26 Strange, Unbelievably Bizarre And Weird Mental Disorders
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They might sound like some Indie Rock band or the latest Japanese invention, but actually are rare, strange, bizarre and downright weird mental disorders and conditions. Some may sound familiar, others very few people even know exist. Here’s a compilation of some of the most strange and disturbing conditions of the human mind. 26 strange, bizarre and weird mental disorders:
Stendhal Syndrome – Shocked by beauty
We all like looking at beautiful things but for some people too much is just too much, mentally. Stendhal or Standhal’s Syndrome is a psychosomatic illness that can occur when an individuals is exposed to a large amount of beautiful art in a short space of time. The symptoms one would experience include: rapid heartbeat, dizziness, confusion and even hallucinations. It’s apparently quite common amongst tourists and seems to be triggered by famous works of art, areas of natural beauty, anything “breathtaking” and even whole cities of cultural/artistic or other importance. The Jerusalem Syndrome would be something most of us have never even heard about; it’s a phenomenon some people, regardless of religion, sex or race seem to experience when visiting the city. A mentally healthy person could suddenly become psychotic after arriving in Jerusalem. If you prefer to travel within Europe, how’s Paris sound? Beware of the Paris Syndrome though; it’s similar to the Jerusalem Syndrome but you’re safe, unless you’re Japanese. It looks like it affects primarily Japanese people working and vacationing in Paris.
Stockholm Syndrome – When being kidnapped isn’t so bad after all
Throughout the last several decades, there have always been reports about kidnap victims who, over time, become sympathetic and even loyal to their abductor. This condition is called Stockholm Syndrome and also appears in wife-beating, child abuse and rape cases. The victim will voluntarily comply. A few famous possible Stockholm Syndrome cases include: Patty Hearst, a millionaire heiress, who was kidnapped by the Symbionese Liberation Army. After two months in captivity, she actively took part in a robbery they were orchestrating. Shawn Hornbeck, who was snatched in 2002 at age 11 by Michael J. Devlin in Missouri and rescued in Jan, 2007, took Devlin’s name and despite having the chance to escape, Shawn Hornbeck did not seek the assistance of law enforcement.Natasha Kampush, an Austrian girl who was kidnapped in 1998 and held hostage by Wolfgang Priklopil for more than eight years until her escape in 2003. She was kept in a custom built basement “cell”, Priklopil would bring her books to educate herself and she later noted: “I spared myself many things, I did not start smoking or drinking and I did not hang out in bad company” and “I feel more and more sorry for him – he’s a poor soul”. Even though there were several indications that she suffered from Stockholm’s, she denied allegations and referred to her abductor as a criminal. Perhaps one of the most “famous” abductions happened in Salt Lake City, Utah in 2002 when 14 year old Elizabeth Smart was abducted from her bedroom and found alive and well 9 months later only 18 miles from her home. It appears that the girl was brainwashed while in captivity and may as well also suffered from Stockholm Syndrome.
Lima Syndrome – When kidnappers become attached
Lima Syndrome is pretty much the opposite of Stockholm Syndrome. The hostage taker becomes sympathetic and attached to the victim.
Triskaidekaphobia – Who’s scared of “13″?
What’s your lucky number? Maybe anything but the “13″? Triskaidekaphobia is the fear of the number “13″, while the fear of Friday the 13th is called paraskavedekatriaphobia or friggatriskaidekaphobia.The fear is deeply rooted in numerous cultural and religious believes, often referred to as “evil”. Tetraphobia is the fear of the number 4 in China, Japan, and Korea.
Alien Hand Syndrome aka Dr. Strangelove Syndrome
When your hand does what it wants… The alien hand syndrome is a neurological order in which one of the sufferer’s hands seems to take on a mind of its own. Having no control over “Alien hands”, they can perform complex acts such as undoing buttons, removing clothing, and manipulation of tools.
Foreign Accent Syndrome
It is a widespread belief that foreign accents will immediately make you more attractive to the opposite sex. But sometimes your average Macho with the foreign accent isn’t actually a foreigner or putting on an act to get laid: The Foreign Accent Syndrome is a rare condition following a head injury, trauma or stroke. This syndrome causes someone to speak their native language as if they had a foreign accent. Research has shown on that patients suffering from this condition, the brain’s speech center was affected and damaged.
Diogenes Syndrome
This mainly affects the elderly who live alone… Diogenes Syndrome is behavioral disorder characterized by extreme self-neglect, compulsive hoarding which sometimes includes animals and reclusive tendencies. From Wikipedia:
Diogenes syndrome is named after the alleged behaviour (not necessarily the ideals) of Diogenes of Sinope. Diogenes was never known to have hoarded items; he lived as an ascetic with only a robe and (for a time) a bowl.
Kleptomania
This isn’t very unusual anymore but I thought I’d include it anyway: Kleptomania is a disorder that compels people to steal things, from paper clips to toilet rolls. Basically anything and everything, things with little or no value whatsoever. Some aren’t even aware that what they are doing is theft until later.
Cotard or Cotard’s Syndroma aka The Living Dead
Out of all strange and bizarre mental conditions, I certainly wouldn’t want to suffer from this creepy one: Cotard’s Syndrome makes a sufferer believe that he or she is dead, non-existent, is putrefying or has lost his/her blood or internal organs. Rarely, it can include delusions of immortality. First described by neurologist Jules Cotard in 1880, it wasn’t until April 2007 when it finally received scientific legitimacy. 
Synesthesia
What sounds like the effects of mind altering drugs, is is a neurologically based phenomenon whereby the stimulation of one sense causes the automatic stimulation of another, resulting in the ability to taste shapes, see music ect… So for instance one could perceive the number “13″ as the colour pink, or (2Girls1)Cup could taste like chocolate ice cream and “Islam” could smell like feces.
Capgras Delusion
This one is common in patients who suffer from Schizophrenia: Capgras Delusion is a rare disorder in which a person becomes convinced that (usually) a family member or spouse has been replaced by an identical looking imposter. One case demonstrates this (source: Wikipedia)
Mrs. D, a 74-year old married housewife, recently discharged from a local hospital after her first psychiatric admission, presented to our facility for a second opinion. At the time of her admission earlier in the year, she had received the diagnosis of atypical psychosis because of her belief that her husband had been replaced by another unrelated man. She refused to sleep with the impostor, locked her bedroom and door at night, asked her son for a gun, and finally fought with the police when attempts were made to hospitalise her. At times she believed her husband was her long deceased father. She easily recognized other family members and would misidentify her husband only
Fregoli Delusion
And on the opposite we have the Fregoli Delusion: A sufferer believes that different people are in fact a single person who changes appearance or is in disguise. The condition is named after the Italian actor Leopoldo Fregoli and was first reported in 1927 when a 27 year old woman became convinced that she was being persecuted by two actors whom she often went to see at the theatre. She believed that these people “pursued her closely, taking the form of people she knows or meets.”
Bigorexia – Have you worked out lately?
Bigorexia is sometimes called reverse anorexia and is a disorder in which an individual becomes obsessed that they are not muscular enough. Symptoms include: constant checks in front of the mirror, becoming distressed if a gym session is missed, taking steroids and neglecting personal relationships / work.
Piblokto or Arctic Hysteria
Is a form of culture-specific disorder. A condition exclusively appearing in Inuit societies living within the arctic circle. Wikipedia says:
Symptoms can include intense “hysteria” (screaming, uncontrolled wild behaviour), depression, coprophagia, insensitivity to extreme cold and more. This condition is most often seen in dogs and Eskimo women.
