Spreading the Word: Moral Injury & PTSD

Recently, I had the opportunity to talk with Ben Killoy on the Military Veteran Dad Podcast, and we spoke at length about Moral Injury.

When I first came upon research on Moral Injury by Brett Litz and his team, I was floored. I thought, how is it that no one is talking about this? That included other psychotherapists like me.

Ben and I spoke at length about how the difference between PTSD and Moral Injury. PTSD is rooted in fear—our brain performs mental acrobatics in order to keep us alive. Moral Injury, however, feels more nefarious because it is rooted in shame—it stems from events that violated our own deeply rooted expectations of ourselves and others. 

Moral Injury is born in the “should”—how someone “should be” treated or how things “should work”—in war and in life. These are the things we (or others) did or didn’t do—the things we can’t unfuck.

Research on Moral Injury tidily puts these into three categories: combat loss, perpetration, and leadership betrayal. We spoke at length about these three categories and what Evidence-Based Treatments help.

After the podcast, both Ben and I heard from several of his listeners. They expressed their surprise that Moral Injury is not a topic more widely discussed and were extremely thankful that we broached the topic.

One of these interactions has really stuck with me this week. A Silver Star recipient took the time to connect with us on our Facebook page. It was an honor to learn about his story and to know that, after listening, he has discovered a new tool to unlock his combat trauma. 

No one becomes a mental health provider for the money or the fame - but knowing that other Veterans are impacted by our work is far more valuable. Ben and I decided that we will do it again. This time, to really engage with our audiences, I’m reaching out to you. I want your ideas, feedback, and to know the questions you want answered.

Send your questions and feedback to me ContactUs@thesoldiersguide.com

Or, post your comments on my Facebook Page HERE

This is our Mission: a call to arms offering facts, empathy, and step-by-step instruction for Service Members to get the help they need, help family members to understand the battlefield, and connect civilians with a Warrior culture.

THANK YOU for caring about what we are doing and spreading the word about PTSD, Moral Injury, and recovery. Stay tuned for updates so you don’t miss this podcast when it goes live.

*****

“If you believe change is possible, you want to change, and you are willing to do the work, you absolutely CAN get your life back.”

Get your copy of The Soldier's Guide to PTSD, The Soldier's Workbook, 

or Acknowledge & Heal, A Women's-Focused Guide to PTSD

New Podcast Appearance with Military Veteran Dad Ben Killoy

I'm excited to share my latest podcast appearance with you! I recently got a chance to talk PTSD, Evidence-Based Treatments, and Moral Injury with Ben Killoy at Military Veteran Dad.

Ben was awesome to talk with and he has a cool origin story. Ben is Marine Veteran who stumbled during his transition back into civilian life and, in the end, forgot who he was. Ben had a career, a family, a house - pretty much what everyone else would call success - but he wasn’t happy and had a deep desire to do more and make a bigger impact. From that stumble, Ben found his passion in podcasting with the Military Veteran Dad Podcast with a focus on helping Military Dads step into their best life. Ben is a coach and helps other dads who feel successful at work but struggle at home.

It was an honor to appear on his show. I am a big fan of Ben's work and I think you will be, too. Here is a great place to start to learn about Ben's work and what he means when he talks about Dads coming home.

And here is a link to my talk with Ben: https://www.militaryveterandad.com/123-ptsd-and-moral-injury-with-virginia-cruse/

In this episode, we talk about Moral Injury and PTSD and how Dads can get the help they need by seeking Evidence-Based Treatments and learning how to reconnect with their families and their communities.

I hope you'll check out our episode and subscribe to Ben's podcast. 

*****

“If you believe change is possible, you want to change, and you are willing to do the work, you absolutely CAN get your life back.”

Get Your Copy of The Soldier's Guide to PTSD, The Soldier's PTSD Workbook, 

or Acknowledge and Heal: A Women-Focused Guide To Understanding PTSD

Podcasting about PTSD

 While getting ready to launch The Soldier's Guide to PTSD: A No-Sh*t Guide to Reclaim Your Life, I've had the chance to get out and talk with new audiences about the importance of mental health. I recently got to talk with Katie Salidas and Jason LaVelle on the Spilling Ink Podcast - my first podcast!

Nerve-wrecking, exciting, and an opportunity to talk about what PTSD is, is not, and how to get the help we deserve to get our lives back. I enjoyed talking with the gang about publishing and dreams for the book. Check out the episode here, and check out Spilling Ink to support new authors and their passions.

*****

“If you believe change is possible, you want to change, and you are willing to do the work, you absolutely CAN get your life back.”

Get your copy of The Soldier's Guide to PTSD, The Soldier's Workbook, 

or Acknowledge & Heal, A Women's-Focused Guide to PTSD