SHELLSHOCKE

Annika, Ada, Joane

D
Impact in World War One.
 Introduction
The phrase "shell shock" dates backs to World
War I and was used to characterize a form of post-
traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) that many troops
encountered before the condition was formally
recognized1. The intensity of the combat and
bombardment caused a helplessness that could
show up as panic, fear, running away, or losing
the capacity to think, reason, sleep, walk, or
speak. Throughout the conflict, the term "shell
shock" was misused and vilified, and the
associated therapies were frequently severe and
ineffectual. The victims, their families, the era's
society, and culture were all negatively impacted
by shell shock. We will go into greater detail
about the signs, causes, effects, and aftermath of
shell shock in this presentation.

shellshock
2
 Early understanding
What were the early perceptions and
understanding of shellshock in WW1?

Shell shock is the name of the term, which

originated during WW1, to describe the type
of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) that
many soldiers experienced during the war.
Before PTSD was officially recognized, It was
a reaction to the intensity of the bombardment
and fighting that produced a helplessness,
which could manifest as panic, fear, flight, or
an inability to reason, sleep, walk, or talk.

shellshock
1
 Detailed opinions
In 1915 the term shell shocked was coined by
the British phycologist Charles Samual Meyers
to identify symptoms of trauma that developed
in soldiers who were in battle during WW1. At
first, Meyers believed that soldiers developed
symptoms due to repeated exposure to
explosions. Although exposure to loud blasts
created physical injuries that contributed to the
development of that trauma, the term quickly
fell out of favor. it did not account for the fact
that soldiers who had not been subject to
“shelling” (It is a reaction to the inability to
reason, sleep, walk, or talk.)

shellshock
4
Symptoms and how trenches affected
How did the conditions in the trenches contribute to the
occurrence of shell shocked between soldiers?

During WW1, the conditions of

the trenches contributed significantly to the
occurrence of shellshock due to the exposure
of combat. This is because the true cause
of shellshock was the exposure to stress
of combat. Furthermore, they were
often trapped in the trenches for long
periods of time, which meant that they
were almost under constant attack.
The trenches conditions was very difficult to
thrive in, it was often very
muddy, uncomfortable and the bathrooms
were overflowed.

shellshock
2
 Symptoms and initial actions
What were the symptoms of shell shocked and
how was it treated initially?

The phrase "shellshock" was used during WW1 to

describe what is now known as 'PTSD'. The symptoms
for this varied, however some of the most
common were fatigue, amnesia, tremor,
confusion, nightmares etc. ​The treatment for shellshock
changed and evolved over time. The treatment included
talk and physical therapy, electric shock treatment,
shaming, physical re-education and infliction of pain.
The First World War was the first time that the
psychological trauma of warfare was formally recognised
both by doctors and society at large. Shell shock could
manifest itself in a various of different ways.

• shellshock
3
 Quotations-
"Every time I went over the top – I
should say almost every time –
somebody went insane. Only one person
probably, you know, but I can see them
now coming along, singing you
know, they’re absolutely lost their
control of everything. I can remember
one man coming along with two men –
one either side holding his arms –
singing ‘Under the old apple tree.’ He
was blaring it out, top of his voice. And
almost every time I’ve seen men taken
out of the line, but there weren’t many.
But people being dazed, lying on
a firestep you know after
a bombardment, dazed, that was quite
common."-Clifford Lane, of the
Hertfordshire Regiment

shellshock
7
Treatment and progression during
war
How did the perception of shellshocked and
treatment evolve overtime in the war?

​The treatment for shellshock

varied and evolved over time.
The treatment included talk and
physical therapy, electric shock
treatment, shaming, physical re-
education and infliction of pain.
Many of these techniques did
not show plausible results, but
many have reported a reaction
which can now be linked backed
to the placebo effect.

shellshock
8
 Aftermath and Effects
What was the impact for the soldiers and how did
psychological evaluations evolve since then?

In todays age “shell shocked” has

proved to be an outdated term to
describe the phycological trauma that
many soldiers experienced during
WW1, today we use the term PTSD,
to refer to the similar conditions most
veterans carry, there will always be a
burden carried by veterans who live to
see today as they are always bringing
around the burden of the scenes they
have witnessed and the scars they
carry.
shellshock
3
 Aftermath
and effects
Soldiers often report to have
traumatic flashes of the past
some reports of feeling “numb”
or emotionally “detatched”,
difficulty sleeping and, self
destructive behaviour. This has
rightfully created backlash and
chaos from soldiers as they were
not warned about the
consequences they would face
post war.
shellshock
10
 Closing statement
Shellshock to this day, affects
individuals around the globe, setting a
reminder for us in the modern day; for
the profound psychological impact that
warfare creates upon soldiers. As we
continue to grow, let us not forget the
lessons which we have taken from our
past, underscoring the importance
comprehensive support for the military
personnel.

shellshock
11
 Thank you for
listening!
any questions?

Shellshock
12
 Sources-
https://www.bbc.com/- November 2018
https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ -
January 2016
Broken men by Fiona Reid-2010
The anatomy of courage by Lord Moran-
1945
The National Hospital: Neurologists
Encounter Shell Shock- revisited 2014

course title
13