7 Freaky Mental Disorders You Didn't Know Existed | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Health and Wellness

7 Freaky Mental Disorders You Didn't Know Existed

People are weirder than you think.

702
https://pixabay.com/en/head-watercolor-background-color-3001159/
Netflix

The human brain is a complex and flawed organ that is capable of doing amazing things. Have any of you ever realized that the entire field of psychology is the brain trying to understand itself? Pretty trippy, right? Sometimes the brain malfunctions and does wacky chemical things that have negative effects on our lives. Those effects are known as mental disorders, some of which are more common than others. Here are 7 rare mental disorders that most people don't know about.

1. Walking Corpse Syndrome

Also known as Cotard's Syndrome, Walking Corpse Syndrome is the belief that oneself is actually dead or does not exist. It has been linked to other mental illnesses such as depression, chronic sleep deprivation, or even drug psychosis.

2. Self-Cannibalism

Lesch-Nyhan Syndrome is a disorder in which one self-mutilates or even consumes parts of his or her own body. This disorder results from an overproduction of uric acid in the body. Many patients must undergo operations to remove their teeth to prevent them from chewing off their lips, tongues, and cheeks.

3. Erotomania

People with Erotomania hold the delusional belief that someone of higher status is deeply in love with him or her and makes advances toward them with special glances, messages through media or even telepathy. Most patients with this disorder have a family history heavy with mental illnesses.

4. Alien Hand Syndrome

This disorder occurs when a person's arm seems to move or grab hold of things involuntarily without the person's cognitive control. It results by a conflict between the left and right sides of the brain or mixing of damaged brain wires. Some people are even afraid of the arm, claiming that it "has a will of its own."

5. Abulomania

This disorder is characterized by the extreme inability to make a decision. People with Abulomania appear to function normally in every-day life, but can experience anxiety even when faced with a simple choice such as whether to eat a bagel or cereal for breakfast. Abulomania has also been associated with depressive and obsessive-compulsive disorders.

6. Synesthesia

Synesthesia is when stimulation of one sense triggers stimulation of another sense and they occur simultaneously. For example, some people see color when they hear sounds, others can taste different sounds, and others see colors in letters and numbers. Most people with this disorder are involved in the arts, and some are even famous (for example, Pharrell Williams and Lady Gaga).

7. Foreign Accent Syndrome

In a couple of cases of head trauma or brain injuries, people will wake up speaking in a completely foreign accent. The condition can last for a couple of hours or even become permanent. Science has yet to figure out the cause or come up with a cure for it.

People are unique and interesting. Every person has a different background, different hobbies, different talents...you get the idea. Psychological disorders interest me especially because they are simply more ways that people are different from each other. The more we learn about how people work, the easier it is to understand and help others where they need help the most.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Student Life

The 5 Painfully True Stages Of Camping Out At The Library

For those long nights that turn into mornings when the struggle is real.

141
woman reading a book while sitting on black leather 3-seat couch
Photo by Seven Shooter on Unsplash

And so it begins.

1. Walk in motivated and ready to rock

Camping out at the library is not for the faint of heart. You need to go in as a warrior. You usually have brought supplies (laptop, chargers, and textbooks) and sustenance (water, snacks, and blanket/sweatpants) since the battle will be for an undetermined length of time. Perhaps it is one assignment or perhaps it's four. You are motivated and prepared; you don’t doubt the assignment(s) will take time, but you know it couldn’t be that long.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

The 14 Stages Of The Last Week Of Class

You need sleep, but also have 13 things due in the span of 4 days.

238
black marker on notebook

December... it's full of finals, due dates, Mariah Carey, and the holidays. It's the worst time of the year, but the best because after finals, you get to not think about classes for a month and catch up on all the sleep you lost throughout the semester. But what's worse than finals week is the last week of classes, when all the due dates you've put off can no longer be put off anymore.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

28 Daily Thoughts of College Students

"I want to thank Google, Wikipedia, and whoever else invented copy and paste. Thank you."

825
group of people sitting on bench near trees duting daytime

I know every college student has daily thoughts throughout their day. Whether you're walking on campus or attending class, we always have thoughts running a mile a minute through our heads. We may be wondering why we even showed up to class because we'd rather be sleeping, or when the professor announces that we have a test and you have an immediate panic attack.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

The Great Christmas Movie Debate

"A Christmas Story" is the star on top of the tree.

2131
The Great Christmas Movie Debate
Mental Floss

One staple of the Christmas season is sitting around the television watching a Christmas movie with family and friends. But of the seemingly hundreds of movies, which one is the star on the tree? Some share stories of Santa to children ("Santa Claus Is Coming to Town"), others want to spread the Christmas joy to adults ("It's a Wonderful Life"), and a select few are made to get laughs ("Elf"). All good movies, but merely ornaments on the Christmas tree of the best movies. What tops the tree is a movie that bridges the gap between these three movies, and makes it a great watch for anyone who chooses to watch it. Enter the timeless Christmas classic, "A Christmas Story." Created in 1983, this movie holds the tradition of capturing both young and old eyes for 24 straight hours on its Christmas Day marathon. It gets the most coverage out of all holiday movies, but the sheer amount of times it's on television does not make it the greatest. Why is it,
then? A Christmas Story does not try to tell the tale of a Christmas miracle or use Christmas magic to move the story. What it does do though is tell the real story of Christmas. It is relatable and brings out the unmatched excitement of children on Christmas in everyone who watches. Every one becomes a child again when they watch "A Christmas Story."

Keep Reading...Show less
student thinking about finals in library
StableDiffusion

As this semester wraps up, students can’t help but be stressed about finals. After all, our GPAs depends on these grades! What student isn’t worrying about their finals right now? It’s “goodbye social life, hello library” time from now until the end of finals week.

1. Finals are weeks away, I’m sure I’ll be ready for them when they come.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments