You Are Experiencing Moral Stress

Dear hearts,

I’ve been thinking about moral stress. Moral stress refers to the stress people experience when their actions do not align with their core values and beliefs. Sometimes this is because we ourselves hold competing values, but other times we experience moral stress when we are expected to act within the decisions of someone else, regardless of their alignment with our own values and beliefs.

During the time of COVID-19, many of us find ourselves facing decisions both inside and outside of our control. For example, most of us will not decide if schools will reopen, but all parents do have to decide if they will send their own children to school once they do reopen. Employees face particularly fraught decisions as they may be asked to act in ways that feel unsafe or irresponsible to them. Sure, people face these moral dilemmas at other times of life, but in this season, we are facing moral decisions at a societal scale that have ripple effects for those we love and care for most. Wondering if each decision you make has fatal consequences for yourself and others is a heavy burden to carry.

Experts in mental and spiritual health offer helpful insight about how we might proceed in this time of added moral stress. First, I hope that you find the naming of the problem itself to be meaningful. If you find yourself to be extra tired and anxious about the decisions you are making or the decisions you feel helpless to influence, you are not alone. You are experiencing moral stress.

Second, it is important to find ways to foster self-compassion. Many find spiritual practices such as meditation, yoga, and prayer to be avenues to experience self-compassion or grace. Practices that simultaneously engage our minds and bodies are particularly effective.

Third, it is important to find people with whom you can share about your experiences. This might be in a professional cohort, a friend group, or with a spiritual leader. If you’re at Franklin College, you might find it useful to talk to your chaplain about what you’re experiencing, and those conversations are confidential. Sharing our experiences can both alleviate our isolation and help us sort through our own choices and decisions. If you feel as if the stress and anxiety are affecting your life in profound ways, you might consider reaching out to a counselor or therapist. (Again, if you’re a Franklin College employee, you can seek external help through the Employee Assistance Program. Otherwise, perhaps your own workplace or insurance has resources to pursue.)

This past spring, we as professional caregivers warned people that their hearts may be tender with grief because of the quick changes and losses. The grief has not ended, but what I see now is growing instances of moral stress. Your hearts may still be tender, so I pray you continue to find ways to lovingly care for them so you have the wisdom to make the best decisions possible.

Blessings,

Rev. Dr. Hannah Adams Ingram