(Not to be confused with PMS)
Reduplicative Paramnesia
It’s all a conspiracy: Reduplicative Paramnesia makes a person believe that a place or location has been duplicated, existing in two or more places simultaneously, or that it has been ‘relocated’ to another site. From Wikipedia: This patient had suffered a head injury after a fall in his home:
A few days after admission to the Neurobehavioural Center, orientation for time was intact, he could give details of the accident (as related to him by others), could remember his doctors’ names and could learn new information and retain it indefinitely. He exhibited, however, a distinct abnormality of orientation for place. While he quickly learned and remembered that he was at the Jamaica Plain Veterans Hospital (also known as the Boston Veterans Administration Hospital), he insisted that the hospital was located in Taunton, Massachusetts, his home town. Under close questioning, he acknowledged that Jamaica Plain was part of Boston and admitted it would be strange for there to be two Jamaica Plain Veterans Hospitals. Nonetheless, he insisted that he was presently hospitalised in a branch of the Jamaica Plain Veterans Hospital located in Taunton. At one time he stated that the hospital was located in the spare bedroom of his house.
Celebriphilia – Celebs watch out
This might be a bit too common to be classed as a mental disorder: Celebriphilia is is an abnormally intense desire to have a romantic and/or sexual relationship with a celebrity.
Bibliomania
What may be seen as educational collections, could very well be a an obsessive-compulsive disorder. Bibliomania is obsessively collecting books to the point where social and family relationships suffer or are damaged. A sufferer would also purchase multiple copies and editions of the very same book.
Munchausen Syndrome
Most people would know what this mental disorder is all about: the sufferer feigns, exaggerates, or creates symptoms of illnesses in himself or herself in order to gain attention, sympathy, and comfort from medical personnel. While we all have a tiny spark of “attention whore” in us, patients who suffer from Munchausen sometimes go to dangerous and extreme measures, like this horrifying story about Sarena Sherrard, who “injected fecal matter into her infant daughter to bring attention to herself.”
Androphobia – Fear of men
Androphobia is an abnormal and persistent fear of men, not to be confused with misandry, which is hate for men. Androphobia sufferers experience anxiety even though they know they know they may face no threat at all. Androphobia is one of infinite possible phobias, and as such can be traced back to a specific triggering event, usually a traumatic experience at an early age.
Trichotillomania
Is the urge to pull one’s hair out. Be it scalp hair,eyelashes, beard hair, nose hair, pubic hair, eyebrows or other body hair.
Exploding head syndrome
I imagine this syndrome to not being very pleasant: The person occasionally experience a tremendously loud noise as if from within his or her own head, usually described as an explosion or a roar. I wonder if this would be like migraine.
Paedophilia
One of the sickest and most disturbing mental disorders: Paedophilia involves sexual activity with a child, generally under age 13. The individual with paedophilia would most commonly be over 16 years of age and be at least five years older than the child. Personally I believe that convicted Paedophiles should not ever be released, I would not take the sometimes very low chance of rehabilitation. However, USA Today reported about a Paedophile who apparently “lost the urge” after having a brain tumor removed. This sparks the question whether or not an individual with a condition that could have caused them to become a Paedophile could be labelled a Paedophile? It is known that brain tumours can alter personality and behaviour.
Alice in Wonderland syndrome (AIWS) or Micropsia or Who shrunk my car?
This may sound familiar to drug users: AIWS or Micropsia is a condition in which a patient’s sense of time, space and body image are distorted. People may appear tiny or patients may feel that part of their body shape or size has been altered. A sufferer may perceive humans, parts of humans, animals, and inanimate objects as substantially smaller than in reality. Normal sized car may look like miniature models and your average size pet dog shrinks to the size of a mouse. Another name for the condition is Lilliput sight or Lilliputian hallucinations.
Apotemnophilia
Is quite disturbing: also known as Body Integrity Identity Disorder (BIID) or Amputee Identity Disorder is a mental disorder where a person experiences the overwhelming desire to amputate healthy limbs or other parts of their body. In extreme cases sufferers take it upon themselves to amputate their own limbs. BIID also applies to those who wish to alter their bodily integrity in general. Acrotomophilia is the sexual attraction to to other people who are already missing limbs. From Wikipedia:
In the BIID community, these people are referred to as ‘devotees’. However, there does seem to be some relationship between the two disorders, with some individuals exhibiting both conditions.
Hybristophilia
People with Hybristophilia are sexually aroused or attracted o people who have committed an outrage or crime. Fact:
Ian Huntley, the man charged with the Soham murders, gets bundles of fan mail every day. Meanwhile, more than 100 British women are engaged or married to men on death row in the US.
The Guardian published an interesting article on this subject. Link Why are women drawn to men behind bars?
The Jumping Frenchmen of Maine
This condition involves being extremely startled by an unexpected noise or sight. Patients with the disorder flail their arms, cry out and repeat words. First identified in some of Maine’s lumberjacks of French-Canadian origin, the odd reflex has been identified in other parts of the world, too. If you’re interested in mysterious, strange and bizarre disorders and illnesses, I recommend reading Nancy Butcher’s “The Strange Case Of The Walking Corpse”
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Site admin edit:
A great deal of attention has been drawn to the example of Synesthesia.
The article clearly states that the sufferer could relate Islam to the smell of feces, it does not state “Islam smells like feces”, as assumed by many people commenting. Religion in general could not be used in the example because the sufferer would not normally relate all religions to a single smell and/or relate different smells to different religions.
If in the example Christianity or Catholicism had been used it would also have been seen as offensive by the very same people who cannot understand the use of examples.
Some people have commented that they see the article as having a possible racist under tone, despite Islam being a religion, rather than a race. Some people placed their own link between Islam and brown skin, while there was absolutely no mention of skin colour in the example.
Some people wrongly assumed that the author of the article is male, while the writer of the article is in fact female. The assumption those people make could be seen as sexist.
On a personal note, I noticed that 90% of users who felt the article was racist were American.
Munchausen Syndrome is when a person dose things to themselves to gain attention Munchausen biproxy Syndrome is when someone dose something to someone else to gain attention. usually a mother making her child ill to get attention from doctors and making herself look like a “hero”
wow. this article mad me laugh. i liked all the crazy disorders. it was real interseting find.
in response to the alice in wonderland syndrome.
since i was a kid whenever ive gotten sick. ( not getting out of bed for anything sick) i would feel about the size of a mouse. the room would be massive. and i would hallucinate other stuff as well. what would cause this?
what about dermatillomania and coprophagia/pica?
i really liked this article im gonna use some of these disorders on my senior project. this is awesome
To Caleb: Often, when people have high temperatures and/or defficient immune systems, it sets off a chemical reaction to the brain, or the brain can simply be overworked, affecting depth perception, vision, subconscious mind, sense of reality, and sense of self, among other things.
Its often confused with the medication, but its really the fever causing these things. Its very common, actually.
thats so wierd wtf i did not know most of the stuff that was hear its so intresting! XD
I think I’ve learned of most of these before. They are all in movies.
how about the koro syndrome? It is a culturally specific disorder found in asia where they believe that their penis is shrinking and will go inside of their body and actually kill them
Although it is unbelievable that there are actually names given to these “disorders,” it is so much more unbelievable that some of them are considered a “mental illness”. “Oh no, she collects books shes a mad woman!” GIVE ME A BREAK.
