In the UK what we now accept as PTSD. was often put down as LMF. (Lack of Moral Fibre, ie, cowardice) on soldiers records during WW1.
Later during that war it became known as Shell Shock, and began to be accepted as a medical condition. But still the attitude of many was "Pull yourself together, and get on with it"
In later life I realised why my own father, when he came home from WW2 was a bit 'different' to other dads.
His Infantry regiment fought across N.Africa, and up through Italy, so he probably had PTSD. God knows what he saw and had to do, because he never ever said a word about it to anyone. He found his peace in Spiritulism. I wish he had lived longer, so I could have spoken to him about it when I was older, or even just got to know him better, but he died five years after he came home, a stranger to me really.
All them years ago, and I still feel so sad when I think about it.
|