Diogenes syndrome (Pathological hoarding syndrome, Senile squalor syndrome)

Diogenes syndrome (senile squalor) is a variant of age-related social degradation of personality, a mental disorder accompanied by neglect of one’s own appearance, lack of shame, isolation with apathy. A patient with this disorder collects a lot of unnecessary and old things, which he most often picks up on the street, landfills, and garbage bins. A person with this problem needs help from loved ones, and sometimes specialized help. If your relatives have signs of this type of dementia, get treatment for Diogenes syndrome at a medical clinic. Some psychiatrists point out the discrepancy between the name of the disease and the name of Diogenes, since he did not have this disorder. The philosopher did not collect and did not retire. On the contrary, he sought to communicate with people. But the similarity of the patients with the personality of Plyushkin from Gogol’s “Dead Souls” is quite pronounced.

Reasons for the formation of the disease

To determine the correct treatment tactics for Diogenes syndrome, it is necessary to understand the causes leading to mental disorders. Patients are diagnosed with increased activity in certain areas of the cerebral cortex. They are responsible for the decision-making function, analysis of cleanliness criteria, and sensation of unpleasant odors. Failure to process information leads to indifference. Unrestricted zones of need force the sick person to collect rubbish and take it to his home. Cortical structures do not allow one to correctly perceive the need and usefulness of things.

Damage to areas of the cortex is caused mainly by organic diseases of the brain, complemented by the characteristics and social status of the patient.

Predisposition to the development of senile squalor is:

• 
  Head injuries with damage to brain structures, including surgical operations. We are talking about the formation of a delayed painful response of the central nervous system to a traumatic factor.

  Read also:  What to do if your memory is erased: stories from the lives of people who have experienced amnesia
• Toxic encephalopathies are diseases that develop during acute or chronic poisoning of the body, as a result of which neurons suffer the most. Often the cause of these pathologies is alcoholism.
• Infectious diseases leading to the development of encephalitis.
• Degenerative processes in the central nervous system. Most often we are talking about a hereditary pathology - Pick's disease (a variant of senile dementia).
• Age-related accentuations of existing inclinations to collect at a younger age.
• Stress.

All these factors require monitoring of sick people and timely consultation with specialists. In our clinic you can undergo diagnostics for the purpose of early detection of the disease.

Treatment methods

The difficulty is that people suffering from this syndrome do not realize that they need help, so they do not seek it. In this regard, responsibility should fall on the shoulders of relatives and friends. They must recognize this disease and send him for treatment.

Such a person should be convinced at first to refrain from bringing whatever he wants into his home. Since trash acquires great value in his eyes and he is sure that all this will definitely be useful to him, it is necessary to gradually reduce this dependence. Let it be only books and magazines. They themselves can bring significant benefits. It is also worth helping him with cleaning and being able to convince him that this will be of great benefit.

The ability to motivate the patient will be of great benefit. He must understand that this way of behavior spoils all areas of his life. Motivation in the recovery process is of great importance because, essentially, taking a shower and keeping your apartment in order is quite easy. The patient must understand that he himself needs this, because it does not even occur to him how he is ruining his life.

If a patient suffers from alcoholism, the first step is to rid him of this addiction. There is a chance that after this everything else will work out on its own.

Therefore, if you have such friends or relatives and you care about them, try to help them. Because this may lead to the fact that such a person one day decides to light a fire in his own living room with understandable consequences. We wish you good luck in this difficult task!

Complaints and symptomatic picture of Diogenes syndrome

The initial signs of a developing disorder are subtle. The patient gradually begins to buy excessive quantities of food, things, and medicines. Then he begins to neglect hygiene rules. Over time, the symptoms begin to expand and intensify.

The patient is diagnosed with:

• 
  Pathological passion for hoarding, stinginess. Housing is filled with old and unnecessary things that accumulate as trash in all corners. Soon the entire living space is filled with garbage. The surrounding area is unsanitary and parasites breed. Relatives can't do anything. Attempts to clear an apartment or house of clutter cause pronounced resistance in the patient, even to the point of screaming and assault.

