Psychological And Emotional Effects Of War On Soldiers

An American machine gunner, Charles Yale Harrison, says in his novel, Generals Die in Bed: “[War] take[s] everything from us: our lives, our blood, our hearts; even the few lousy hours of rest, they take those, too. Our job is to give, and theirs is to take,” (Harrison, 26). In this example, Harrison explains how war is the most selfish and strongest of all evils; war continues to take everything someone has until they have nothing left to take. The war also created long-term effects for soldiers; one being shell-shock. This term is used to describe the damage of constant loud shelling during war which greatly affected those who were not exposed to shelling frequently (Unnamed). Another term that is still used today is PTSD, (“Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder”), which is used to describe the effect war had on the soldiers afterward (Unnamed). World War I brought major psychological disorders upon the soldiers during and after the war had ended leading to great damage for the rest of the victim’s

Psychological burdens of war were just as real as the physical burdens of the soldiers. Those who were blessed enough to survive the war, struggle with confusion, anger, guilt, and lack of resolution. “They all carry ghosts”, (O’Brien, 1990) created by the fickleness of war including the “burden of

One example of how the soldiers were affected mentally was when the soldiers lost all hope after the war was over. For example, O’Brien stated "Now, the war ended, all I am left with are simple, unprofound scraps of truth. Men die. Fear hurts and humiliates" (pg 23). The soldiers found out the hard, dark truth about war. They had different views about the war and came out with about one view, the war was not bad until you know when all the truth about it. Another example of how the war affected the soldier mentally was when they reflected on all the things they did, making them change their mind about the war. For instance, O’Brien expressed, “But, still, none of these notions seem right. Men are killed, dead human beings are heavy and awkward to carry, things smell different in Vietnam, soldiers are afraid and often brave, drill sergeants are boors, some men think the war is proper and just and others don't and most don't care.” Many soldiers have different views on the war, but after all, they have done their view on the war starts getting dark. Another example of how the war affected the soldiers mentally through the war was when they wouldn’t care anymore about what would happen to them. For instance, O’Brien expressed “Some guys are just numb to death” (131). This explains that some soldiers were so done with the war that they thought they were bulletproof in a way that they

The infamous collection of lasting mental effects of warfare has been classified as a disorder known by many names: shell shock, Soldier’s Heart, and combat fatigue. Today, this disorder is classified as post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD. According to the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, PTSD symptoms include persistent nightmares, constant avoidance of trauma-associated stimuli, and emotional numbing that was not present before trauma. PTSD is unlike other mental disorders because it is linked to a specific traumatic event, and it is often associated with combat (Institute 1). World War I was the catalyst for interest and research on war neuroses; at the time,

War is an omnipresent evil. At times it might be necessary, as in stopping a tyrant from oppressing a society, but at other times, it causes more harm than good. War has demolished entire communities, reshaped lives, and damaged individuals’ mental stability. Not until recent centuries has the impact of war on a person’s psychological state been considered. One book, which was published in the middle of the twentieth century, Slaughterhouse-Five, by Kurt Vonnegut, is able to show the various possible results war can have on a person’s mind. In the novel Slaughterhouse-Five, Vonnegut is effectively able to portray the psychological effects of war through Billy Pilgrim and his fantasies, his indifference, and his alienation because of Vonnegut’s own personal experiences in war.

“When I was in serious danger I was almost completely paralysed by fear, I remember sitting with a coffin (a fellow soldier) on the fire-step of a trench during an intense bombardment, when it seemed certain that we must be killed”(The Psychological Effects Of The Vietnam War). Our soldiers that we send to war to protect us against the countries trying to harm us are put into dangerous situations that affect them physically and mentally and leave them with permanent damage to their minds and bodies. The server damage that our military soldiers faced when returning from war is PTSD which stands for post traumatic stress disorder and is the most common disorder that returning soldiers are diagnosed with , but a more tragic diagnosis from war

