What is shellshock in World War 1?

Answer 1

Shell shock was a term used to describe the lingering physical and psychological effects of trauma suffered in World War I by returning soldiers. Many symptoms of it look like what is currently known as PTSD, or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Answer 2

Shell Shock is the old fashioned term for what we call Post Traumatic Stress Disorder today. Our soldiers still see terrible things in war that affect them for years afterwards.

In WW1, fighting was mostly done in appalling conditions in the trenches which were cold, muddy and rat infested. Every day people were killed, and the average expected time of survival on the Front was just two weeks. If you survived at all, you would have seen your friends and fellow soldiers being blown to bits, their body parts everywhere and perhaps even on you. You can't be the same after living through that.

Answer 3

Shell shock was a mental illness resulting from stress in combat.