• Aggressive behavior, irritability, short temper and conflict, accompanied by rudeness and curses directed at all people.
• Sloppiness in clothing, indiscriminate eating. The patient stops taking care of himself, cutting hair and nails, washing, and brushing his teeth.
• Partial and complete loss of modesty. A sick person can walk without clothes in front of strangers and defecate anywhere.
• The desire for complete isolation, suspicion, distrust.
• Avoiding any communication with people, even loved ones.
• Refusal to help.

Timely treatment of Diogenes syndrome in a hospital setting will not only stop the development of the disorder, but also prevent possible complications.

The examination often reveals:

• Chronic respiratory diseases.

• Pathology of the gastrointestinal tract.
• Coronary heart disease, angina pectoris, hypertension, arrhythmias.
• Complications from the musculoskeletal system.
• Neurological symptoms.
• Diabetes.
• Psoriasis.
• Helminthic infestations.

Background

1. This disease was described by psychiatrists Clark, Mainkikar and Gray. This syndrome is named after the ancient Greek philosopher Diogenes of Sinope, who was, to put it mildly, unpretentious in everyday life: he lived in a barrel, neglected hygiene standards and generally had the reputation of a marginal type.
2. It must be said that the decision to name the syndrome this way does not seem entirely logical, since Diogenes preached the idea of ​​asceticism. Apart from the wine barrel where he found refuge, he owned only one cup, and even that the philosopher got rid of when he saw a boy drinking water from his palms. “He surpassed me in the simplicity of his life!” - Diogenes, an ardent adherent of minimalism, exclaimed and slammed his simple property on the stones.
3. Another thing is Plyushkin, a collector and keeper of old things. Isn’t it true that it would be more appropriate to name this disease after him? However, the pundits - Clark and Mainkikar with Gray - were unlikely to be familiar with Gogol’s work, which is a pity...
4. But, be that as it may, Diogenes Syndrome (also known as senile squalor syndrome
   ) refers to a mental disorder that mainly affects older people and which manifests itself in a tendency to accumulate unnecessary, obsolete things, extreme sloppiness, and indifference to one’s appearance and appearance of one’s own home, as well as the absence of shame. In addition, modern “Plyushkins”, as a rule, are distinguished by suspicion and an aggressive-negative attitude towards others. First of all, of course, to those who allow themselves to express dissatisfaction with their favorite hobby - collecting all sorts of things. Since their closest relatives and neighbors suffer the most from their “cute” hobby, it is with them that our heroes mainly conflict.

Diagnostics

At the Leto clinic, patients are examined by a psychiatrist. The diagnostic stage includes identifying the characteristic symptoms of Diogenes syndrome.

In this case, the doctor carries out:

• 
  Conversation with the patient in the presence of close people. During the interview, the doctor identifies specific signs of the disease.

• Dynamic control over the patient. Observation allows us to identify accompanying disorders characteristic of the disease.
• Additional studies if necessary (CT and MRI of the brain).

Why do people suffer from painful hoarding?

According to American scientists, certain areas of the frontal lobes of the cerebral cortex are responsible for the addiction to collecting. There is a study conducted by Stephen Anderson from the University of Iowa, which indicates that due to damage to the frontal lobes, people who have never previously been observed collecting and storing useless trash begin to actively engage in this activity after: hitting their head, having an accident. surgery on the brain or have had encephalitis.

In addition, those at risk are people with a specific character - naturally thrifty, stingy, closed, prone to hoarding and collecting. If in youth these features were not very pronounced, then with age they intensify many times over, manifesting themselves in a completely ugly form. Thus, a harmless stamp collector in his old age can turn into a collector of everything in the world, including shoe boxes, empty bottles and yogurt jars...

