Ever felt like you were losing your mind? So do we! There are definitely times where we feel like we’re really losing it, but at the end of the day, you’re still okay. However, there are people that really do suffer from mental disorders, and we wish them the best in getting the help that they need.
Since some of our readers are kinda touchy, it has to be said — we like to mock strange and bizarre things, but in no way are we ever mocking the people that actually go through a mental disorder day in and day out. It’s not pleasant and it’s not fun.
That said, onto the crazy: we found some really strange mental disorders that you have to hear about. Really.
1. Stockholm Syndrome
Now, we had to start with one that everyone probably knows — but some are still a bit in the dark about it. For example, Stockholm syndrome is where hostages start feeling loyalty and sympathy towards the person that captured them.
Yet do you know where the name actually comes from? It’s come from a bank robbery that went down in Stockholm, Sweden, where the robbers held employees prisoner for six whole days. The victims began feeling sympathy towards their captors — even going as far as to refuse to testify in court! One woman from the hostage pool even married one of the captors, which goes to show you how long lasting Stockholm syndrome can really be.
Hostage situations aren’t the only time where psychologists talk about Stockholm syndrome. When there are issues of spousal or child abuse, that’s when psychologists study SS in greater detail.
2. Paris Syndrome
If there’s one prevailing stereotype about the Japanese, it is that it’s a society of very polite people. If they bump into you, you’re definitely going to hear an apology. Paris syndrome ties into this culture of politeness in a few ways. First off, it’s where Japanese tourists and other nationals come to Paris and they have a complete mental breakdown. There are millions of Japanese tourists that visit this beautiful and old city, and there are a dozen every year that just can’t seem to get over the culture shock.
For everything that Japanese people as a group like, Paris isn’t. For starters, there is a culture of rudeness, especially when you consider that so many people call Paris home. It can be very difficult to actually connect to anyone in the city, because everyone always has somewhere else to be!
The syndrome forms because there is an expectation of the way Paris should be — and unfortunately, the actual city really doesn’t measure up to this standard. It’s just something that tends to blow some people away, and they have to be flown back home to their own country.
Want a little extra crazy? The Japanese embassy in Paris even has a 24hr hotline — staffed with live operators — to help tourists get over the culture shock faster. If they nee dot be hospitalized, the embassy makes the arrangements. Imagine that!
3. Stendhal Syndrome
Can too much beauty be a bad thing? It is when you have Stendhal Syndrome. This is an illness where the body is simply overwhelmed in the presence of a beautiful work of art. There’s something that captures the mind so deeply that it’s unable to actually process anything else. You get to a point where you really want to make sure that you don’t let the moment end, but it just overtakes all of your emotions. This can definitely be a problem.
If you’re curious about the name, then worry no more — here’s the answer: it’s from the famous author Stendhal, who wrote about the syndrome while visiting Florence, Italy.
4. Jerusalem Syndrome
When you hear “Jerusalem Syndrome” in a conversation, you’re probably going to automatically assume that heavy doses of religion — especially the three Abrahamic faiths — are considered part of the process.
It’s actually not precisely limited to one denomination or even one faith. It’s been said that even people from non-faith backgrounds can be affected by Jerusalem syndrome.
As the name suggests, this is the syndrome that occurs when people visit the city of Jerusalem. Delusions, psychosis-like experiences and overly passionate ideas about religion form part of the mental phenomena, and it’s not pleasant.
However, psychologists point out that everyone with this strange psychosis has had a history of mental illness in the past, which could explain the delusions.
5. Capgras Delusion
Now, this is a strange disorder. Capgras delusion is all about holding the belief that a spouse or someone close to you has been replaced by a rather convincing impostor.
Patients that have been clinically diagnosed (which means that they haven’t just run to WebMD and looked up a bunch of symptoms to look like they’re more complex than they really are) with schizophrenia tend to have this disorder, as it does represent a disconnection with reality.
Still, wouldn’t that be absolutely crazy if you woke up one day and thought your husband was replaced with a cleverly disguised actor? It’s like the blending of the Truman Show mixed with Tamia’s classic song “Stranger in My House” …for great justice.
6. The Fregoli Delusion
Had to give you all a related disorder. If the Capgras delusion is all about believing that one person is being replaced by a well disguised actor, then the Fregoli delusion is the assumption that all of the different people you meet are really just one person that quickly changes in and out of disguises. It’s something that’s actually an interesting thought. Who doesn’t want to think that their math teacher is really playing all of the characters in your life?
By the way, if that’s really the case, then you already know that she knows very well that the dog really didn’t eat your homework.
7. Reduplicative Paramnesia
This really is the Truman Show, brought to a psychological level. Reduplicative paramnesia is the belief that a place or location has really been cloned, which means that it’s really in two places at the same time.
This is something that actually happens to people, usually after an accident where they’ve suffered some form of brain trauma. Now that’s trippy. Could you imagine waking up and thinking that you’re in another place in another world? Trippy.
These are all strange mental disorders that some of you have probably never really heard of. However, they really do exist, and people suffer do suffer from them.
So, what do you think? If you had to make do with suffering from one of these disorders, which one would you choose? Also, did we leave off a mental disorder that you think we should include? Either way, you will want to sound off in the comments!