at that self-hatred
or looking at why you feel
haunted is critically important.
I think the other part of
moral injury is that people feel
incredibly stigmatized
because of what they did.
I had one veteran share with me
that he feels like
he took a life
and that in because of that,
the person's spirit continues
to follow him in his life
and ensure that, you know, that
he is always reminded of
of that person.
That memory will still be there,
but that memory won't continue
to haunt you
in the same way that it did.
They'll be
they'll be an ability
to have some closure,
but not get rid of the memory.
You will always
remember what happened.