Haley Bocko

Lauren Sphar

Mrs. Brincks

ATMS English 2 Acc (P. 1)

07 March 2011

Cowardice or Mental Illness

During World War 1, medical officers immediately discovered “everyone had a

‘breaking point’: weak or strong, courageous or cowardly – war frightened everyone

witless” (BBC.co.uk). Every soldier suffered as a result of the war but some suffered

more than others. Some were able to cope somewhat with the distress, while others faced

physical problems as a result of the stresses of the war. Eventually, the physical problems

were diagnosed as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and many solders were greatly affected

by this mental illness. Also known as Shell Shock (Psychiatric-disorders.com), this Post

Traumatic Stress Disorder, caused by any extremely shocking event in a person’s life,

was poorly treated for those who suffered from it during World War 1 due to the fact that

medical officers had little information about the psychiatric effects of the war.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is a mental disorder that can be caused by any

distressing event in a person’s life. Although an emotional illness, many who suffer from

this syndrome face problems eating, sleeping, or even interacting with other people

(Medicinenet.com). The people who suffer from this disorder are continuously haunted

by the traumatic event from which they once suffered, such as abuse, robbery, assault, or

civil conflict (Psychiatric-disorders.com). The soldiers who fought in World War 1 faced

many distressing events while they fought on the front lines and in the trenches, such as
being buried alive during attacks, struggling to survive the rapid fire of bombardments,

suffering form terribly painful injuries, and coming face to face with those they killed. As

a result, many soldiers had problems eating, lost sleep as a result of nightmares about

distressing events in the war, and suffered from unexplainable pains. It has been said that

the soldiers were feeling the pains of the people they killed. For example, if a soldier

“knifed his foe in the abdomen” (BBC.co.uk), he might suffer from stomach pains

(BBC.co.uk).

Doctors had little information about the disorder and did not understand how to

treat such unusual symptoms (Psychiatric-disorders.com). During World War 1, the

disorder was first understood as physical damage to the nerves as a result of heavy

bombardment or being buried alive. In order to return the maximum number of solders to

duty as fast as possible, doctors used a series of treatments that included massage and

electric shock therapy. However, most soldiers were unable to return, because, as medical

officers soon discovered, it is a mental disorder, not physical. Many of those who

suffered from the disorder had not even fought on the front lines, which lead to the belief

that this is an emotional illness. Once this was realized, the treatments and attitude

towards the patients altered greatly. Those suffering from Shell Shock were seen as

cowards and doctors did very little to treat them. Doctors tried therapy, hypnosis, and

rest, but there was still little success. Many soldiers were sent home, where they still

suffered because they were not properly treated and received no sympathy (BBC.co.uk).

This did not change much in the following decades. There wasn’t a proper diagnosis of

the disorder until 1980. Before then, the disorder claimed different names such as

Soldiers’ Heart in the American Civil War, Shell Shock in World War 1, Gross Stress
Syndrome during World War 2, and Post-Vietnam Syndrome while the Vietnam War was

fought (Psychiatric-disorders.com).

Today an estimated “7-8% of people suffer from Post Traumatic Disorder during

their lifetime” (Medicinenet.com). Since the first formal diagnosis in 1980, doctors have

discovered and developed many treatments that treat both the psychiatric and physical

symptoms of the disorder. The patients are well educated about the disorder from which

they suffer and how to cope with the symptoms while attending therapy (Psychiatric-

disorders.com). They must learn to cope with the traumatic event that causes their

symptoms. Also, doctors address individual symptoms such as trouble sleeping and

eating. For nightmares, doctors use relaxation techniques, imagery rehearsal therapies,

and prescribe medications. Eating disorders are treated with therapy and encouragement

(Medicinenet.com).

Greatly affecting soldiers in World War 1, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

affected many soldiers fighting in wars both physically and mentally. Caused by any

tremendously shocking event in a person’s life, the disorder was poorly treated until 1980

(Psychiatric-disorders.com). However, after its diagnosis, new treatments were

discovered and used to cure those who suffer from the emotional disorder.
 Works Cited

Dryden-Edwards, Roxanne. “Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.”

MedicineNet. MedicineNet.com. Web. 4 March 2011.

Bourke, Joanna. “Shell Shock During World War One.” BBC History. BBC.co.uk. 17

February 2011. Web. 4 March 2011.

“The History Of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).” Psychiatric Disorders.

PsychiatricDisorder.com. Web. 4 March 2011.