“But there was a time when he was just a thrifty owner!
He was married and a family man, and his neighbor stopped by to have lunch, listen and learn from him about housekeeping and wise stinginess...” N.V. Gogol (About Plyushkin)

Among other things, we should not forget that a significant part of the lives of many Russian “miserly knights” was spent in conditions of general shortage, when it was customary for each family to make strategic reserves of toilet paper, matches and cereals, and to alter old clothes many times. And the “dashing” nineties also did not add confidence to people in the future; on the contrary, the fear of poverty intensified, which means there was a need to create reserves and save for a “rainy day.”

The exact reasons for this problem have not been established. It is believed that the need to accumulate useful items and make supplies for the normal passage of difficult periods appeared in humans back in prehistoric times. Thus, all people have a slight craving for this, but only a few people have it so strong that it is impossible to overcome it.

The main factor that triggers the process of obvious accumulation is the natural aging process. Brain tissue degrades, which can contribute to the strengthening of already established instincts. Factors that increase the risk of developing pathology include:

• traumatic brain injuries;

• brain tumors;
• prolonged loneliness;
• chronic diseases.

In addition, a genetic predisposition to Alzheimer's syndrome, as well as working in hazardous industries, increases the risk of developing pathology.

If a person tries not to let strangers into his home, limits himself in communication and reacts painfully to the comments of others about the need to throw away unnecessary things, this already indicates the presence of a problem.

To confirm the diagnosis, consultation with a psychiatrist and psychologist is required. In addition, the patient may be prescribed a computed tomography scan of the brain to identify structural degradation and malignant neoplasms.

More often, this disorder affects older people who have no relatives. In addition, a similar problem often arises in people who suffered hardships as children.

Cost of services

This list does not contain all prices for services provided by our clinic. The full price list can be found on the “Prices” , or by calling: 8(969)060-93-93. Initial consultation is FREE!

Prevention

To reduce the risk of developing hoarding disorder, people over 45 years of age are advised to lead as active and healthy a lifestyle as possible. You need to eat right, go to the pool and gym. You should give up bad habits. In addition, you need to avoid stress and sleep at least 8 hours a day. It is advisable to find new hobbies and regularly perform exercises to develop memory.

Read more: Why a man doesn’t want to make a commitment: 7 main men’s fears

In the video, psychotherapist Tatyana Skiba talks about the prevention of pathological hoarding syndrome:

How to treat Diogenes syndrome

Drawing up a therapeutic plan requires taking into account the pathology that caused this variant of senile dementia. If the initial stage of disorders is detected, an outpatient treatment cycle can be prescribed. In the future, against the background of a progressive clinical picture of the deviation, mandatory hospitalization will be required.

Our mental health center has created all the treatment and rehabilitation conditions for the treatment of patients of this profile. They are monitored around the clock and provided with care and feeding appropriate to their condition.

The treatment plan for Diogenes syndrome includes:

• Drug therapy. Patients are selected with the necessary etiotropic (causal) and symptomatic-pathogenetic (alleviating painful manifestations) drugs. Doctors use vascular agents with a mild effect and minimal side effects. Cognitive impairment can be controlled with nootropics. To suppress aggression, sedatives are prescribed. In case of obvious psychotic reactions, antipsychotics are selected. Relief from depression is achieved with the help of antidepressants. Psychotropic groups regulate sleep and behavior disorders.

• 
  Psychotherapeutic consultation. This type of assistance is required by relatives. The psychologist reveals to loved ones the nuances of the course and treatment of Diogenes syndrome and explains the essence of the therapy. A specialist helps to properly adapt to a sick person and minimize the negative consequences of communicating with him. Convinces that it is possible to live with the patient under the same roof, provided that the basic rules of maintaining cleanliness are followed.

• Rehabilitation. Of course, it is impossible for a person suffering from “senile squalor” to recover, but medicine and relatives can make his life better. Therefore, the main task of the specialists of the Leto clinic is to provide increased attention to their clients, communicate with them, and use a complex of aesthetic therapy methods. Walking in the fresh air, listening to music, poetry, drawing and creative finger work inhibit the development of the disease, improving the condition of patients.

After discharge, relatives should surround their loved one with care and warmth, communicate with them as often as possible and not respond to possible attacks of aggressive behavior. Any questions? Call our center and you will be provided with all the necessary advice on caring for the sick.

