Veterans often experience physical injuries that can be seen and treated, but they also deal with invisible wounds called "moral injuries." Moral injuries are psychological wounds caused by witnessing or participating in events contrary to their personal values. These experiences may leave them feeling guilty, ashamed, or hopeless about their future. When it comes to sexual and relational identities, veterans must learn how to integrate these wounds while still expressing themselves authentically in their romantic and sexual lives. The process of integrating moral injury is different for everyone, but some common factors include understanding one's trauma history, seeking support from others, practicing self-care, and challenging negative beliefs about oneself and society.
Understanding One's Trauma History
Before a veteran can begin to integrate moral injury into their sexual and relational identity, they need to understand what happened during deployment and how it has affected them. This includes examining past behaviors and thoughts related to sex, intimacy, and relationships. Veterans should consider writing down their experiences, consulting trusted friends and family members, or speaking with a therapist. They might also read books or watch documentaries about combat trauma or PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder). By gaining insight into their trauma history, veterans can identify patterns and triggers that may be holding them back from living a fulfilling life.
Seeking Support
After understanding their trauma history, veterans can seek out supportive relationships and communities that can help them navigate the integration process. This could involve joining a veteran-specific support group, attending a workshop on trauma healing, or connecting with other individuals who have experienced similar struggles. It is essential to find people who will listen without judgment or shame - a safe space where veterans feel free to ask questions and share their thoughts openly. It may take time to build these relationships, so patience and persistence are necessary.
Practicing Self-Care
Integrating moral injuries requires consistent practice of self-care activities such as exercise, meditation, journaling, or art therapy. These practices help reduce stress levels, improve moods, and increase feelings of self-worth. Veterans should make sure to engage in at least one activity daily and try different options until they find what works best for them.
They should set boundaries around when and how much they engage in sexual and relational activities - taking breaks when needed and prioritizing rest over performance.
Challenging Negative Beliefs
Veterans must challenge negative beliefs about themselves and society. This means reevaluating previous assumptions about masculinity/femininity, sexuality, intimacy, and partnership.
If someone believes sex only belongs within marriage, they might question this belief and explore different ways of expressing sexuality outside of traditional norms. They also need to challenge harmful messages from society regarding violence against women or LGBTQ+ individuals. By challenging these beliefs, veterans can become more flexible in their approach to relationships and develop healthier attitudes towards sexual expression.
Integrating moral injury into ongoing sexual and relational identity is a complex process that requires effort and support.
By understanding trauma history, seeking out supportive relationships, practicing self-care, and challenging negative beliefs, veterans can begin to heal and live authentically.
How do veterans integrate moral injury into ongoing sexual and relational identity?
Prior research suggests that veterans often experience a sense of guilt or shame after returning from combat due to witnessing violence or engaging in actions that may be considered morally unjustifiable by their society (Hoge et al. , 2014). This is known as moral injury, which can impact one's self-perception and interpersonal relationships, including sexual and romantic ones.