Loving a broken soul: The lived experience perspective on the implications of Veterans’ moral injuries for families

Abstract

LAY SUMMARY Research on and investigation of potential implications of moral injury (MI) for Veteran family members remains uncharted territory while its harsh realities play out in their homes. Family members can feel a sense of distance and divide from the Veteran and, as a result, are left on the periphery trying to understand. Many internalize this distance as a reflection of their own worth or the quality of their relationship with the Veteran. Secondary exposure to events through the Veteran can also lead family members to question their own beliefs about the world, humanity, institutions, their loved one, or themselves. One also cannot help but wonder, what do the farther-reaching tentacles of MI grip? What are the potential implications for children’s development and their own moral schemas? Could family support and understanding play a vital role in the Veteran’s recovery from MI? This article discusses potential implications for family members of Veteran MI from the lived experience perspective of the spouse of a Veteran with posttraumatic stress disorder and MI who has a professional background in the fields of Veteran and family mental health and family peer support.