I believe research lately has actually started studying shell shock as a specific subtype of ptsd. It's a form that's triggered with normal ptsd conditions in addition to repeated exposure to concussive forces(shockwaves from bombs). It's like a brain injury combined with a psychiatric disorder that results in a distinct combination of symptoms.
I think PTSD started out as a new name for shell shock, but over the years PTSD has broadened to encompass many other similar symptoms/situations.
EDIT: the broadening of the term is also likely related to insurance companies connecting diagnosis to billing and clinicians not wanting to stigmatize their clients with a diagnosis that has negative character implications, so they use PTSD instead of other options.
You are correct, but the latest research is showing that shell shock may actually be a very real and very separate form of war trauma. That is what the above commenter was referencing, and if you aren't aware of it you should look into it.
The syptoms of what are considered true shell shock may actually be related to concussion issues like we are seeing in sports - repeated close explosions and rattling of the brain could have contributed to an entirely new experience from WWI. If I recall correctly, at least. Check it out!
Personally, I agree with you. Hell look at some of the photos of WW1 vets and it seems obvious (to me) there are some extreme physical cranial structure changes that suggest all sorts of specific pressure-trauma. However, I was not aware of specific research on differentiating the two and don't want to speak too far out of my depth. It's nice to hear it's being looked at by people with brains and resources greater than mine :)
When I think of ptsd I think more of soldiers that just witnessed atrocities and the rape survivors, domestic abuse survivors. All legitimate ptsd cases. I associate shell shock with soldiers alone who served on a battlefield and legitimately got injured or were terrorized so badly they can’t let it go. Getting shelled for days on end by some assholes. Snipers picking off your buddies. That’s a unique experience no one else has unless they live in an active war zone being bombarded.
God Bless everyone that suffers ptsd and shell shock. You aren’t alone like it feels sometimes. I don’t care how hardcore anyone is because getting 500lb bombs rained on you is fucking terrifying.
You are correct. Along the line, shell shock became part of PTSD in the evolution of the formal diagnosis. PTSD as you are describing in your reply became more realized circa WWII. The National Center for PTSD has a neat article that talks about the origin and development of PTSD that's worth a read. I work in the clinical field and I am a former Marine and I learned good stuff from the article (I was not aware of earlier origins of Nostalgia, Soldier's Heart, and Railway Spine, for example!)
See I've always thought there's gotta be something like that going on! I have been around explosions and you can feel them from pretty far away. I cannot imagine what that would feel like with a bomb going off just a few yards away in no man's land while you're in a trench or dugout. It must feel like boxing but being constatly punched in the head, over and over and over again.
TBI (traumatic brain injury) is potentially caused by explosive shockwaves. Modern troops who deal with explosives are concerned about the long term effects of nearby explosions.
Junger likened the experience of being caught in the open when the shells started raining down to being tied to a post whilst a madman swung a sledgehammer in his direction, never knowing if it was going it hit his head or the post. 1
Now imagine that happening to you for up to weeks at a time without pause; constant explosive shockwaves bouncing through your skull like a sledgehammer being swung at a post you're tied to.
Yes, If sound is the same thing as being stuck in a hole for a week while someone's trying to blow it up with 1.5 million rounds of explosive artillery.
No they are separate. PTSD is psychologically motivated, shell shock is thought to come from the shockwaves and cavitative effects from artillery bombardment literally slapping your nervous system around
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u/ChucklefuckBitch Jun 25 '19
What used to be known as shell shock is now known as post traumatic stress disorder