10 of the Strangest Mental Disorders
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The strangest mental disorders. These people have rare conditions, such as the Jerusalem Syndrome & Boanthropy. Most of these are caused by traveling & major changes in life.
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Number 10 Jerusalem Syndrome
Jerusalem syndrome refers to several mental phenomena that some people experience upon visiting the city of Jerusalem. It has been explained as a superimposition but, in its best known form, it typically refers to a person that was balanced after arriving in Jerusalem. It has an intense theme and a pattern of behavior has been identified.
Number 9 Erotomania
This is classified as an individual becoming convinced that another person is in love with him or her. The delusion usually occurs over a person that is unattainable whether due to disinterest, marriage or high financial or social status. The onset of erotomania is often sudden. Delusions may include thoughts that the secret admirer is sending them messages through body posture, colors, license plates, or various clues in the media, if they’re a public figure.
Number 8 Taijin kyofusho
This mental disorder is Japanese culture specific and roughly translates as a fear of interpersonal relations. People are incredibly embarrassed about themselves and afraid of displeasing others with their appearance or even through their basic body functions. Whether it’s an odor, an action or the way they look, sufferers don’t want to embarrass or offend other people with their presence.
Number 7 Aboulomania
This condition can severely affect a person’s ability to function socially and is usually associated with stress. Even though most people struggle with making certain choices in their lives, only for aboulomanics does it become a must.
Number 6 Capgras Delusion
People who suffer from Capgras delusion become convinced that someone close to them, whether a friend or family member, or even a pet, has been replaced by an identical impostor. It has also been associated with neurodegenerative reasons, especially in older people. In an isolated experiment, Capgras delusion was induced through ketamine in a healthy subject, but the effect was temporary.
Number 5 Paris Syndrome
The French capital has been the subject of many works of art, music and literature and people who visit it usually expect to have great time. While most tourists are able to manage the highs and lows of the City of Light, others tend to crumble when the real Paris doesn’t match their expectations. This is known as Paris syndrome and it’s characterized by several symptoms. Japanese tourists seem to be particularly susceptible, with around 20 being stricken each year. President of the Franco-Japanese Medical Association, Mario Renoux, argued at one point, that this is due to the distorted image of Paris presented in the Japanese media, particularly the magazines. According to him they make the city look like a place with models and women dressed in high-fashion brands.
Number 4 Autophagia
These people fail to resist the drive of doing something that causes harm to themselves or others. Doing this may cause them to experience relief, pleasure or gratification and, once the action is completed, they may or may not experience regret. Similar disorders include trichophagia, the compulsion to eat one’s own hair or onychophagia, eating one’s own fingernails or toenails.
Number 3 Stendhal Syndrome
Upon visiting Florence’s Basilica of Santa Croce, where Galileo Galilei, Michelangelo and Niccolo Machiavelli are, French writer Stendhal was overcome with emotion. He wrote ‘Absorbed in the contemplation of sublime beauty…I reached the point where one encounters celestial sensations…Everything spoke so vividly to my soul.’ This was more than a gifted author describing the wonders of Florence. His experience would eventually be known as Stendhal syndrome, or Florence syndrome.
Number 2 Cotard Delusion
Neurologist Jules Cotard once wrote about a case involving a woman identified only as Miss X. Cotard’s Delusion is quite possibly the worst on this list, but, fortunately, it’s very rare.
Number 1 Boanthropy
A person that suffers from the strange psychological disorder known as boanthropy believes that he, or she, is a bovine. The roots of this disorder are pretty hard to determine. Some argue that it may be a consequence of hypnotism or some form of suggestion. According to the writings of Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung, there’s a possibility that such a disorder starts as a dream that persists to the point of becoming a full blown delusion. As bizarre as boanthropy might sound, there are some examples from historical tradition.