Some common things or phenomena we encounter in life can cause mental disorders or at least contribute to them.
Many believe that madness is hereditary – the Pandora’s Box of madness is just waiting to be opened. Others believe that it can happen to anyone, but only after a serious trauma.
10. Sales.
Big sales can lead to anxiety. Have you heard stories about people going crazy during sales and trampling someone or even spraying pepper spray in someone’s face? It turns out there is a psychological factor behind it. Researchers conducted a survey among people who participated in a major sale and found that some of them exhibited symptoms of madness.
The participants claimed to have a feeling of unease, disregarded the interests of other shoppers, and the sale felt like a dream. For some, this is good news: if someone suddenly puts a microwave oven on someone’s head just to buy the last TV at a great discount, they can use temporary madness as a defense in court.
9. Living where winter nights are very long.
Long winter nights can cause depression. Do you live in an area where winter nights are excessively long? Consider a trip to a sunny beach, as the absence of sunlight can greatly affect your mood and lead to depression.
This phenomenon is called seasonal affective disorder, and it can significantly complicate a person’s life, especially if they live in the northern regions where polar nights occur.
Fortunately, there are ways to alleviate the symptoms, such as purchasing light bulbs that emit light similar to sunlight.
8. Living in solitude.
Living in solitude can cause depression and peculiar behavior. According to a study conducted on a sample of 3,500 people in Finland, researchers found that people living alone are more likely to take antidepressants than those living with others. The researchers also mentioned that there are numerous factors that contribute to depression, and living alone is just one of them.
In addition to depression, some people living in solitude claim to have peculiar habits, such as speaking French to themselves while making breakfast, jogging in place while watching TV, or drinking wine in the shower at 8 a.m.
7. Contact with cats.
Feline parasites can cause unusual behavior. Pregnant women are prohibited from approaching cat litter boxes, but most people don’t know the reason behind this prohibition. It turns out that “crazy cat people” is not just about their excessive love for animals.
Cats are carriers and “breeding grounds” for parasites called Toxoplasma gondii. When the parasite leaves the cat’s body, its sole purpose is to enter another cat, usually through rats or mice. The parasite then affects the behavior of the rat or mouse it resides in, making them more careless and slowing down their reaction speed, thereby increasing the chances of the rodent being eaten by a cat, after which the cycle repeats.
Scientists believe that the effect of human infection with the parasite may be similar to how the parasite affects rats. So if you have a cat at home and you frequently cross the road in front of cars, don’t worry, it’s possible that a little parasite is playing with you.
6. Bedbugs.
Bedbugs can cause symptoms such as insomnia and distress. Scientists have studied how bedbugs affect children and have found nothing positive. Bedbugs can have a strong impact on some individuals, and even in ordinary people, they can manifest as mental disorders.
According to the research, one of the participants was so disturbed by the thought of bedbugs that he started experiencing hallucinations. Despite never having had any mental problems before, the patient believed that his bed was infested with numerous bugs, and the only solution was daily cleaning with bleach.
Studies show that those who have bedbugs in their homes may suffer from nightmares, insomnia, and excessive worry. These symptoms can even occur just from reading about similar cases. Has anyone recently experienced an unpleasant sensation?
5. Childbirth.
Childbirth can lead to postpartum depression. The birth of a child is a happy event for a family, full of joy and hope, as long as the mother does not develop depression and contemplate killing herself and the child.
Postpartum depression – thoughts of suicide and infanticide are rare but can last for months. The symptoms of this condition complicate caring for the child and even performing everyday tasks.
It is a remarkable condition. What could be depressing about having a little bundle of joy in your family who cries all night and cannot be soothed, no matter how much you try?
4. Secondhand smoking.
Secondhand smoking can double the chances of developing mental illness. Non-smokers often complain about having to smell and inhale the smoke emitted by smokers. The harm of secondhand smoking is still being studied, but psychiatrists are studying other risks.
As a result of the research, they found that secondhand smoking increases the risk of mental illness by 50%. For smokers, the risk of ending up in a psychiatric hospital is four times higher.
The bad news is that if you smoke, you may lose your mind. The good news is that you have a new tactic for court, as declaring yourself insane may save you more than once.
3. Brain injury.
A concussion can cause long-term psychological problems. A concussion can be the cause of mental health problems long after the brain has physically healed. Studies show that 48.3% of concussions result in some form of mental health issues.
It is also known that people who have experienced a concussion can laugh one moment, cry a minute later, and overall display severe mood swings. Those who like to claim they are insane may turn it into reality by hitting themselves on the head with a frying pan. However, those who do that are not entirely sane to begin with.
2. Car accident.
A car accident can lead to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). When people hear about PTSD, they often think of war veterans. However, it turns out that even something as common as a car accident can cause long-term PTSD.
The cause of PTSD is a “rupture” in our “safety bubbles,” which leaves a person feeling shocked and disoriented. If the car accident is severe enough, individuals who have experienced it may develop PTSD.
Depending on a person’s ability to react appropriately to the surrounding world, PTSD can occur even if the person saw their uncle dressed as a clown, drunk, and breaking a few of their toys. By the way, that could also explain an irrational fear of clowns.
1. Excessive praise in childhood.
Excessive praise of a child can lead to serious character problems. Many parents teach their children that they can do no wrong, that they are always winners, and that everything they touch turns to gold. Research shows that praising a child for even the smallest achievement can cause serious character problems in the individual.
So if you know someone who constantly boosts their child’s ego, tell them (or more likely, her) that as a result, the child may grow up to be someone who has only heard about friends on television.
