World War 2 Mental Issues

WWII was different from past wars because it had bigger field weapons and bombs, which put the soldiers at greater risk. Also soldiers were divided in small groups so that they were abstain them from social interaction which could cause them depression. Almost every soldier had psychological problems, besides the "brain washing" they had. Even soldiers who had fought previously were being affected. Only 25% of this cases were caused by war trauma. There were so many cases that psychiatrists realized that these mental disorders were not caused by the war trauma. All soldiers were vulnerable to combat exhaustion. "Every man has his breaking point." Their surroundings played a big role in the development of psychological problems. Combat exhaustion was thought to have hyper vigilance, paranoia, depression, loss of memory, and conversion. One of the treatments doctors used were giving the patients rest in safe areas and some even gave them sedatives.

People thought that the soldiers receiving mental treatment wasn't fair or necessary. Some doctors had no sympathy for the soldiers physiological problems, they treated them really bad. The soldiers had all this problems because they were brainwashed, amazed by Hitlers promises. They gave themselves to him and told themselves that they weren't bad persons, but that they were defending themselves and saving their country.

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