Before explaining some of the strangest syndromes out there, I will start with the definition of syndrome. Syndrome is understood as a set of symptoms that are related to a disease or a biological condition or not. There are various syndromes in the world, some more rare than others, below I will explain a little more about them.
1. The eternal traveler syndrome
It is a strange type of syndrome, characterized by a negative or positive emotional response from one place. Keep in mind that symptoms can vary from person to person and you have to know how to identify them. One of the most common symptoms of eternal traveler syndrome is a sharp increase in heart rate. Another recurring symptom is hallucinations, as well as confusion and feelings of vertigo.
The most famous cities in the world produce this type of symptoms in some tourists. This occurs due to the great expectation that people have of seeing new places. There are different types of eternal traveler’s syndrome, among which are:
- Paris syndrome.
- Stendhal syndrome.
- Jerusalem syndrome.
- India syndrome.
2. Munchausen syndrome by proxy (MSBP)
It is mental illness and a type of child abuse, where the parent invents or infringes diseases on their children. This disease is caused due to psychological problems that the adult has, to get people’s attention. The symptoms of this rare syndrome are as follows:
- The child improves in his hospital stay, but when he gets home the symptoms of the disease reappear.
- The father or mother is excessively involved in the medical care of their child.
- The child’s symptoms do not match a specific disease.
3. Stockholm syndrome
Stockholm syndrome can be defined as a temporary psychological disorder that affects kidnapped people. The affected people are sympathetic to the captors, thus creating an emotional bond with his kidnappers. This strange syndrome is named after the Swedish city of Stockholm, where a bank robbery occurred. Among the causes that lead to developing this syndrome are:
- A traumatic event where people are deprived of liberty.
- The more time you spend with the hijacker, the more likely you are to have this syndrome.
- Cooperation with the captor to escape unscathed from the kidnapping.
4. Alien hand syndrome (AHS)
It is a rare neurological disorder, characterized by producing involuntary movements in an upper limb of the body. The origin of the syndrome is associated with an injury to the corpus callosum, for which there is no treatment. The symptoms related to this syndrome are:
- Dissociation, where the person thinks that the arm is not part of his body.
- Lack of motor control, the patient believes that the limb is controlled by external forces.
- Psychological problems, where the affected person begins to suffer from anxiety or panic attacks when he cannot control his limb.
5. Survivor syndrome
It is a psychological disorder, in which the patient feels bad about surviving a traumatic event. People who suffer from this syndrome manifest irritability, insomnia, anxiety, fear, lack of appetite, among other symptoms. Some people with this syndrome commit suicide by not being able to cope with the guilt of having survived. There are various treatments to overcome this syndrome, among them are:
- The first step is to go to a psychologist, in order to prevent symptoms from getting worse.
- People should look for support groups.
- Use relaxation techniques, such as meditation or yoga.
Eilyn Rodríguez | Copywriter 