Okay, these are great!
To bea: I agree with you, but they mean to the point of OCD, where the “collecting” consumes their life. If it weren’t that severe, I would have diagnosed myself eons ago. ; )
Anyway, some of these are freaky. Oh well, great! Thank you!
Thanks for your overtly racist comment comparing islam to feces because most people who practice the faith of islam are brown. While I am not of islamic faith, I still find this offensive and insensitive on your part. I came here out of curiosity for interesting diseases and you had to have that example in place. Shame on you. The least you could do is remove that example!
wow! i have like half of those lol!
i agree with jdog, i had to stop for a second when i read that comment of islam… was it really that necessary?
It’s best to remember something is considered a “disorder” once it starts to interrupt personal relationships and adversely affect/effect? the person’s life. Collecting books is fine, but when you start to cancel dates and ignore family over it, it’s a problem. Great post!
Islam smells like feces, it seems u urself have an ignorance illness that you need to have looked at too.. sheesh.. u’d think reading these articles would be open minded..
The article is about mental disorders and uses examples to discribe those disorders.
The article does not have a racist undertone, it uses a belief/religion as an example of the disorder, it does not single out Islam.
jdog, you’ve made a comment that you find this article racist, but you’ve described people who practice Islam as brown, to some people you would be a racist.
I too think that line about Islam is out of line. Of all the things to say it could smell like to people with that disorder… that’s uncalled for. Besides, it is different for everyone. One person with that particular form of Synesthesia may say it tastes like one thing, but to someone else who also interprets sound as taste, it could be like vanilla or grapes, or whatnot.
My point: that line needs to be changed. There’s no scientific or even logical reason to have it say: ““Islam” could smell like feces.”
Anyone ever head of a disorder wherein the idividual has a superior ability to remember every detail of an event/conversation but uses that information to manipulate other? I was told it was called “Polysign”, but I haven’t been able to find any information…?
Wowww…You ppl are way too observant it’s just an example.
Read the article and be happy that you’re getting answers,
rather than criticize everything somebody does.
Damn…I thought it was funny.
And Rose…What does whatnot smell, taste, sound, and feel like?
Because i think it smells kinda like feces, tastes like chocolate, and sounds like a burp and kinda feels like sandpaper to me :/
(sarcasm btw)
just thought i would ask :]
To the administrator:
Who cares what’s racist, you should not bring religion into this.
period.
if lets say you are christian, would you like it if somebody compared CHRISTIANITY or CATHOLOCISIm WITH ALCOHOL or WINE? because in our churches we drink wine and take communion?
that is pure ignorance.
and by the way, i have muslim neighbors and they are straight up light skin.
Couldn’t you find an inoffensive example? What’s your problem with Islam? After reading your example about Synesthesia using Islam, I stopped reading; and started to read the comments on this. As everybody can see, most of the comments here are about “that unfortunate line.” You should certainly change that inappropriate line.
With regards
Saney Skareem
From Turkiye.
there is a disorder where people are sexually drawn to machines. i forget what the disorder is called. its caused from a lack of certain emotions or somthing like that
okay to all those freakin people talking about the Islam dang thing..
I dont honestly know what it is and i dont care but it not being racist because it kinda like tourettes (not the syndrome)
but people that hae a tic or tourettes disorder can yell out (N****)
that racist but they cannot help it.
there problem is nouraligical.
i mean if someone with that disorder said that woiuld you tell them there racist or understand because they cannot help it she/he (sorry dont know) is just using a example.
i have tics and most people think im just doing it to get out of something or making faces or making fun of someone.
deal with it, it not intentional.
so shut up you dont like it leave.
I’m really surprised at how illiterate some people can be.
Please look in a dictionary for the word “Example”.
From the line “could smell like feces”, please look in a dictionary for the word “Could”.
If someone said “Islam smells like feces” it would be racist and would suggest that person suffers from the disorder that the article is about, but that is NOT WHAT IT SAYS, because it’s ABOUT THE DISORDER.
it sounds weird but i smell candles all the time like when we go shopping and walk past candles i will pick them up and smell them what condition is this?
I think some of you people are so damn sensitive!! Who cares what people think of you?? When I read that statement, I didn’t think that it meant people of Islam actually smell like feces!! Someone said they could have used another nationality. Well, then I am sure that nationality would have had their feelings hurt, too! Damn crybabies, all of you! Hey, lets just settle, ok??? They can change it to Polish people smell like Kielbasa and Feces, how’s that? Since I am polish, I will try not to take offense to it and complain like all these hypersensative whiners!!! Damn! Hey, is there a disorder for that??
The Islam line was attention seeking by the author of the piece. Maybe he thought he’d get more attention by being a little bit provocative. It was definitely gratuitous and certainly stopped me reading. It would have been the same if he’d said Christianity could taste like vomit. It’s not necessary and its childish.
You people have to realize that this isn’t something to laugh at. It may sound funny to you, but you have no idea what it’s like for the people who have these disorders.
I had a lot of respect for the person who wrote this article, it obviously seems like he has done more than his share of research on this and seems very intellectual, until I came across synesthesia mental disorder and his example of this disorder regarding Islam. Why would you put something that’s seemingly offensive?! ASSHOLE!
to lee: i agree with you completely, there is no reason to get up in arms about this.
to the rest: i was just wondering what the nationalities of all the people complaining are. i mean really, i have lived all over the world and the only people that i have ever met that get as up in arms as so many of these people have have been american. I AM JUST GIVING A LOOSE GENERALIZATION HERE. i understand that not all americans do so, but many do. i do realize that i just did what is being complained about (sort of, not really though) but you have to understand that i am speaking about the United States of America as a country and one people. in all of the other countries that i have lived, never have i been to a place that requires us to be so politically correct that we cannot even use a culture or religion as an example. only in america have i ever been told off for using an example of some other culture in class. in america, we cannot even joke with our friends (whom are aware that we don’t mean anything we are saying about their culture in an offensive or serious manner) without being scolded, because we may offend somebody. as a country, america is most likely to become offended or sue somebody. we all need to learn that not everything ever said that could have a negetive connotation is ment to be understood negatively.
If something I said can be interpreted two ways, and one of the ways makes you sad or angry, I meant the other one.
by the way, i would just like to say that i am fifteen years old, and if i can tell you that you are overreacting and not only completly blowing things out of proportion, as well as taking things out of context, but you are being baisically brainwashed by the media, you all need to grow up, and gain a better education and perpective of the world before you make comments such as you have.
All spelling errors are intentional and are there to show new and improved ways of spelling old words. Gramatical errors are due to too many English classes/teachers.
I don’t understand why people are being so sensitive about that “Islam smells like feces” sentence. You don’t know for sure if that was what he was trying to imply, and how is thinking that it is racist make you any different than the person who supposedly implied it? Besides, because it’s a disorder, it’s not like the person who’s suffering from it has the ability to control it, and if they smelled feces when they thought of Islam (or whatever), then does that mean they are a racist?
Hi
I think that weird line about Islam was so inappropriate and unnecessary – it confused me greatly, because the rest of the article was great. Don’t let ignorant personal views affect an article which should be neutral and enjoyable for everyone.
