Moral injury (MI), sometimes referred to as inner conflict, is a condition that most often occurs in the setting of trauma. Trauma may occur from combat or combat-related activities, physical or sexual assault, accidents, being bullied, being discriminated against, and natural disasters. If you have been the victim of any of these events or have experienced other significant trauma and are struggling, you may have Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). You should seek treatment from a trained trauma specialist. It is important to know research has shown MI is extremely common in people with PTSD and it may interfere with its successful treatment. We would be happy to help you find a therapist trained to treat PTSD.
However, trauma comes in many forms. It may involve less severe trauma and loss, where anger or difficulty forgiving may be an issue. You may be disappointed or hurt by someone close to you such as a parent, spouse, child, or friend. You may have experienced a betrayal by a loved one, trusted coworker, teacher, or clergy. Any action or failure to act that negatively affects another person, yourself, or your relationship with God may create guilt, shame, self-condemnation, loss of trust, moral or spiritual struggles. Your worldview may be challenged resulting in loss of meaning and purpose for your life. As Christian counselors, we are uniquely trained to deal with the emotional problems caused by violations of your moral and ethical values and religious teachings. (Koenig, H. 2019. Moral Injury in the Setting of Trauma. Evidenced-base Christian Counseling. Light University. Forest, VA.)
