Harrison Kilgore, '26
There are many recorded mental illnesses, some more common than others. Some broader mental illnesses like bipolarism and schizophrenia can sometimes lead to more specific disorders. One exciting and notable disorder is Jerusalem Syndrome. The Jerusalem syndrome is an acute psychotic state observed in tourists and pilgrims who visit Jerusalem. Jerusalem Syndrome is an illness that affects around 100 people a year.
There are three types of this disorder. Each type surrounds different circumstances and symptoms. Type one has people with pre-existing disorders who travel to Jerusalem for religious purposes, whether on missions or pilgrimages. People in this class usually travel alone. This one tends to have the most cases of dissociation with themselves. These people will identify with others in their book of faith. An example of this was a 40-year-old American tourist who was already diagnosed with schizophrenia. After much self-improvement, he started identifying with the character Sampson from the Bible. He decided that the Wailing Wall was in the wrong place and tried to move the large stones. The police got involved and took him to a mental hospital. Contradicting standard medical practices, the doctors opposed his beliefs by telling him that Sampson had never gone to Jerusalem. This sent him into a rage and caused him to break a window and escape. He was later caught at a bus station by a nurse. The fast-thinking nurse reassured him of his delusions. He was taken back to the hospital and put on meds.
Type two has people traveling to Jerusalem for a mission or curiosity reasons often in groups with pre-diagnosed self-disassociation. The symptoms can appear both in groups and/or specific people in a group. An example may be a religious-based group founding a church near or within Jerusalem. Over time, these groups would try to bring themselves “closer to Jesus”, in turn dressing up how they believed people dressed back then. These groups do not usually go under psychiatric evaluation, as they see it as their religion and not a very identifiable problem. Type two has religious groups leaving to set up churches and becoming more cult-like.
Type three is a temporary condition that usually lasts under a week. This type has people with no pre-existing diagnosis experiencing a psychotic episode. After the fact, they remember everything that happened. They are “cured” rather spontaneously for no reason. After returning to their country of origin, the people diagnosed show no further problems.
In total, there are seven stages to this diagnosis. The first two stages are intense anxiety and a desire to split away from groups in order to travel alone. They then obsess about cleanliness resulting in many showers over the course of one day. They then attempt to dress how they would dress in Jesus’s time, usually with makeshift bed linen. The fifth stage is yelling Bible verses or hymns in public places. After this, they notably march to holy places. In the seventh and final stage, they deliver a sermon that is often confusing and talks about bettering the world.
This acute psychotic state observed in tourists and pilgrims affects around 100 people a year and is undoubtedly one of the most unique conditions observed in people.
Comments