Definition of Battle fatigue
Battle fatigue: The World War II name for what is known
today as post-traumatic stress, this is a psychological disorder that develops in some
individuals who have had major traumatic experiences (and, for example, have been in a
serious accident or through a war). The person is typically numb at first but later has
symptoms including depression, excessive irritability, guilt (for having survived while
others died), recurrent nightmares, flashbacks to the traumatic scene, and overreaction
to sudden noises. Post-traumatic stress became known as such in the 70s due to the
adjustment problems of some Vietnam veterans.
Common Misspellings: battle fatique, battle fatuge
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