Question:
I would guess there was a lot of post tramatic stress syndrome for
civil war soldiers after the war. I'm sure it was not called that at the
time but does anyone know how big a problem it was? Are there
records of former soldiers "going over the edge" etc. in everyday
life situations after the war?
Answer:
The anecdotal evidence suggests that it was indeed a problem. Rise in
violence and crime rates for the whole period 1865-1880, especially
for the South, would seem to support it.
There is a study recently published called:
Shook Over Hell:Post traumatic stress, vietnam, and the civil war
by Eric Dean, Jr. Harvard Press, 1997
Interesting investigation of Post traumatic stress syndrome, comparison
to earlier wars than vietnam, and a study of civil war vets who were
hospitalized after the war in the Indiana state asylum.
PTSD is not symptomatic to just veterans of Viet-Nam.
Until 1980 or so, the Psychological community finally came to a description
For"Soldier Heat" (civil war name) "Shell Shock" and "Battle fatigue".
It is not just indigenous to warfare, but were ever trauma, and stress becomes
over whelming for a person, that they respond to that trauma and/or stress in a
manner consistent with PTSD.
The Study on PTSD, has helped, Police Officer, Fire fighters, EM Techs, ER
personal, Victims of violant crimes, or terrible accidents.
I think on ready the symptoms of PSTD, They can be seen in Civil War Soldiers
who attempted to live a "normal" life.