My boyfriend has synesthesia and apparently it’s actually quite common when people are younger, and it mostly wears off as they hit puberty. It makes him able to sight read music amazingly and have a perfect memory for music he learns. It also however means he can’t always watch black and white films because he finds them hard to engage with.
Ok, everybody calm down, the islam reference was clearly racist. How would you like it if (let’s say your name is Terry) I go on stage do a speech infront of all of terry’s friends and family and say “terry COULD smell like 3 day old poo.” Ok i did say COULD but still it is hurtful. GET IT? so the islam reference is clearly a dirty bad joke or a f’ed up persons narrow mind. you choose. But stop arguing ppl whatever you can’t censor the whole world your bound to hear this stuff everywhere, so live with it! wait… so who’s side am I on??
i have the disorder where i am sexually attracted to machines(robots) i want a sex bot!!!!!!!!!!
MENTAL ILLNESS is a myth. Psychiatry was made from the blood of innocent people, who the elite in soceity didnt want to have around, so they labeled them as having a “disease”. Did you know they stabbed hundereds of thousands of people through the eyesocket and into the brain as “treatment”? They created eugenics which is behind the Holocaust, it is meant to create a superior race. Psychiatry is nothing but lies and social control. They make anything into an “illness” that society doesnt agree with (such as homosexuality, which was an “illness” untill people protested, then suddenly it was no longer and illness. Millions of children are being drugged on brain damaging anti-psychotics and speed. Psychiatry is insane, not the hostages they call “patients”. Go to youtube and look up “Psychiatry: An Industry of Death” if you want to check it out for yourselves instead of just believing everything the elite tells you like stupid sheep lead to slaughter. I swear the public is so stupid, they believe anything someone in authority tells them!
This argument over the Islam comment just goes to point out how worried our society is about being politically incorrect. People have left comments laughing about serious mental disorders and yet one remark relating to religion and everyone gets so bloody uptight! The author meant no offense, get over it. And if anyone thinks I’m racist now for taking this view, talk to my nigerian mother, my polish father and my jewish best friend!
Enjoyed the article, really helpful with my research!
x
I also wanted to stop reading after that example where Islam is used, but i continued to see how further cheap and disgusting you can get. It is so clear that you did that intentionally. I mean, I am not a psychology student or anything, but I right away can give you a dozen examples that could be used in that place. You deliberatly wanted to say something bad about Islam. And some people here are stupid enough to make the author sound like naive. You are some anti-Islam Racist. This is the impression you managed to create on my mind. You have failed to create that scholarly image which you could have done through this article.
very distasteful and immature. was enjoying the list until that comment.
Oh my god. Are you jerks serious?! Racist and all that crap, give me a break. It’s an EXAMPLE and not meant to be taken seriously like that, and also mental disorders are NOT funny.
In case any of you ignorant people didn’t realize, they mean the word Islam smells like feces, not the place, nor the people. So stop calling it racist when it’s not. And mental disorders are NOT something to laugh at, since a lot of people have to deal with them every hour of everyday, and a many get riduculed for it, something they can’t help. It’s even worse for the people how aren’t diagnosed and have no idea why they act like they do and think they’re freaks. I’d like to see any of you go through one day of that torment.
christianity doesn’t smell like vomit! it smells like Bullshit!!!!
Oh no…………..I must have a shitty disorder too!!!!!
The author seems to rely on putting in an unnecessary, possibly offensive example to attract attention to the article rather than using skill to write it.
Poor guy. It’s only an example. Of course there were loads of examples he could’ve used. But he uses a provocative one and then people quote political correctness as some kind of excuse for his offensive comment.
I too found the ‘islam poo’ thing really offensive and totally unnecessary.
All my respect goes to those suffering, be it you personally or a family member. My hope is for quick medical advancement quickly to help all those in need.
@BellaRose: You are being extremely insensitive towards people who actually suffer from a mentaal illness. People with a mental illness have a chemical imbalance in the brain. I’m 14 and I have severe OCD and I am on medication for it. It has absolutely NO side effects. I was born with OCD and will die with OCD, so I am not ‘mentally ill’. I just have a brain condition. There’s a difference. I actually think that they should change the name ‘mental illness’ to a ‘brain condition’. People with OCD, for example, have a chemical imbalance of the neurotransmitter serotonin. Don’t believe me? Well, I got an MRI scan a while ago to confirm it, me along with 49 people my age diagnosed with OCD and 50 people my age not diagnosed with OCD. The results: all 50 of the 14-year-olds diagnosed with OCD had the same results, which was a chemical imbalance of serotonin and NONE of the other 50 showed the same results of the children with OCD. I suppose cancer and diabetes are myths too then? Psychology is NOT a myth. Educate yourself before making false assumptions. Sorry if I sounded rude, I just get really sensitive about things like this because my OCD has stopped me from doing so many things normal kids my age do.
HAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA……
I can’t beleive no-one noticed this but pedophillia is not a mental disorder, it’s a choice (and a sick one at that). It might occur as a RESULT of a mental disorder, EG, personality dissorder, but it is not one itself.
It was obvious that the “Islam smells like feces” statement was an example of a sound>taste synaesthesia. There is a well documented case of a synaesthete who tastes earwax everytime he hears the name Derick. Does that mean that Dr. Ramachandran is descriminatory to everyone named Derick since he documented this mans response? Of course not. In the same way the author of this page didn’t personally put any racist statements at all. Anyone who reads it as being one may themselves be making a racist link between Islam and feces. I read the description, and until getting to the comments, thought nothing of it. If he said that Mexico smells like feces he would have been making an observation… (For some reason Mexico-Mexicans don’t flush used toilet paper, they just throw it away… LMAO… really, its true. I think they have weak septic systems).
the comment is racist.
what’s MORE pathetic then the authors comment are the people arguing it was just ‘any’ random word and no disrespect as intended.
obvs disrespect was intended. common sense ppl! that’s part shouldn’t even be debated in the comments. the debate should be:
why cant the author grow some balls and stand behind his racist statement instead of backpedaling after the purposeful damage has been done?
god it makes me yearn for the 50s when ethnics knew exactly where they stood with the racist population, instead of now, these ignorant racists just pussyfooting behind the banner of PC’ness.
anyone who thinks his comment about feces and islam was made with no ill will needs to seriously re-evaluate the ‘reality’ they think they’ve been living in.
@ ShortR w/ your nigerian, polish, jewish friend having self: just stop. you are an embarassment to..well everyone. pleading your point as authority by waving ur multicultural card around only proves you are a dolt.
hey i’ve got ummm 3 black friends ( i keep a tally in my ‘in case i need cred’ book) and i’m half british so i can pretty much guarantee me calling you a little punk a#5 b1tc# is the absolute truth + fact.
i like this website totally helps me for my project in psychology class haha thank you
I love it how everybody’s whining about the islam crack when i thought the 2girls 1cup thing was far more offensive XD
And this article was pretty cool, Long Live The Author
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call me a troll, but: IF YOU WANT TO TALK CRAP ABOUT THIS ARTICLE, WRITE A BETTER ONE! If you are so offended by psychiatry,(BellaRose) then why the hell are you on this website? lemme guess: we never landed on the moon, cops are robots, you are the goddess of death, and Elvis Presley is a secret agent. Good job! look where the F*** our planet is headed!
I’m the owner of the site, not the author.
The acticle will not be altered or removed, I do not give in to demands from people who do not understand it correctly.