Doctor, it’s strange to me: 10 rare psychopathological syndromes

Depression, autism, schizophrenia - these words are familiar to many. However, there are disorders that are not so common: Paris and Stockholm syndromes, Diogenes and Dorian Gray syndromes, hospitalism, emotional burnout and others. T&P collected 10 rare syndromes from the field of psychotherapy and psychiatry.

Anxiety at the sight of the French.

A disorder called Paris syndrome is most common among Japanese tourists. According to the Japanese Foreign Ministry, every year at least 12 of them seek the help of a psychotherapist during or after a trip to France and other Western European countries. Travelers experience culture shock, complain about the aggressive behavior of local residents and service personnel, and suffer from the fact that their expectations and investments of effort and money did not justify themselves. For some, this ends in severe psychosis, which requires months of therapy. “For us, Paris is a dream city,” says one of the victims. — All French people are beautiful and graceful. But when we meet them face to face, we realize that we are deeply mistaken. We are completely different, both in character and in our outlook on life.”

Paris syndrome was identified in 1986 by Japanese psychiatrist Hiroaki Ota, who worked in France. Ota found that it is characterized by a sharply emerging delusional disorder, hallucinations, delusions of persecution, derealization (disorder of perception of others), depersonalization (disorder of perception of one’s own body), anxiety, as well as nausea, tachycardia and increased sweating.

The Japanese embassies operate a 24-hour hotline to help people suffering from Paris syndrome. A similar disorder occurs among Chinese travelers, who also tend to romanticize Western Europe. “Don’t put your phone on a table in a cafe and don’t wear bright jewelry!” - warns the Chinese guide to Paris for 2013.

Hallucinations in museums.

Stendhal syndrome occurs when viewing works of art in museums and art galleries. Its symptoms are somewhat reminiscent of the Paris syndrome: dizziness, hallucinations, tachycardia, loss of spatial orientation, fainting, hysteria, destructive behavior. This disorder can also occur while observing natural phenomena, animals, listening to music from the Romantic era, and meeting incredibly beautiful people.

The French writer talks about the crisis he experienced in his book Naples and Florence: A Journey from Milan to Reggio. “When I left the Church of the Holy Cross,” writes Stendhal, “my heart began to beat, it seemed to me that the source of life had dried up, I walked, afraid of collapsing to the ground... I saw masterpieces of art generated by the energy of passion, after which everything became meaningless, small, limited, so when the wind of passions ceases to inflate the sails that push the human soul forward, then it becomes devoid of passions, and therefore of vices and virtues.”

Berndnaut Smilde

Stendhal syndrome was first described in 1979 by Italian psychiatrist Graziella Magherini. She studied more than a hundred identical cases of this disorder among tourists who visited Florence. At the same time, Magherini noted that travelers from North America and Asia are not susceptible to Stendhal syndrome due to the fact that local works of art are not associated with their culture, and Italians are immune because they become acquainted with them in childhood. The psychiatrist noticed that single foreigners with a classical or religious education are most susceptible to the disease: men and women.

Stendhal syndrome indeed most often occurs among visitors to museums in Florence, especially the Uffizi Gallery. The sick person suddenly finds himself struck to the core by the beauty of a work of art and begins to perceive the emotions put into it by the artist with extraordinary acuteness. In some cases, this even results in attempts to tear down a painting or damage a statue. That is why, despite the fact that Stendhal syndrome is quite rare, employees of Florentine museums are taught to behave correctly with its victims.

Hospital illness.

A psychopathological disorder that occurs during and after a stay in government and public institutions is commonly called hospitalism. It appears in children and adults who have to live for a long time in hospitals, orphanages, nurseries and nursing homes.

The concept of “hospitalism” was first used in 1945 by the Austro-American psychoanalyst Rene Spits, who studied the behavior and condition of children undergoing treatment. Pediatric hospitalism is characterized by noticeable physical and mental retardation, emotional insufficiency, meaningless movements (for example, rocking), weak crying, apathy, weight loss, lack of visual tracking of others and vocal responses to affection. This disorder inhibits the child's intellectual and emotional development, distorts his concept of self, and has a negative impact on his health. In severe forms, hospitalism can lead to infantile marasmus, chronic infections and even death.

