Sounds fake, but it’s real

What is the walking corpse syndrome? Discover 10 odd medical conditions

Image: Ani Kolleshi

Not all medical conditions sound as serious as they are, but others… Others have names that seem straight out of science fiction tales. However, rest assured, they are all very real. From conditions that turn you into Sleeping Beauty to disorders that leave you feeling like an alien in your own skin, we’ve gathered 10 medical conditions whose names will leave you scratching your head. Keep reading and find out about these illnesses with weird names!

Image: Rodrigo Pereira

Who hasn’t wished they could sleep 20 hours a day? That’s simply a dream come true! But people with Klein-Levin syndrome don’t really think that. The condition is commonly known as Sleeping Beauty Syndrome.

Those affected by this condition experience episodes where they sleep excessively for hours, and even days! When awake, they can be confused, disoriented, and exhibit unusual behaviors like binge eating.

The condition can last for years, though episodes tend to become less frequent over time. It’s unclear what causes the syndrome, and there’s no specific treatment. The name sounds enchanting, but for those living with it, Sleeping Beauty Syndrome is more of a nightmare!

Image: Timo Wagner

This one sounds like something out of a sci-fi horror movie, but it’s a very real condition that affects the brain and spinal cord of cows. It is officially called Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) and the symptoms are aggression or erratic behavior in infected cattle. That is why it’s called "mad".

Now, this list is about human conditions. But here’s the trick: The disease can be transmitted to humans through the consumption of contaminated beef, causing a fatal brain disorder known as variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.

While strict food safety regulations have significantly reduced the risk, the nickname "Mad Cow Disease" sticks because of the startling symptoms it causes. Don’t worry! Despite the scary name, it’s extremely rare to contract in humans today.

Image: Geetanjal Khanna

Imagine your hand moves, but you didn’t send that signal to your brain. Imagine your hand doing things you never intended, creepy right? That’s what happens when you have alien hand syndrome.

People with this rare neurological disorder experience involuntary hand movements that seem purposeful, such as picking up objects or even trying to interfere with tasks the person is consciously performing. It’s called "alien" because the hand feels like it has a mind of its own, separate from the person’s control.

It is usually caused by brain injury or surgery, and it can be quite distressing and disorienting. As you can imagine, there’s no cure, but some types of therapy help reduce the movements.

Image: Tachina Lee

You’re walking on the street and you see someone. You think "I know them! I don’t know where from, but I know them!" Well, that’s not the case for everyone. Prosopagnosia, or more commonly known as facial blindness, is a condition that affects a person’s ability to recognize faces. No, not just random faces: It could be your best friend’s face, for example.

The name comes from the Greek words prósopo for "face" and agnōsia which means "ignorance."

While many of us might be forgetful with names, those with prosopagnosia may not even recognize familiar faces, including their own reflection! This condition can be present from birth or result from brain injury. Although there’s no cure, many people find ways to manage it, such as focusing on other details like voice or clothing. Weird how the brain works, huh!

Image: Alexandre Debiève

No, no human has ever turned into a real werewolf when the full moon comes. But this condition is called that due to some human’s resemblance to the fictional creature.

Hypertrichosis, better known as werewolf syndrome, causes excessive hair growth all over the body. The condition gets its mythical nickname because people with it can develop thick hair on their faces, resembling the werewolves of folklore.

It is an extremely rare condition, and it takes different forms. For some, this overgrowth only happens in small patches of skin whereas others’ conditions affect large areas. No cure has been found to this date, but it’s quite manageable and it’s not dangerous at all!

Image: Paolo Nicolello

Alice in Wonderland syndrome sounds whimsical, but it’s a condition that distorts how a person perceives their body or surroundings.

Naturally, it was named after Lewis Carroll’s famous character, and those with this syndrome may feel as if their body parts are much larger or smaller than they actually are, similar to how Alice’s size changes once she goes down the rabbit hole!