Islam has been used as an “example” because the “disorder” exists, the only racist undertone is the one created by the people commenting, who do not understand what “example” or “disorder” mean.
Religion had to be used because it is what the sufferer relates a smell to, using any religion would be offensive if it was not an “example” of a “disorder”.
The only hatred being spouted is in the comments.
Haha some of these made me laugh. and while the islam example was a little uncalled for i think that it was worth it to keep reading. i am not particularily offended by the comment you made but it might be in your best interest to take it down in the event that you will lose interested readers.
I enjoyed the entire article but the post on “”Islam smelling like feces”" was uncalled for. If a Muslim guy said “”Christianity smelled like feces”" it’d probably be on the news.
WTF move the frickin comment then! cant you see ppl are offended by it. just change it you racist ****** CHANGE THE EXAMPLE!
Hatred has already been sproulted by you comment with islam. and you frickin are offensive.next time be carefull what you write or dont write at all. honestly ppl need to show more sensitivity toward religions SHOWING respect.
i totally agree with u john. i cant believe it either.
people need 2 show more sensitivity otherwise whole groups of people will be disrespected. and those who dont care GET A LYFE becaome a human.
I liked this article for the most part, except for one thing.
The root word “pedo” means feet- so by saying “pedophile” you’re just saying a foot lover. The correct term is “paedo”, the root word meaning child. Hence, paedophile. (:
@Joe, it’s not a choice at all. Can you choose who you’re attracted to?
Okay, I read through all of the comments about the “racist remark”, and I have something to say about all of this:
I’m a 13-year-old Jew with synesthesia and dyslexia. Although I am conservative and go to temple every week, every time I hear th word “Jewish” or “Jew” it tastes/smells like I have glue in my mouth. Why does the word “Jewish” or “Jew” taste and smell like glue? I don’t know- people with synesthesia’s brains randomly connect a word with another sense.
That being said, I’m not saying that the author couldn’t have chosen a different word. But I’m also not saying that all of you are overreacting. What I’m trying to say to you is that for synesthesia sufferers ANY word in the world could make us smell/taste/feel something else. Even though I am a Jew, my brain still connects that word with a horrible taste.
ALSO- remember that in other countries, where people speak different languages, they still might have synesthesia and maybe the word for “water” in English may mean something else, and so maybe what words we think are racist may not be in other countries.
And for all of you who are saying that this is racist, although I can agree, I just hope that you realize that the point of showing examples was to educate what goes through the minds of someone with synesthesia, and you have to admit, none of us are perfect. We all accidentally say things that seemed good to us, but not appropriate to others. When I see people trashing a temple, I do get a bit mad and I can get a bit prejudiced against people. But really, since we can’t be pefect, why don’t we keep the hateful, mean comments to ourselves?
I didn’t write this for debate, sympathy, or for any other reason other than to educate more that what the article said. I hope that you learned a bit, and maybe will think of this all differently.
PS: English hasn’t always been my best subject (and being dyslexic doesn’t make it any better), but wouldn’t the remark be ‘prejudiced’, not ‘racist’? I’m not sure, but I think that a racist comment would be more straight toward the people. Prejudice is more toward the object/religion. But I don’t know.
I have Synesthesia, but it’s not really dramatic or anything. I can just list a colour for every single word, whether it has anything to do with colour or not. (For example, strawberry is obviously a red-pink colour, but 15 is blue, 6 is yellow, ect, ect.)
I do think the Islam comment was unnessecary, and a bit insulting to some people, but it shouldn’t be taken so harshly.
To BellaRose, until you have a disorder, or meet someone with one, you wil be ignorant, as you are, and think that they don’t exist. They are givin to people by doctors who depend on what you are tellng them, or observation. You could be lying, or acting strange for the attention. But most of the time, people become afraid of themselfs when they think they have a mental disorder and want help. Others don’t want to be seen as crazy, so they lie, and most likely get diagnosed with the wrong disorder because of their own secruity issues.
I have already replied regarding this, but people did not understand it.
Islam is used as an “example” for a “disorder” and not written as a statement or fact, if you don’t understand what the words “example” and “disorder” mean, simply look them up in a dictionary.
If the “disorder” hadn’t existed, then the example would not exist either.
To John, if the article offended you so much, why did you place a link to your own sites in the comments?
You cannot take the high ground on someones website with foul language and demands that an article be altered.
To Mea, when disorders like this exist people should be free to write examples of how the disorder affects people. The example had to feature a religion, not religion in general, and in doing so would have offended anyone who could not see it as little more than an example.
To Francis, the article does not say Islam smells like feces, it says Islam could smell like feces and only relates to the sufferer of the disorder.
To RC, The article relates to a real life “disorder”.
I was enjoying the informative list then i came upon the uncalled for comment and I no longer had the desire to read the rest of the list. It was there that I stopped reading. I don’t really care if this was a real example or not, it is still racist. That comment was not about synthesis or educating the masses it is about creating some drama. Admin I am sure that was not the only example of synthesis. What ever it is more than apparent that you are a racist.
PS. A better example would be that when one hears music they could see swirls of colour.
The Islam comment was most definitely uncalled for, out of all the things you could have compared feces to why did u have to choose Islam. You could have just said “religion could smell like feces.” Even if you didnt mean it as a poke at Islam, you would have to be completely dense not to know that people would be offended by the comment.
Well said Sophie…to administration, you sound a wee bit irritated, however, people do have a right to comment. I personally enjoyed the info. Thanks.
the comment on islam was deliberate and ‘hateful’
…and just to let you people know, Muhammad said, “cleaniness is half of faith” and which other religion teaches men & women to wash their naughty bits after peeing or shitting with water. Or that both men and women have to take a bath soon after intercourse…
hello
D no, srsly, i’ve googled “top ten rare mental disorders” and all the lists i can find feature the same ~25 of them :> that’s a little sad, cause i thought maybe i could find some i didn’t already know.
i loved this article. it was really awesome, what i did not like was the line about islam… haha, kidding
i’m looking for a disorder that makes people who suffer from it drawn to death… i’m not even sure if it really exists, but it has to be somekind of strange alteration in the personality of a person. i think female lead character in “fight club” had it, the way she always went to those meetings for terminally ill people and that it made her feel alive…
about the islam example – i just have to say it
D
and i guess i’m being totally politically incorrect saying that right 
well good for me then 
cause in europe we would NEVER make so much fuss about a innocent little remark like that even if it didn’t say “example”. but since it does, where’s nothing even to argue about 
i’m from europe, and god you americans are out of your mind! everything for you is politically incorrect! what the hell does that even mean? things aren’t just black and white… even if i said “islam smells like feces” what am i not allowed to have my own opinion? you think you live in a free country… but from the looks of it, you’re some kind of control freaks
After reading the article and the comments, things started to become a bit tedious. This whole argument seems pointless. The Islam thing was an EXAMPLE. I assure you that the author was obviously not being racist. There are real people with this disorder, and what the author was trying to get across was that any word or number can be interpreted as another sense.
There was no need to pull that phrase out of context. As I said the author was just generally explaining, with examples, that this disorder causes them to taste color and smell sound and words, ect.