In adulthood, this disorder usually occurs in older patients who have been hospitalized for more than 10–15 months. Adult hospitalism is characterized by social maladaptation, loss of interest in work and loss of work skills, deterioration of contact with others and the desire to recognize one’s illness as chronic. Patients in psychiatric departments of hospitals are especially susceptible to hospitalization. Researchers note that often a stay in a hospital harms such patients more than the mental illness itself that caused them to be there.

Self-neglect.

Patients with Diogenes syndrome are pathological hoarders who suffer from extreme self-neglect, apathy, emotional lability, suspiciousness and lack of shame. All this often turns against them. Diogenes syndrome often leads to social isolation, which increases as a person's home becomes more cluttered and their appearance changes as a result of the disease. Such people accumulate a huge amount of unnecessary things, are indifferent to dirt and garbage, are unfriendly to visitors and, as a rule, one way or another resist attempts to help them change their lifestyle. However, they are not always beggars: they simply prefer not to spend money.

Diogenes syndrome is thought to result from problems with the anterior cingulate cortex and insula, which are typically involved in decision making. American researchers found that at rest, such patients showed abnormal activity in these areas, while at moments when a decision really had to be made, their work died down. Diogenes syndrome can result from depression and dementia. In psychiatric practice, it is also called Plyushkin syndrome, senile squalor syndrome and social collapse. Today its prevalence in the world is about 3%. Most often, this syndrome manifests itself in mature and elderly people.

Interestingly, the ancient Greek philosopher Diogenes did not appear to suffer from the disorder that bears his name. Diogenes adhered to a strategy of extreme minimalism and, according to legend, lived in a barrel, but at the same time remained socially active, had a sharp mind and did not accumulate property.

Morbid cult of youth.

Dorian Gray syndrome, named after the main character of Oscar Wilde's novel The Picture of Dorian Gray, is not universally recognized as a mental disorder today. It was first described in 2001, and many experts consider it more of a cultural and social phenomenon. However, this condition can be dangerous as it can lead to depression and suicide attempts in some cases.

Cerise Doucède

Patients with Dorian Gray syndrome experience a panicky fear of aging and abuse cosmetic procedures and plastic surgery, without caring about the risks. Sometimes they also compensate for their own decline with a passion for youth symbols and clothing. People with Dorian Gray syndrome experience narcissism, immaturity and dysmorphic disorder, when minor defects in appearance cause constant severe anxiety, fear, melancholy, and decreased self-esteem. Dorian Gray syndrome can occur in famous actors and musicians due to the important role physical appearance plays in their profession.

The war between good and evil.

Manichaean delirium is a severe painful condition in which the patient feels that there is a struggle between light and dark forces around him, and the stake in this struggle is his soul and body. Some experts consider Manichaean delusions to be an acute type of antagonistic delusion or classify them as delusions of grandeur. Others consider this disorder as one of the stages of oneiroid - a dreamlike, fantastically delusional state of darkness.

A person who suffers from Manichaean delusion feels himself on the verge between good and evil. He is tormented by mutually exclusive auditory hallucinations and fear of an imminent catastrophe. This is how one of the patients describes her condition: “I go to church twice a day and always carry the Bible with me, because it’s difficult for me to figure everything out on my own. At first I didn’t know what was right and what was sin. Then I realized that there is God in everything and there is a devil in everything. God calms me down, but the devil tempts me. I drink, for example, water, took an extra sip - it’s a sin, God helps to atone - I read prayers, but then two voices appeared, one of God, the other of the devil, and they began to argue with each other and fight for my soul, and I got confused.” At the same time, a person suffering from delusions of Manichaeism appears healthy outwardly, and this makes his disorder dangerous to others. Experts believe that people susceptible to Manichaean delirium can become terrorists and martyrs. It has also been suggested that Adolf Hitler and George W. Bush suffered from this disorder.

