Constant artillery
Now known as PTSD ( Post Traumatic Stress Disorder), shell shock was a mental condition that affected soldier after being constantly attacked by incoming artillery, for days and even weeks. This condition essentially caused people to go insane. At first shell shock victims were believed to be suffering from the direct physical effects of shell blasts, or from a form of monoxide poisoning. Symptoms varied widely in intensity, ranging from moderate panic attacks - which caused many men to flee the battlefield, which resulted in being executed for desertion to effective mental and physical paralysis. Acute shell shock can be treated if caught early enough, soldiers would be sent to a casualty clearing station where they would be further assessed. At the battle of Passchendaele only 1 percent of British soldiers were affected which is just over 5000 troops. Of those 5000 troops, 75 percent returned to battle within the week.