In reading the web page on PTSD and Shell Shock, >https:www.history.com/intentions/history-of-ptsd-and-shell-shock<. I have some concerns, and some ideas. On page 5 it’s stated that Nostalgia was a phenomenon noted throughout the American camps. In the Civil War Americans were fighting Americans. I believe they were suffering Moral Injury as a result. One of the factors was that they were taught the 5th commandment said “thou shall not kill, but not only were killing, but killing other Americans. Our country had to build 100 additional asylums to house the Veterans and troops as a result of the war. Most of those asylums had cemeteries built behind them where 100’s of Veterans were buried. Most of the asylums were converted to VA hospitals after World War I
On page 6 it covers Shell Shock in World War I. Our troops were in trenches and when the cannon shells exploded in the trenches it cause very strong shock waves that caused the brains to bounce into the skull resulting in severe concussions (Post Traumatic Brain Injury). The article goes on to state that many troops that were nowhere near the exploding shells developed similar symptoms. They most likely were suffering from the fear of getting into the war and being killed.
With the Vietnam War there were some changes in the fighting. First and most important the enemy was dressed in civilian clothes and included women and children in guerrilla type war where the enemy may be only a few feet away when killed. This led to the troops and Veterans to suffer Moral Injury. Then when it was time to come home they were ordered not to wear their uniforms. Those that did wear them got spit on and called names which really hurt those troops.
With the Iraq and Afghanistan war, we find the enemy again in civilian clothes and including more women and children than in the Vietnam War. It is also a fact that the enemy killed and wounded more of our troops with land mines and bombs in cars and trucks and wrapped around the waists of children and women, than use rifles. Our troops were force to kill those they saw planning the bombs and the women and children wearing bombs. As a result of that type of war many of the troops suffer from Brain Injury and or Moral Injury.
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Those who are still in the service are afraid to come home and be labeled with PTSD. Unfortunately those with brain injury can really end up suffering if untreated and more important those with Moral Injury are the most likely ones to commit suicide if not helped. Is there any way to help them? Having worked with many Veterans I do believe that if you can change the “D’ disorder to an injury like Canada uses. The change of the “D” will make it easier to get those needing help to reach. So please take away the stigma.