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Author Drew Webb, who served as a combat medic in the Afghanistan War, held a preview session on May 14 of his eight-week workshop and support group on how to identify and survive “moral injury” at the Hollister Veterans’ Memorial Building for a small group of participants.
The free course, running from May 26-July 14, is designed for veterans and first responders, but open to anyone who feels they might benefit.
Webb defines moral injury, a condition first clinically defined in 2009, as “a sin committed by or precipitated by an individual that they live with and really can’t get over.” It’s a dangerous condition, Webb said, if left untreated.
“I know for a fact,” he said, “that when people with moral injury have isolated themselves long enough, when they haven’t got a name for it, when they go down to a dark hole, the potential for suicide is real.”
Webb draws a distinction between post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which he described as something that happens to an individual, and moral injury, which is something the person inflicts on themselves.
“Many people understand PTSD in terms of fear and trauma,” he said, “Moral injury often involves guilt, shame, betrayal, regret or questioning of deeply held beliefs about ourselves, leadership or humanity itself.”
Webb, who spoke on moral injury at the March 28 All Wars Veteran Appreciation Dinner, built the course around his book, “Unbreakable Valor,” a chronicle of his time in Afghanistan and his struggle with recovery upon his discharge.
Participants at the practice session received a copy of “Unbreakable Valor” and a workbook based on the course. The first exercise was to fill out a “Moral Injury and Distress Scale” designed by the Veterans Administration’s National Center for PTSD, which Webb said they can use to gauge their progress through the series.
There are three questions about how the participant might have performed or witnessed actions that violate their own morals or values, followed by a question as to how deeply the experience bothered them.
The first six sessions will examine individual chapters of Webb’s book, beginning with the second, “Lessons Learned,” in which the author found himself unable to help a critically wounded soldier because he did not have his medical bag.
This will be followed by a written “after-action review,” in which the elements of the episode were broken down and examined for issues such as how the participant perceived the story, why the incident mattered, and what they would have told the soldier in the story if they had been there.
“Writing it out,” he said, “gives a name to something that they’ve been feeling for a long time. It is the key to moving forward with their lives. Once they learn how to do the narrative writing, they can write their own story.”
In a regular session, the review will conclude with a small-group discussion, during which each participant will be asked to share their perspective on what happened in the chapter and their perception of the incident’s episode of moral injury.
“They will never be required to share private details,” Webb said. “They can simply listen, reflect and participate at their own comfort level. The goal here is not perfection. It is understanding, connection and beginning conversations many of them have avoided for years.”
Once participants have a “muscle memory” of what moral injury is through the stories, the last two sessions will be devoted to exploring similar experiences they might have had, using the same template.
“This ensures that they start at the beginning of the story,” Webb said, “and work through it to the end. Because with moral injury, all we do is focus on the bad portion of it, not the things leading up to it.”
Webb said he formulated his approach based on his experience in group sessions, where he broke down the experiences to examine what was not working and what was working. Crediting the writing of his book for saving his life, he said he wants other people who have suffered from moral injury to have the same breakthrough.
One participant who spoke to BenitoLink after the workshop said he felt Webb was “on the right track” with his presentation, which gave everyone a chance to share their personal views.
“Even though the stories weren’t the same as what I have been through,” the participant said, “the scenarios were similar, and I felt my feelings, thoughts and emotions were definitely in line together.”
The participant described the workshops as a “good beginning” for anyone seeking help with their own distress over moral injury.
“Nationwide,” he said, “we lack a lot of resources for mental health. Sometimes people don’t know where to look for help or where to start. So anytime something’s offered like this for free, you can start with it and then look further into getting help for your mental health.”
Webb is financing the workshops himself as part of his ongoing effort to address moral injury as an underserved mental health need. He also sees it as part of healing his own trauma from his time in Afghanistan.
“I think for me,” Webb said, “this is about redemption. I know it sounds cliché, but I want to give back to others. I just hope that I’ll see that one person in the group with a light going on in their eyes. That’s what would make all this worth it.”
The eight-week Moral Injury Support Group begins on May 26 at 6 p.m. at the Veterans Memorial Building in Hollister. The course is free and open to the public. All materials, including a copy of “Unbreakable Valor” and a workbook, are provided.
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