Love for the aggressor.

Stockholm syndrome is not included in any international list of mental illnesses, but it is perhaps the most famous “rare disorder”. This condition occurs when the victim begins to sympathize with his captor, experience one-sided or mutual sympathy for him, and even identify himself with him. Some experts consider Stockholm syndrome a natural reaction to events that traumatize the psyche. In world psychotherapeutic practice, everyday Stockholm syndrome is also distinguished, which occurs against the background of domestic violence.

The desire to identify with the aggressor was first described by Anna Freud, daughter of Sigmund Freud, in 1936. And after the hostage crisis at the Kreditbanken bank in Stockholm in 1976, this syndrome received its modern name. Then, former prisoner Jan Erik Olsson single-handedly seized the bank, took four of its employees hostage and held them for six days. During this time, his cellmate Clark Olofsson managed to join him, who was taken to the bank at the request of the criminal. The hostages were freed during a special operation using gas, but after that they said that they were afraid not of the hostage, but of the police. Olofsson was able to prove in court that he did not help the terrorist, but, on the contrary, tried to save people. The charges against him were dropped and he was released, after which Olofsson met and became friends with one of the hostages. Ullson was sentenced to 10 years in prison. In prison he received several letters of admiration from his victims.

Jean-Yves Lemoigne

Experts say that Stockholm syndrome occurs quite rarely: according to FBI data obtained after analyzing 1,200 successful hostage-taking attempts, victims developed it in only 8% of cases. However, during operations to free captured people, negotiators encourage the development of mutual sympathy between terrorists and their victims. This reduces the risk of hostages dying and increases their chances of being released.

Islands of genius.

Savant syndrome occurs in people with autism and other mental illnesses, and can also result from traumatic brain injury. In this case, against the background of the general limitations of the individual, an “island of genius” appears: phenomenal memory and incredible abilities in the field of music, arithmetic, fine arts, cartography, architecture of three-dimensional models or in another field. The savant is able to sing all the arias he heard, leaving the opera, name the day of the week that will fall on January 1, 3001, and carry out mental calculations usually performed by a computer. At the same time, his other abilities and skills may be very poorly developed, even to the point of mental retardation.

American actor Dustin Hoffman won an Oscar for his role as savant Raymond Babbitt in the film Rain Man. To fulfill it, Hoffman spent a long time communicating with Kim Peak, a savant with phenomenal memory and reading abilities, which he had against the background of many pathologies. Pick remembered maps of all US cities in detail and could give advice on how to get through each of them, and it took him only 8-10 seconds to read one page of text.

Other people's thoughts.

Recoil psychosis, or hypersensitivity psychosis, occurs in schizophrenia following the withdrawal of antipsychotics and metoclopramide, which is used to treat migraines. With this disorder, patients develop dopamine receptor hypersensitivity. The neurotransmitter dopamine plays a large role in the brain's reward system and produces feelings of pleasure and satisfaction.

With recoil psychosis, a person has the feeling that he senses his own and other people’s thoughts that “enter into him.” Such a patient suffers from hallucinations and delusions, involuntary movements and tremors. This disorder was first described in 1981. Today, to prevent it, experts advise not to prescribe antipsychotics for anxiety and affective disorders, limiting the scope of their use only to the treatment of schizophrenia.

Fatigue of the vulnerable.

Burnout syndrome most often develops among those who work in prisons, hospitals and other government institutions. This is increasing emotional exhaustion, which leads to deep indifference, dehumanization, a feeling of one’s own professional failure, depersonalization, decreased quality of life and psychosomatic illnesses.

In the list of the International Classification of Diseases ICD-10, burnout syndrome is called overwork. In Russia it is also called professional burnout. Today there are several Russian and foreign questionnaires that can identify this disorder in employees. It is believed that people who are prone to empathy and an idealistic attitude towards work, but at the same time unstable and immersed in daydreams, are more susceptible to burnout.

TRASH. DO NOT CONSIDER!

