Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Humanities/2015 December 18

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December 18

Shell Shock during WW1.

When troops had shell shock on the actual front line, how did it effect these troops? Did it alter their perceptions of the battlefield? --Vïtapalast (talk) 11:38, 18 December 2015 (UTC)

Have you read our article shell shock (and its more modern diagnosis, post-traumatic stress disorder)? Shell shock manifested very differently in different people, but about 10% suffered Conversion disorder, which is when severe stress affects the senses. The article also mentions dizziness and hypersensitivity to noise, both of which would be severely disorienting and frightening on a battlefield. Smurrayinchester 11:59, 18 December 2015 (UTC)

Some disturbing film exists of extreme manifestations of this disorder; see - British Pathé Shell Shock Victims. Alansplodge (talk) 13:49, 18 December 2015 (UTC)

Between my wife and I, we had four biogical uncles who served in World War II. Two of my mother's brothers, and two of her mothers's brothers. One of my uncles and one of hers were killed, her uncle after 2-1/2 years in a Japanese POW camp. The two surviving uncles suffered from "shell shock" which interfered with normal family relationships for decades. War is hell. Cullen³²⁸ Let's discuss it 05:52, 19 December 2015 (UTC)

Note that "shell shock" included both post-traumatic stress disorder and concussion/closed head injuries. As we know from recent American football studies, the latter can also have severe consequences, both physical and psychological. StuRat (talk) 07:18, 19 December 2015 (UTC)