Eli5: First World War “shell shock”

660 views

What caused world war 1 shell shock’? I’m aware that PTSD and stress reaction injuries are still common in modern warfare, but I’m curious what caused the specific convulsing/shaking phenomena seen in soldiers exposed to heavy shelling in ww1? Were the causes due to physical brain damage from concussion, or was it a psychological reaction? You don’t seem to see people coming back from Iraq/Afghanistan with shaking like that.

[Video containing example of shaking and tremors](https://youtu.be/SS1dO0JC2EE)

In: Biology

3 Answers

Anonymous 0 Comments

WW1 was a lot worse than modern wars. Soldiers were aware that they are there to be spent like ammunition, and would charge into almost certain death through barbed wire and mud while being shot at by artillery, rifles, machine guns and grenades. Even during rest times artillery could strike any time and take out a dozen people right next to you.

You are viewing 1 out of 3 answers, click here to view all answers.