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Experiences along the Western Front were horrifying and scarring, and although the conditions the troops had to endure were tough, they continued to valiantly
fight on in the trenches. After leaving the trenches along the Western Front to return home, many troops were left with mental, physical, and emotional
injuries.
The physical injuries sustained by the men in the trenches included things such as amputated limbs, internal injuries caused by gas attacks, and injuries sustained from bullets, bombs, and bayonets.
Many of the soldiers that were stabbed by a bayonet in either the face or stomach suffered greatly in the years after the wars. Many facial injuries resulted in random and uncontrollable twitches, and painful cramps in the stomach, if that was the area of injury. Bullet wounds and shrapnel injuries destroyed muscles which affected the men who went home and continued to work, making it hard for them to do heavy manual labour.
Internal injuries caused by gas attacks were usually due to the gasses called Chlorine, Mustard and tear gas, which were used to destroy the troops’ respiratory system if they weren’t wear gas masks. These injuries were painful to endure and usually caused death within a few days, meaning that most men who inhaled too much of the poison gases never made it home.
Mental injuries consisted of things such as post-traumatic stress disorder (shell shock), insomnia, anxiety, flash backs and uncontrollable twitches. Post-traumatic stress disorder generally stemmed from being exposed to traumatic experience which in the trenches generally included near death experiences, grievous injuries and witnessing a horrific death of another person or many people. Also known as shell shock, post-traumatic stress disorder caused hysteria and anxiety, insomnia, depression, eating disorders, and heart palpitations to those who suffered from this emotional injury.
Flash backs to the time in the trenches were something that many men suffered from, bringing back unwanted memories that were most wanted to be
forgotten.
Many things would be playing on the emotions of the returned soldiers. Emotions such as guilt, regret, fear and sorrow would have all been experienced and would continuously be on their consciences.