Im only 14, and even I found this racism thing to be extremely silly.
personaly i think people agreeing with the point thats its a racist fact about islam a very self obsorbed, he was just giving an example to how the symptoms affect the individual, and you make it out to be something worse than it is, if your so offended by this why dont you donate some money to charity to try combat mental illness’ so it wont happen again in the future
I was told that there is a disorder that causes the affected person to trivialize everything. Is it flauccihilipilification or something like that?
okay. so to all the people commenting about the rasist thing.. i think it’s time to grow up. i think most of the comments people are leaving about it are more rasist than what was said. i’m islamic and i’m not “brown” you could say that was rasist. why don’t y’all stop worrying about what other people say. if you’re so worried about rasism why don’t you start somewhere else. most of the people on here are just ignorant children looking for something to fight. if you truely feel that strongly about it you wouldn’t be on here crying about it, you would be out in the real world doing something about it.
When there’s a simple way to avoid an issue, especially one so potentially charged as an Islam-feces reference, it seems silly not to change the example in the first place. Not to do so distracts from the otherwise excellent summary of these conditions. I fully understand the example and was not put off by it. It just distracted me. I realize that feces could have been flowers. Maybe the author was inviting some controversy. Any publicity…
Okay about the Islam line… attack Islam I really don’t care as long as you attack Christianity and Judaism as well.
“brown skin”… Ya because all Muslims have brown skin right? (sarcasm)
Okay, you are all idiots. How could you be offended by that comment? How many of you making that comment are Islamic? I would have to bet it is a very small percentage. I know a large number of Islamic people, and I would assume they are smart enough to understand an example when they see one. I’m and Orthodox Christian. I would not be offended if your example had been that the diseased person may believe that “Christianity could smell like urine” or whatever else. The diseased person cannot control what their mind does – if they could it would not be a disease. I would have to believe that the people that are “offended” by this comment are ignorant. You are so fixated on that one EXAMPLE that you are avoiding the actual issue – the disease itself. Stop targeting people. It’s vexing.
Although, I must admit, knowing how idiotic the world can be, the author should have known that people would freak out about it.
As for the article, I found it to be informative and helpful. As a neuropsychology student, I am very interested in the inner-workings of the mind, and found these descriptions to be beneficial to my research. I would like to thank you for posting it for myself and others curious about the diseases of the world to peruse.
@Sofie
THANK YOU! Really I was getting tired of reading ‘racist’ every other comment.
Seriously? You’re crying over religion and because he wrote that islam smells like shit? Fuckin grow up. There’s always one dumbass that has to start shit over small nothings. Get over it.
Alright. If you’re one of the people who stopped reading after the so-called “racist example”, you missed out on an amazing article. I learned quite a bit, and will use this for my health project.
I think that most of you people need to reread the Islamic part. As stated above MULTIPLE TIMES, the author of the article said COULD.
As in, ‘This tape COULD smell like sushi.’ But it does not say the Islamic religion DOES smell like feces.
Did any of you realize that NO religion has a smell?
You people need to grow up and quit taking WORDS ON THE INTERNET so seriously and stop critisizing. I’m American and I found that the Islamic example wasn’t racist. If it would have said, “Americans COULD smell like Big Macs,” I would have laughed my ass off. Who cares if it’s offensive? It’s not MEANT to be offensive. Do you people *not* get that?
the comments give good examples of a few mental conditions.
very amusing
I agree; this article was really good and anyone with issues about the religious stuff are just being a.) sensitive and b.) pains in my ass. Obviously, you are here in the first place to read about the disorders, not critique and scour the article for things to complain about! I guess that was a bit hypocritic, but I was just getting really annoyed by some of these comments.
yes, we all know the fucking comment about Islam. now stfu about it and don’t drag racism, politics, and religion into this
ANYWAY, I think it’s sad how peoples’ minds can develop such beliefs as believing omeone was replaced. mental illness is very depressing
al though it is cool, it’s just sad how it effects people. BUT, this article was very ingteresting! I plan to take psychology in college as a side class. can’t wait!
Why do some people think the disorders are funny? They’re not! Imagine how horrible it would be if you had one of them.
This article was really informative, thanks for writing it.
You know how they say there is truth behind every joke?
I think there is a hit of your beliefs behind that Islam line.
I would’ve shared this article with my friends but i wont because of that idiotic sentence. As for the reason most people who complained were American line. Damn straight just because its on the internet doesn’t mean you can just spew out nonsense.
I have Alice in Wonderland Syndrome…
sharon morales,
The article is not a joke, it relates to real mental illnesses.
In regard to spewing nonsense, I will state once again that Islam is not a race, Muslims are not a race so complaints of racism are incorrect and untrue. 90% of people complaining of racism were American and displayed a huge misunderstanding of race, racism and the use of examples.
Yes, you are right, islam is not a race therfore the comment cannot be classified as racist. However, you know it’s inapropriate, so why did you write it? And why not change it, you fool?
Sonia,
I did not write it, I have repeatedly stated I am the administrator, not the writer of the article.
The article has not been changed because the disorder does exist and the word Islam is only used as an example.
If you’re having difficulties understanding what examples are please look in a dictionary.
It’s no use name calling when you completely fail to understand what you are reading.
i think yall need to chill because if they do they do i have it and i get music mixed up with colors and its not my fault i perosonally realate brown to the note G
imagine if a person would obtain all those weird disorders all at once! how would that look like?! an alien perhaps!
To the comment by BellaRose “Millions of children are being drugged on brain damaging anti-psychotics and speed.”
Ok, no doctor prescribes speed..and you sound very medieval in your knowledge of medical practices…this isn’t back then mmk? Now you let me know the day a doctor prescribes speed to a child and then we will talk. Also, what you are refering to is a lobotamy which doctors used to drill through the eye to perfrom surgery on the brain. Doctors have a much more sophisticated method of brain surgery these days. People also used to lock up mental patients in small, iron crates, but does that mean we do that today? No it does not..so next time do some research first.
To the author: very interesting article. I enjoyed reading about the fascinating disorders.
Really good article
found it very interesting and filled in my Saturday somewhat 
Stopped reading the comments halfway threw though cos they were bringing me down /: so much hate… Some ppl need to take a chill pill.
why do ppl freak out when ppl say oh that black guy or something? Lol they ARE black, and you have not dissed them at all lol makes no sense!
Question. Is putting a phobia in this article on topic? Like phobias should have there own group xD though then again the symptoms of all phobias are simmilar right? Lol and unpleasent xD I have a phobia of ants O_O
anyway
like your comment on all the comments lol
good article! Keep up the good work!
First, since everyone’s voiced their opinion on the Islam line, I will say this: I think a better example could have been used, if not only for clarity. Is the author saying THE WORD Islam, THE RELIGION Islam, or ISLAMIC PEOPLE /could/ smell like feces to the victim? Also, since it is clear that this is a bone of contention, the author/admin would be wise to remove/edit it, at least to improve traffic to the website. Isn’t that what you want? If you’ve upset such a large number of people, don’t you think you should remove the line to please the majority? Isn’t that a webmaster’s JOB?
Anyway, thanks for the article. Nost people commenting on the Islam line are missing something very important: this was an excellent article, Well-written and informative.
Please don’t think all Americans are ignorant. It just happens that the majority of the dumb ones team up to comment on everything. I saw no racist undertone and I rather liked the article. I must admit, I did read this article in a Britishy male accent. As rule 17 of the internet says, there are no girls on the internet, but I’m all for breaking the rules.
While all these are greatly interesting, the last bit about your justification to the comparison of Islam to feces is not very satisfactory and the comparison itself is very offensive.