If Diogenes syndrome has become a path from society to oneself, the best way to get out is to support the reverse process. Think about it, perhaps Diogenes syndrome appears in you or someone you know as a reaction to despair of finding your place in an alien world? And then the world has to be formed around itself, from the available rubbish.

The “Museum of Useless Products” in which Diogenes-Plyushkin lives creates an impenetrable barrier through which life cannot penetrate. As one character said, “When the cup of suffering overflows, it must be given back.” You can do the same with hoarding - keep for yourself only what is useful at the moment. Or at least just beautiful.

It is more important to focus on the exchange, on interaction with the environment, than to collect the results of this experience. And remember that if you devote a lot of time to reviewing what has already happened, you may not have enough effort for the present.

You can help a person with Diogenes syndrome by trying to turn him in the other direction. You need to move from devaluing relationships - to recognizing their importance, from disappointment in the opportunities provided by the world - to the value of your own existence, from endless revision of the past and preparation for the future - to immersion and presence in the present. And don’t forget the popular wisdom: “When throwing out trash, the main thing is not to start looking at it.”

RISK FACTORS

Age

Hoarding disorder often begins between 13 and 15 years of age and, without treatment, tends to worsen with age.

Family history

There is a very strong connection between having sick family members and a patient's risk of developing compulsive hoarding disorder.

Experienced stress

For some people, hoarding begins after severe stress, such as the death of a loved one, loss of savings, fire, divorce, accident or abuse.

Alcohol abuse

American doctors claim that about half of the “gatherers” had problems with alcohol in the past.

Harmless hobby or illness

Daria, 32 years old: “My father is 68 years old.
For the last 7-8 of them, all he does is carry all sorts of rubbish home from dumpsters all day long. Unfortunately, our living and material conditions are cramped, so the four of us are forced to live in a small two-room apartment: my father, me, my husband and our son. And if my father doesn’t encroach on our room, he’s so filled his with “goodies” found in a landfill that he’s forced to make his way to his rookery (it’s hard to call THIS a bed) along a narrow path. What does he not have! Old broken bicycles, burnt irons, skis, sleds, boards, crates, boxes, worn-out clothes and shoes thrown away by someone, a guitar without strings... All this could somehow be tolerated if he had not recently begun to actively master for storage and other premises of the apartment. So, an ancient non-working refrigerator appeared in the kitchen (one of the neighbors put it on the staircase, and my father grabbed it), a tattered bread bin, some frying pans...

But our patience ran out when, coming home from work, we discovered that the entire corridor was filled with window glass! After all, it is unsafe, since a child lives in the apartment! Nowadays, many people install plastic windows and throw away the old ones. And the father is right there! To the question: “Why did you need these glasses?” he replied that someday he would build a greenhouse out of them at his dacha. And someday he will: fix all the broken irons and bicycles and attach strings to the guitar. But time passes, nothing like this happens, and it is clear that it will never happen. Meanwhile, the mountains of trash continue to grow..."

IN A CAGE ISOLATION

Diogenes syndrome forces a person to flee from the unknown, narrowing the entire world to the size of habitable space. Everything outside seems to not exist for him. And then the symbolic message of the recluse is very simple - “leave me alone.” Why is the interest we usually have in the world falling back? Why does curiosity leave reality and it loses its attractiveness and shape, like a balloon without gas?

In my opinion, the main metaphor of Diogenes' experience is not related to solitude as a symbol of maturity and spiritual search, but to disappointment and hopelessness. Diogenes turns the fear of being abandoned into its complete opposite - the desire to abandon everyone first. At the same time, unconscious melancholy is perceived as a virtue. He denies his need for surroundings. But, as you know, behind demonstrative experiences their complete opposite is often hidden. The inability to have trusting relationships leads to excessive attachment to things - a strong connection is established with them.

Periodic limb movement disorder

This is a syndrome in which a person involuntarily and regularly moves his arms and legs during sleep. It is often confused with restless legs syndrome, but with periodic limb movement disorder, the patient does not just want to move his legs due to discomfort, but carries out involuntary movements. In this syndrome, the patient primarily moves his toes, ankles, knees, and hips. Limb movements usually occur at periodic intervals of 20 to 40 seconds. Basically, they occur only in the first half of the night during the phases of slow-wave sleep.

