PTSD & WWI

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder definitely played a part in WWI. There are three major symptoms of PTST. The first symptom: reliving an event. The soldiers saw people being blown up. These people included not only their friends and fellow soldiers, but also the enemy soldiers. It is scarring to see a mangled human body even if the person was not on your side. Since soldiers stayed at the battlefield and in the war for an extended period of time, the scenery did not change. This provided the opportunity for explosions or attacked to be relived at any moment. The second symptom: staying away from places and people that remind you of the event, isolating oneself, and feeling numb. The soldiers on both sides did not have the option to leave the battlefield if they felt like it. Although they might have wanted to escape, they could not walk away, forcing them to stay in the action. The soldiers probably started isolating themselves, so as not to get too close to a friend who was likely to die at any moment. Soldiers would become numb after being in a trench war for so long. They would be immune to killing people. If not, they would likely be shot themselves. The third symptom: feeling on guard, irritable, or startled easily. Because they lived in the trenches, the soldiers had to be alert at all times. They could be attacked at any moment. They could have to throw on their gas masks in case of a gas attack. It must have been shocking to see your friend not put on a gas mask, then die right in front of you. It is reasonable to assume that a soldier would be irritable because of the poor conditions in the trenches. They were probably easily startled from being on guard at all times. The slightest noise could mean an attack was on the way.

The veterans of WWI were at huge risks for PTSD. There must have been immense amounts of stress on the battle field. At any moment, they could have been killed. It must have been difficult to go from the trenches to their home, and many were not able to make the transition. PTSD was probably a small part in the start of WWII. Many soldiers were most likely affected, and could not adjust to life at home.