It doesn’t matter if it’s a race, or a religion. You know it’s controversial and offensive, you could just remove it.
I was enjoying reading about all the disorders, and then that one example. It’s a religion like all others, you need to respect it and should really remove that example.
Alright, first, Paedophillia is misspelled, it is properly spelled Pedophillia. And research has gone into it, it isn’t a mental disorder, its just a paraphillia, a sexual attraction to something some people consider odd. Do a bit more research before you do these types of articles. As you have seen, alot of people have already been insulted by this article.
an example it maybe, but it is filppant, ungraious, unnecessary and clearly adds nothing to the article except controvesy and confusion
Anybody can post as “admin” can’t they?
I have exploding head syndrome, and it does not include migranes; it happens while I’m in stage one sleep, I’ll suddenly hear a loud noise such as fireworks or brass instruments playing a quick dissonant note. It lasts a few seconds, but startles me into full awakeness, and my heart races. It’s kinda like the auditory form of when you have the sensation of falling when you fall asleep too fast.
people, shut the hell up about the Islam thing. Who gives a crap.
I have Synesthesia, but it’s not like that. I have a rare type called Lexical-gustatory Synesthesia which is like tasting sounds.
I also used to have Capgras Delusion. I used to think my mom had been replaced by someone else because she never listened to me when I told her that I didn’t like my step dad, but I’m Schizophrenic, so that explains why (I don’t think that anymore luckily)
Here’s a weird one that I randomly know. Wendigo Psychosis.
Wendigo Psychosis is the uncontrollable urge to eat human flesh while fearing becoming a canible at the same time.
I thought it was absolutely fascinating, interesting and I just loved it
I myself have Synesthesia, however I’ve never considered it a disorder. I doesn’t have any negative affects on my everyday life. I’ve always thought of it as just an interesting quirk. My Synesthesia manifests in a different form than the examples given here though, there are several different forms. I have Number Form Synesthesia and Personification. Number Form, meaning I see a patterns and mental map of numbers when I think of them and Personification means that I interpret colors, numbers and letters as having different personalities. I can describe each letter, color, and number’s very distinct and different personality. Another odd aspect of Synesthesia is that I can ‘see’ music and certain names have different colors and patterns.
Oddly, my older sister also has this, but her’s differs from mine.
Fascinating, all of this is just fascinating. The mind is such a tricky thing.
Wow, some of these are really awkward, but the whole celebrity syndrome is so fake. Do you know how many little girls are drooling over people like Justin Bieber and Cody Simpson nowadays? (i know they are over rated LOL) Constantly wishing they were married to them.
Not much of a ‘disease’.
Ignorance is awry..I get it..the comment was hazy and on the line of prejudice. If you’re not Islamic then please proceed to keep your mouth shut about the issue because you were not offended other than for the fact that you like to be offended.
Anyway, the article was interesting and obviously well researched. Personally I am an editor and though there were a few less than professional wordings in the article and a slight few grammatical errors I would publish this due to its thorough nature.
Very interesting.
Hey I made out with a stuffed animal and have been feeling really bad.It was a Kermit the Frog.Does any body know what this is or was I only did it once.Sorry.Even though it was just a stuff animal Im sorry and didnt mean it.
There’s one big problem I see with this article: pedophilia. Pedophilia is sexual attraction towards children. HUGE difference between a pedophile and a child molester. Huge difference. Might want to make a note of that before calling pedophiles sick, because I’ve got some great friends who are pedophiles but would NEVER harm a child.
islam does smell like feces. That is why the women wear circus clothes, to distract attention from the odor. Mohammed married a whore twice his age, this is an undisputed fact.
I’m hungry. Biology class sucks.
I have exploding head syndrome. It is nothing like a migraine. It is just that you hear a really loud noise, like your ears are breaking and the sky has fallen down and nothing can ever make a noise ever again. It’s like the loudest noise you ever heard – a gunshot or an explosion or something really heavy falling down- then multiply it by a hundred and it’s kinda like that. But it’s there for such a short time, a second, half a second, a millisecond, like it never even happened and then you realize it didn’t happen. It’s so confusing. And it’s over and that’s it.
I also have synaesthesia. Like memories have smells and emotions have tastes and tastes have colours and stuff. But if I remembered eating strawberries, I wouldn’t smell strawberries I would smell some random smell I can’t describe. I like orange tasting foods best. And I used to play video games a lot, and when I played nintendogs I wouldn’t smell dogs I would get another random smell but I would always remember it and I could never smell it any other way. It’s cool.
And I have Alice in wonderland syndrome. In some cases, including mine, you can control how small things look. it really messes up your perspective.
I have another mental thing called derealisation. It’s when you often feel like your dreaming or things aren’t happening. Not the average ‘I’m so shocked I can’t believe this is happening’ thing or like when you are si tired your Luke half dreaming. This is like properly believing you’re dreaming without even thinking about whether you are you just accept that you are. But you’re not. Or like your somewhere else or you’re watching someone else be jn your body.
Interesting article ^__^
I really liked it.
And come on people. It’s an example. Let’s forget it and enjoy the awesome article provided for us. I loved the comment at one of them saying “not to be confused with PMS”
It cracked me up.
The guy who wrote this definitely has a sense of humor.
(btw I love how the 13 and 14 year old commenting on this are being more mature)
umm. this shit over that little ass example is fucking stupid. at first i thought the authors sentence was jumbled, then i realized that she was making a point to tell how extreme the disorder is. fuck this politically correct bullshit. if the author was your college professor that shit would still be in your notes to this day. the author isnt racist prejudice or even scared of islams. the author is an author. for that comment to stop you in your tracks is obsured.<that probably isnt spelled right, now im a racist. And none of you have even taken into effect that the author could be atheist or agnostic, both of which don't give a shit about your petty fucking religious bullshit. most of these idiots acting as if their so high and mighty probably agree with the West Borough Babtist church and stupid shit like that. HA!!!! you politically correct morons sicken me. this shit has been a big part of the downfall of american society over the last 20 years. Cant speak your mind, but you can watch South Park, Family Guy, comedians of all sorts, etc… this mentality of everybody having to conform to hat you believe is donright baffling to me. It doesn't matter what the author said you all would pick something to bitch about. The administrator could revise this page like this. "….and Harley Davidson motorcycles sound like a beautiful opera", and you fuckers would still think thats an insult to harley riders…idiots man! And yes I'm a White(oh I'm sorry, Caucasian) 18 year old from West Virginia. (:DOUCHEBAGS:)
Wow I never know I have Capgras delusion & Reduplicative Paramnesia. When I was a kid I always thought that my sister and my parents were cloned and anytime they would kill me.lol I thought it was just part of my over imaginative mind when as a child.
First, the person who wrote this, doesn’t even know what a “mental disorder” is. Half these things aren’t even disorders. Phobias, philias, and manias aren’t mental disorders.
Oh and to Insanelyawesomeandawesomelyinsane: Seriously, you don’t have all these disorders. Trust me. I’m pretty sure that if you had all these disorders, you would’ve gone mad.
It’s like me saying that I have Pica because I’ve eaten grass before. Or saying I have cutaneous porphiria because I got a heat rash from being in the sun too long.
I’m just saying.
People seriously!! Where is the freedom of speech???? If an Islamic person was reading this and got offended then i guess that is okay but for all you people who aren’t Islamic then you are just being stupid and while you claim that the author is wanting to create drama,in fact you are yourselves creating drama by commenting when it doesnt really have anything to do with you.