People suffering from this disorder often wake up in the middle of the night and, as a result, feel constantly sleepy throughout the day. In many cases, periodic limb movement disorder is accompanied by other medical problems, such as Parkinson's disease or narcolepsy. Heart disease, sleep apnea, and the presence of mental disorders increase the risk of developing periodic limb movement disorder.

Ganser syndrome

This is an extremely rare dissociative disorder that was first described by German psychiatrist Siegbert Joseph Ganser based on observations of prison inmates. Therefore, this syndrome is sometimes called prison psychosis. The main symptoms of this disease are impaired consciousness and communication in the form of approximate answers. For example, to questions like “how many legs does a cat have?”, such patients answer: “about 4.” Also, patients suffering from Ganser syndrome cannot solve simple arithmetic equations, but their answers are close to correct. In this case, the correct execution of more complex actions and tasks is often encountered.

In most cases, the symptoms of Ganser syndrome disappear within a few days of the psychosis or after the person is no longer exposed to the stressful situation.

In most cases, the onset of Ganser syndrome is preceded by severe stress, followed by a period of psychosis accompanied by amnesia. Patients with this disorder may experience hallucinations and delusional fantasies associated with a traumatic situation. They may experience anxiety, panic, depression, stupor, or, conversely, motor agitation. During the acute phase of symptoms, a person may require hospitalization and psychiatric care.

Many psychiatrists have described similar disturbances in soldiers under stressful conditions. This disorder is often observed in patients with epilepsy and schizophrenia. In most cases, the symptoms of Ganser syndrome disappear within a few days of the psychosis or after the person is no longer exposed to the stressful situation.

Expert opinion

A psychiatrist, psychotherapist, narcologist, full member of the European Association of Transactional Analysis, Sergei Andreevich Novikov, answered this question to an InHa.ru correspondent:

Quite often on the streets of our cities we see unkempt elderly people collecting and carrying into their homes a huge amount of various kinds of rubbish and garbage. The media often publishes materials devoted to this problem. Such programs and reports are initiated mainly by tired neighbors and relatives of these individuals; they do not know how to get along with a person who carries all kinds of garbage into the house and does not accept any criticism addressed to him.

Let's figure out from which side we can approach such “Plyushkins” or, perhaps, it’s not worth trying to do this, but is it better to immediately call an ambulance?

Plyushkin syndrome (better known among psychiatrists as Diogenes syndrome or syllogomania ) was first described in 1966. This disorder most often occurs in older people, but sometimes it also occurs in young people (“prolonged collecting”). People suffering from this disease are most often very untidy and practically do not take care of themselves; they are absolutely indifferent to the sewage that accumulates in their home. They bring various types of garbage into the house, telling themselves and others: “It will come in handy someday,” but this moment still does not come, and the amount of trash increases every day (by the way, quite often these people are not beggars, but have very good savings) .

Read more: How to distinguish between love and emotional dependence

The garbage begins to emit a very unpleasant smell, which attracts cockroaches and rodents and begins to attack the apartments in the neighborhood. This is where the neighbors can't stand it! First, they offer help, and when they receive a rude response and complete rejection of help (which is also a manifestation of this disorder), they begin to contact housing and communal services, the police, the media, etc.

This phenomenon can occur in people suffering from alcohol addiction, dysfunction of the frontal lobe of the cerebral cortex, as well as in various mental disorders of old age.

Daria:
“All our attempts to explain to our father that he will never need so many things only lead to scandals. He becomes very aggressive, defending his “treasures”. It seems to him that we are encroaching on his “good”, we want to appropriate it for ourselves... And after we, taking advantage of the fact that he went to the trash heap for another “booty”, took those ill-fated glasses away from the house, he screamed and was indignant the whole week. And then he stopped talking to us altogether. We don't communicate anymore..."