Stendhal Syndrome

Trigger warning! 

Stendhal Syndrome

A psychosomatic disorder, Stendhal Syndrome causes rapid heartbeat, dizziness, sweating, disorientation, fainting, and confusion when someone is looking at artwork with which he or she deeply emotionally connects.

Symptoms

Anxiety, dizziness, tachycardia, hallucinations, or delusions

Stendhal Syndrome is not merely a modern phenomenon. In 1817, a French author named Marie-Henri Beyle described his experience visiting the Basilica of Santa Croce in Florence. Beyle, who wrote using the pseudonym Stendhal, felt overwhelmed by all the beauty and rich history surrounding him: The Basilica featured magnificent frescoes created by the Italian Renaissance artist Giotto, and it was where Machiavelli, Michelangelo, and Galileo were buried. Emotionally, he felt inspired by the sublime beauty, but physically, he experienced heart palpitations and weak, shaky legs.

Over a century later, visitors to Florence continued to suffer from similar symptoms. In 1979, Dr. Graziella Magherini worked as the Chief of Psychiatry at the Hospital of Santa Maria Nuova in Florence. After observing more than 100 tourists who were hospitalized after looking at art in Florence, she coined the term Stendhal Syndrome. In 1989, she published a book, La Sindrome di Stendhal, about these tourists, who experienced a range of symptoms that included anxiety, panic attacks, hallucinations , and even psychotic episodes—all after seeing renowned artwork.

Describing the patients she observed, Magherini said they were sensitive, emotional people who essentially "overdosed" on art. Because Florence has so much famous artwork on display, tourists tend to squeeze in as much art as they can in a few days. Victims are typically impressionable, single people between 26 and 40 years old, who are stressed by travel  and may be struggling with jet lag. Of the people she studied who were hospitalized, about half had prior treatment for mental illness—although "prior treatment" could simply mean that someone attended weekly therapy sessions.

Treatment

Therapy with a psychologist seems to be one of the only treatments available perhaps even group therapy. Generally speaking the symptoms are short lived when the person is removed from the situation causing the disorder.

For the symptoms a doctor may prescribe anti anxiety medication such as Valium, kolonopin or ativan which when taken will eliminate all symptoms but are highly addictive.

A person who suffers from this disorder may also prepare themselves mentally by understanding that these types of situations may cause them to feel this way, maybe perhaps to avoid these situations until one can control there emotions.

I hope you all find this very educational at the very least. Some of these disorders can really alter a person's life and be very debilitating. If you are experiencing any of these disorders tell your doctor or psychologist.

As always stay safe and healthy. Mind, body and soul.