For those laughing, seriously hw old are you? Grow UP! It isnt funny, imagine what you would feel if you had a serious problem like these and people laughed at you?? Its horrible and really sad. And if you were the administrator of this website, trying to stop people from overreacting then yeah i am pretty sure they kind of have a right to get a little annoyed. Especially hen they have to repeat what they said because people arent listening.
So thank you admin, for trying to keep the peace, and thank you to the author who wrote an interesting piece that was helpful. Shame on you who laughed and on those who complained it was racist. As someone else said, Islam is not a race it is a religion so therefore not racist anyway. Please take your swearing and profanity somewhere else, because i personally find that offensive. Quit attacking the author, it was an example, and because you are too lazy to actually look up the definition i will include it here for you! ‘an instance serving for illustration’ or ‘a way of helping someone to understand something by showing them how it is used’ So the comment was used to help you understand not to make offense at anyone!
Very interesting! Im curious to know where the author did the research for this. I’m very fascinated by mental disorders and appreciated the wide variety of neurological maladies of which many, I’ve never heard of. Thanks for the interesting read!
Just thought I’d mention that the example you gave for Munchhausen Syndrome was actually Munchhausen By Proxy Syndrome. Very similar in a lot of ways, but it is also a form of child abuse.
Just as interesting though!
Also people should stop getting so upset by something that is on the internet. She didn’t say anything bad, she said a loose example of what islam COULD smell like.
Plus who cares whether she meant it bad or not? It’s her opinion. In my opinion the whole religion of Islam offends me. But I don’t pull people up on every little statement they make that i disagree with.
Lol.
i have read all arguments for and against “the racism theory” and i am here to pronounce the final verdict…..
FOR THE ACCUSERS:YOU ALL FAIL TO GRASP THE ELEMENTS OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE…THE WRITER MADE AN EXAMPLE NOT A DIRECT STATEMENT….SO FOR MAKING A STORM IN A TEACUP(IF I AM RIGHT)I SENTENCE YOU TO LIFE WITHOUT THE ABILITY TO READ,WRITE AND SPEAK.AND TO DRAW ATTENTION TO THOSE CRYING OUT LOUD…HOW COME YOUR RESPONSES FAILED TO BE DECENT AS YOU WOULD HAVE ME BELIEVE YOU CARE SO MUCH.
THE WRITER:YOU HAVE REALLY CAUSED QUITE A STIR….KEEP IT UP.THE COURT LEARNED A LOT.
THE ADMIN:I LIKE YOUR STANCE DONT WAIVER FOR CHEAP IGNORAMUSES…YOU HAVE A GREAT SENSE OF JUDGMENT…ONLY DONT KEEP RESPONDING TO THOSE MAKING REFERENCES TO THE PUBLICATION.
i have read all arguments for and against “the racism theory” and i am here to pronounce the final verdict…..
FOR THE ACCUSERS:YOU ALL FAIL TO GRASP THE ELEMENTS OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE…THE WRITER MADE AN EXAMPLE NOT A DIRECT STATEMENT….SO FOR MAKING A STORM IN A TEACUP(IF I AM RIGHT)I SENTENCE YOU TO LIFE WITHOUT THE ABILITY TO READ,WRITE AND SPEAK.AND TO DRAW ATTENTION TO THOSE CRYING OUT LOUD…HOW COME YOUR RESPONSES FAILED TO BE DECENT AS YOU WOULD HAVE ME BELIEVE YOU CARE SO MUCH.
THE WRITER:YOU HAVE REALLY CAUSED QUITE A STIR….KEEP IT UP.THE COURT LEARNED A LOT.
THE ADMIN:I LIKE YOUR STANCE DONT WAIVER FOR CHEAP IGNORAMUSES…YOU HAVE A GREAT SENSE OF JUDGMENT…ONLY DONT KEEP RESPONDING TO THOSE MAKING REFERENCES TO THE RACISM THING.
This is a great article that you have written, and it seems to me like you have put in a lot of research into it. Thanks a lot for the interesting things you have spread around.
However I seem to find that the “Islam smells like feces” example was somewhat inappropriate at this juncture, and that ruins your entire article. Your intentions may be harmless, but the written word states deep and you have to be careful. There are a lot of other examples to state, and going by the depth of your knowledge, I am sure you can always quote better.
You are simply spoiling your name, and (knowingly or unknowingly) spreading a lot of malice and hatred. I do not think you would be very happy if somebody quoted your religion to “smell like feces” even if they did so unknowingly, just for an example. Please think a moment putting yourself in the heads of other readers. This is not a light issue, as said by some people.
I kindly request you with a lot of respect to delete that statement and replace it with some other example.
Again applauding your great article…siddarth
I too have exploding head syndrome. I have had 3 experiences and unfortunately one experience was in the sixties on acid! Sounds to me like a huge steel door slamming shut. Always the same sound and very, very loud inside your head.Iread somewhere that it can be a neurological indicator of mini-stroke. Also, people please stop haranguing the writer for her mistake. It probably was never intended to be an insult, but the way it came out it sure was! No biggie…surely?
Uhhh… im 12 and at night usaully after she beats me and i cry at the windown of my room. When i look outside onto the 2 white umbrellas in the night sky when i look left-right-left-right while focusing om them they start becoming big and. Bigger and when i look at a light for a long time them close my eyes i see figures and stuf and other stuf. And colours and when i look at a light then quickly look somewhere else they follow the place i just looked at in a ray of light
(I still thimk english is strange in norsk we have uhhh… 8 vowels. E u i o a å a and others i cant seem to find on my mothers xperia phone umm… hadde bra!!!
it sure fuckin does
Some of you people are so damn sensitive. So please shut the fuck up, and stop whining.
I didn’t mind reading this – right up until you drew parallels between Islam and “faeces”. I chose to stop reading – why would I waste my time reading an article written by an uneducated bigot?
I AM CHRISTIAN, AND I HAVE RESPECT FOR ISLAM.
You know what I am also? A medical intern. And sorry to burst your bubble, but most of these so called “mental disorders” are not coded in the DSM-IV (the official diagnostic manual for mental disorders) – but just a bunch of “syndromes” romanticised by pop-culture, that provide a bit of entertainment for idiots like yourselves, who really have no knowledge of mental health issues.
Also
1) You’re not fooling anyone by saying that comment was just an “example”. You may have not directly said that Islam reminds you of faeces – but the undertones of the statement are more than enough to tell us you’re an uneducated bogan.
2) You’re being inconsiderate and rude towards all those with mental illnesses. Most patients would take quite a bit of offence to having their illnesses being labelled as “weird”, “strange” and “bizarre”.
BLOG FAIL.
Must you add that 90% of the idiots we’re Americans? I know you don’t mean it TOO rudely, but that was a bit disgracing for you too add that… Not all of us are that inept.
Anyways, I love this article. It gave me some really nice thing’s I’d really like to research further! Thanks!
-A American blond 12 year old…Anything else to stereotype?
(- Ah well, have a nice day, alright?)
It’s pretty obvious the Islam example was used to incite controversy. Of the hundreds of thousands of better examples the author could’ve used, they just so happened to use that one. Saying it’s just an example with the word “could” is a poor excuse. Too bad, the article could’ve been good but the author ruined it with their cheap “example”.