I believe that while physical, economical, political and social effects are all prevalent and substantial, they all stem from the psychological effects of war. One’s beliefs, formed at an early age, later influence an individuals political and social

Many scholarly journals and articles solely focus on the effects of war mentally and physically on soldiers. Veterans returning home after being away at battle go through something known as Post-traumatic stress disorder. This can involve problems with adjusting to a so called normal life. Nightmares keep them awake at night, reliving the traumatic experience of the battlefield again. Any loud noises can trigger the feelings and emotions of being pulled back into war. They fall into destructive habits, allowing isolation to break apart once strong and sturdy relationships. Although this book does not focus on Post-traumatic stress disorder among soldiers, many of the trauma survivors go through the same situations as veterans.

Current literature supports Glover’s theory in terms of the damaging effect of war on the human psychology. It has progressed to the point where soldiers experience flashbacks or PTSD from how horrifying the experience was. The effects of war on the individual is well documented and Glover pulls primary source

War has been a common occurrence for as long as humans have walked the earth. In his impressive work The Better Angels of Our Nature, Steven Pinker graphs a list of the 100 worst wars and atrocities in human history covering the past 2,500 years showing that deaths per 100,000 people on earth remained essentially unchanged until declining only in the last handful of decades (12). For soldiers, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is an inherent potential consequence resulting from their exposure to the realities of war. Although behavioral symptoms of the disorder weren’t formally recognized, based on the assertions made here concerning war it is reasonable that PTSD has been prevalent throughout human history. Until recent times though, perceptions of those suffering from this disorder have been poorly informed. Modern science …

The effects of war are long documented, and range in their appearance and severity. Although it has been concluded as to what the obvious physical toll war has on an individual, the psychological effects are not as well documented. PTSD, one of the main psychological diseases associated with the experience of war, faced trouble in the early stages of its first diagnosis. The diseases’ first diagnosis was met with heavy opposition. Researchers collaborated with Vietnam War veterans in order to create a universal diagnosis that could be directly tied with the effects the war had had on these veterans. Early study linked the disease to nightmares and horrific flashbacks described by the veterans, which thus correlated the effects of war with the disorder that had been diagnosed. Many veterans who suffer from the disorder have an inability to be calm as well as uncontrollable bouts of rage. Another common symptom is a feeling of worthlessness or lack of interest or participation in life; and these symptoms haven’t just been documented in dispatched soldiers and veterans returning from combat. It has been found that nearly any sort of traumatic experience can trigger the disorder in varying forms of potency. Survivors of earthquakes, monsoons, tsunamis, and shootings have also been found to display these symptoms (Kolk, B., & Najavits, L. M., 2013). In conclusion, war has been found to have a distinct and explicit effect on the cognition,

I agree with you. I have the same opinion as you talking about of what the structure of both stories shows, the psychological turmoil of the soldiers in war. I like the way you chose for each one of the stories the best passages that argue your opinion. In the first story the dominant expression is “they carried things that …”, and the whole story takes us through the real things that are necessary in war and the inner states of soldiers. In the second story in the other hand, the dominant expression is "to tell a true war story …” In the second story the author faces the idea that sometimes people might not listen to what soldiers really live in war zones. The author highlights the fact that the war affects the minds of the soldiers in negative

One significant result of war is mental disorders. As more conflict and battles become a part of the world's history, knowledge of mental disorders has increased.

War has been identified as a cause of trauma in children. Children who experience the direct violence and destruction of war are known to suffer from post-traumatic stress.

The emotional impacts of war are experienced differently and can generate a negative outlook on fighting for your country. War can either make you or break you. Emotionally it can be very complicated, many soldiers end disabled, diseased and die. As we have read in the previous units, there will always emotional attachment that can not be measured. The emotional impact that war has causes a positive and negative outcome. Society would wonder why one would want to devote themselves to battle their life for the life of others, while their own families would be wondering if their loved one is still breathing and well. On the positive side their loved one is fighting for the country and that is a very proud thing. While on the negative side,