Popularly, we use the phrase “to be dead?” describe a tendency that many people practice in the face of loss of hope and the inability to find horizons and reasons to exist. It is a way of speaking that, of course, does not reflect a situation in which the person is truly dead.
However, there is a terrible mental illness that pushes the meaning of this phrase to its fullest expression, we are talking about Cotard syndrome, also known as nihilistic illusion or denial, most people who have it think they are dead or rotten. it’s better.
- When we talk about Cotard syndrome.
- We mean a mental disorder in which the person perceives himself as something that does not exist.
- Separated from reality or even death.
A person with Cotard syndrome thinks that her mind and body are in totally different planes of existence, while for her her her body can break down into a reality that is alien to her, her brain lives in a different life, so her behavior is strange. and erratic In addition, the person is able to perceive his body at the sensory level and see himself in a mirror without change, but noticing his reflection as something strange.
Cotard syndrome was first described in the late 19th century by French neurologist Jules Cotard, when he treated a woman who thought she was halfway between heaven and hell, so she needed to eat and sleep, like everyone else. Events on Earth didn’t make sense of her.
Cotard syndrome is very complex, both in terms of symptoms and causes, currently not known where it comes from, but it is known to be related to brain function, including the processing of information and possible disconnection between areas of the brain for facial recognition (fusiform rotation) and areas related to the processing of emotions (amygdala and limbic system).
In this way, the person who suffers from this syndrome is able to adequately process the data he receives from the environment, but the emotional response that he generates has no meaning or significance for him.
For the most characteristic symptoms, the denial of existence is evident, but hallucinations, anxiety, depression, delusions and inability to connect with others may also occur. The most common delusions are the belief of being immortal, running out of blood, or feeling worms under your skin thinking your body is rotting.
The person with Cotard syndrome lives completely disconnected from reality, according to experts, one way to feel a similar feeling would be to be in a room in low light and place one of our hands in front of the eyes, so we will perceive the silhouette. and recognize that it is part of our body, but darkness may allow us, despite indicating that this hand is ours, to have the feeling that it is not.
Another of the main characteristics of this syndrome is that the person’s mind distorts almost everything they receive, both the information about themselves and the environment, so sometimes makes the decision to stop eating or drinking. he lives in limbo where his consciousness develops on an elevated existential plane, while his body is an empty shell that has nothing to do with it. However, there are different degrees of participation of this disorder.
As we see, the consequences of this syndrome can be very serious for the person, as they will no longer care about their well-being, so it is best to call a specialist to determine the most appropriate treatment.