We, humans, are the smartest species on earth and this is evident in our mental, physical, and technological development. We eat the food, live in the place, and if needed, put other animals at our service as we like. But despite being the smartest on this planet. Many occurrences and problems that have surrounded us for hundreds of years still evade us, much alone their answers. While we still somehow manage to understand and deal with the problems of the physical world. We face a serious struggle when it comes to understanding our own brains. We hardly have any answer to the whys and hows of our brain and what all it is capable of.
Major issues of the brain that have caught our attention are the mental health issues that are becoming more and more prevalent in our society, Depression, anxiety disorder, and bipolar disorder are some of the most common mental health issues faced by masses around the world. Although today we have pretty good knowledge of these psychological problems. We have also developed many techniques and medications to treat these mental illnesses. There are some bizarre mental disorders that you would find very hard to believe that they are real. These disorders are so bizarre and rare that there haven’t been enough cases for scientists to study and develop appropriate interventions. Read on to know about five of the most unusual psychological disorders that exist.
Koro syndrome
Koro syndrome has been affecting masses in different countries since it was first published in a french report in 1908. When a large number of Chinese people were found suffering from it. This syndrome is characterized by anxiety experienced by men out of the fear that their genitals are shrinking into the abdomen and will soon disappear ultimately causing their death.
This syndrome has a history of hitting masses in the form of an epidemic. This fact backs the theory that its cause is rooted somewhere in the cultural beliefs of the people it affects. For instance, during its outbreak in the regions of west Africa. The affected people believed that their penises were being stolen for occult rituals. Similar beliefs were held by the people it affected in medieval Europe during the ‘Burning times’. It was believed that witches were behind the genital retractions of the people.
In present times, personal morals, cultural beliefs, religious theology, and the individual’s mental status are believed to be the cause of people suffering from koro syndrome. A study published in the year 2008 in the Journal of German Psychology. It found that Koro syndrome in many people was preceded by an uncomfortable sexual experience. The study also stated that these individuals had a history of being overly conscious of their genitals. Some of them also had low self-confidence and a feeling of guilt or shame.
Walking Corpse Syndrome
Walking corpse syndrome or Cotard’s syndrome is a condition in which the sufferer believes that he/she is dying, dead, or does not exist. It is a very rare condition with only 200 known cases around the world. Fortunately, despite its extreme nature, it’s been treatable in most cases. This syndrome is characterized by reduced socialization, and sometimes hearing voices telling them they are dead. The suffering person may also refuse to eat since they believe they are already dead.
One of the popular cases of Cotard’s syndrome is of a 53-year-old woman. Who was admitted to the hospital by her family with the complaint that she believed she was dead and her body was smelling bad because it was rotting. She was demanding her family take her to the morgue because she wanted to be among the other dead bodies. It is not known what causes this disorder, but it is believed that this syndrome is a result of other serious brain conditions like Stroke, migraine, dementia, encephalopathy, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, and subdural bleeding. Walking corpse syndrome can happen to people of all ages. But it’s been seen that it mostly occurs in the early 50s. People with this syndrome often also have a history of disorders like substance abuse, depression, anxiety, and schizophrenia.
Capgras syndrome
Capgras syndrome is a condition in which the person believes that a loved one or someone they know has been replaced by an identical imposter. Sometimes it is called imposter syndrome but is completely different from the imposter syndrome you commonly hear about.
Capgras syndrome is named after a doctor who worked on a patient suffering from this syndrome 100 years ago. It is such a rare disorder that whatever little we know about it comes from doctors’ case reports of their separate patients. It mostly occurs in people who have some kind of neurodegenerative disorder like Alzheimer’s disease. The data suggest that 16% of patients with Alzheimer’s disease also have Capgras syndrome. Although the exact cause of this syndrome is not known, some scientists propose a theory. When we see a familiar face, two systems of the brain come into play. First, the central nervous system works on recognizing facial features. Second, the extended nervous system recollects the emotional memory associated with that face. Scientists believe that the damaged connection between these two systems is responsible for the occurrence of Capgras syndrome.
Synesthesia
Synesthesia is a syndrome in which a single piece of information that is supposed to stimulate a single sense of yours, stimulates multiple senses. For example, if you were suffering from this neurological condition, you might not just be able to hear music but also see it. Those with this condition are often known as synesthetes. The name synesthesia originates from the Greek word ‘synth’ (together) and ‘esthesia’ (perception).
Although there is no concrete evidence about its prevalence, some researchers suggest that it affects 2 to 4 percent of the world population. Studies suggest that synesthesia can be genetically inherited. Usually, people are either born with it or develop it in their early childhood but it can also occur much later in life. Scientists popularly theorize that a high level of interconnectedness between the parts of the brain that are involved in sensory stimulation could be the cause of this condition. Currently, there is no treatment for synesthesia but it has been seen that most synesthetes enjoy seeing them differently than the rest of the world. However, there are also many synesthetes who do not enjoy this condition much. It makes them feel isolated from the rest of the world.
Clinical Lycanthropy
Clinical lycanthropy refers to a psychiatric condition in which the suffering individual holds a strong delusion that he/she can transform, has transformed, or is an animal. Its name is derived from a mythical condition called ‘lycanthropy’ in which a person, under a curse or willingly, can transform into a werewolf. It is a very rare disorder and therefore there isn’t much research on it. But whatever few cases have been observed by doctors have been well documented throughout the years.
Because it is a rare disorder, not much is known about its cause. Some doctors suggest that it may have its root in other neuropsychiatric conditions, physical issues, and social and cultural factors. Some experts also think that it can be caused by Delusional Misidentification Syndrome (DMS). DMS is a set of disorders in which the affected person does not recognize familiar objects or believes that objects are transforming into something else. Clinical lycanthropy can also involve culture-bound syndrome which refers to mental disorders shaped by cultural norms.