Para 2

• Para 2 - part 1

  Shell shock, now known as PTSD, was a very extreme condition during World War One causing severe psychological trauma. Shell shock consisted of both mental and physical symptoms.  The symptoms included exhaustion, tremors, confusion, nightmares, poor vision and hearing, and severe anxiety, which frequently left soldiers unable to function or continue fighting, with up to 40% of British troops at the Battle of the Somme sidelined by the effects. .
• Para 2 - part 2

  Initially, Shell Shock was believed to result from physical injury to the nerves caused by burial or bombardment, a term introduced by medical officer Charles Myers in 1917. However, as many soldiers displayed symptoms without front-line exposure, medical officers began to recognise psychological factors as a key cause of the condition.
• Para 2 - part 3

  This was an important reason as to why shell shock was an extreme trench condition because soldiers were not fully recognised as being ill therefore worsening their overall health mentally and physically. This also led to some soldiers being shot for ‘cowardice’ as they did not want to fight or physically could not.
• Para 2 - part 4

  This is backed up by a quote from the author Stewart Ross in his book Witness History Series – war in the trenches. ‘The terrible mental strain of shellshock was not properly understood at first. Some of the 346 British soldiers shot for cowardice were really suffering from mental exhaustion or depression.’
• Para 2 - part 5

  Overall, shell shock was the worst trench condition faced by British soldiers on the Western Front because of its severe psychological impact, long-term effects, and the armies limited understanding of how to treat it. Unlike physical injuries, the mental trauma persisted long after the war, making it difficult for soldiers to reintegrate into civilian life as they struggled with anxiety, flashbacks, and an inability to maintain employment or family relationships.
• Para 2 - part 6

  This widespread impact not only weakened military effectiveness during the war but also left lasting scars on society, as many former soldiers were left without proper support or recognition for their invisible wounds.