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Euphemism means using softer words. Getting shellshock from a machine gun is not an euphemism

The context of this conversation is people who were traumatized by an atomic bomb. I think atomic bomb to artillery qualifies as such a softening.

And Post Traumatic STRESS Disorder isn't?

You got an atomic bomb dropped on you, experienced a literal apocalyptic sun consuming everything you loved first hand and all you (impersonal) can come up with is "stress"?

If you want to stay coherent then we should have made up a term specifically to tackle the world-ending experiences these people lived through.

Having known a few people with (war-induced) PTSD, I think stress disorder is a good description of their outward symptoms. However I think your perspective is valid and can see why you think this sounds diminishing.

It’s not “stress disorder”, it’s “disorder”. As in: “(Post-(traumatic stress)) Disorder”. Disorder that follows traumatic stress.

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