These perceptions can be disorienting, making the world seem like it’s out of proportion or shifting in strange ways. The condition is often associated with migraines or epilepsy. While it’s not dangerous, the sensations can be unsettling and, contrary to others that we’ve mentioned, not very easy to deal with every day.

Image: Ortopediatri Çocuk Ortopedi Akademisi

The official name for the stone man disease is Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva (FOP), which is a rare genetic condition where soft tissues like muscles and tendons gradually turn into bone. As the body forms more bone, it restricts movement, effectively "freezing" a person in place. Inconvenient, to say the least, don’t you think?

The condition progresses over time, and as more joints are affected, simple actions like eating or breathing can become difficult. There’s no cure for this disease, and any trauma to the body, like a fall or surgery, can worsen the condition.

As you can imagine, the name comes from the fact that those affected may eventually feel like their body has turned to stone. It’s a tough, life-altering condition, despite it sounds like a Spiderman’s enemy!

Image: Jeremy Bishop

We get it, some conditions are really serious. Now, who is in charge of naming them? This condition, officially known as Cotard’s Delusion, goes by the name walking corpse syndrome but it’s not because one exactly looks like a zombie.

The neuropsychological disorder makes people believe they are dead, missing organs, or don’t exist. It was first described in the 1880s, it causes those who have it to feel detached from reality, often convinced they have no functioning body parts or that they’re a "walking corpse."

It sounds terrifying, not only for the person experiencing it but for those around them.

What’s the origin? It is linked to severe depression or brain trauma. Though the name sounds straight out of a horror movie, Cotard’s Delusion is a serious and distressing mental health condition.

Image: Vasilis Caravitis

This one also belongs to the field of mental health conditions and it is the most common for most young adults today. Ever feel like you’re not good enough, even when all the evidence says otherwise? That’s imposter syndrome, a psychological phenomenon where people doubt their accomplishments and fear being exposed as frauds for no reason whatsoever!

Though it is not a formal medical diagnosis, the term was coined by psychologists in 1978 and has gained recognition for describing a feeling many high achievers experience. Despite outward success, those with imposter syndrome struggle with feelings of inadequacy. Can you relate to this one?

Image: note thanun

To finish this article on a higher note, let’s talk about foreign accent syndrome. Can you imagine what is it? No, it’s not the ability to adapt to different accents.

Imagine going to bed and waking up with a completely different accent than the one you always had! That’s what the syndrome is.

It usually occurs after a stroke or brain injury and results in someone suddenly speaking with an accent they’ve never had before. While the person’s native language remains the same, their speech patterns may shift, making it sound as if they’re from a different area or a different country altogether.

No matter how much of a language lover you are, imagine the chaos of having to communicate in a new language out of the blue!

EVERYONE NEEDS TO ASK FOR DIRECTIONS ONCE IN A WHILE

Asking for directions in different languages? We’ve got you covered!

Image: Janis Oppliger

Having a general knowledge of the geography and local language is sound advice for anyone visiting a foreign land. Knowing your way around and being able to communicate with the locals will always ensure a smoother experience. However, this may not always be the case. Perhaps you are visiting for the first time, find yourself in unfamiliar territory, or you are not sure about how to properly ask for directions. If that is the case, it is always a good idea to know, at the very least, how to ask for help in the local language. Scroll on to learn about the proper way to ask for directions in 10 widely used languages, from the familiar to the obscure.

Image: Sam Williams

Let’s start with one of the best-known languages for all English speakers aside from their own: Spanish. This incredibly rich language has countless words for everything, which allows us to be very specific when describing something.

But if we are pressed for time, in a Spanish-speaking environment and need to get somewhere, we can simply say "¿Dónde está?" ( Don Deh Is Tah) followed by the name of whichever place we need to reach. That little phrase means, literally, "where is?"

Image: Federico Beccari

Another beautiful and ancient language with Latin origins, Italian, might sound slightly similar to Spanish but it’s a whole different thing. Italian is a very musical language, usually accompanied by generous body language.

If you ever find yourself in an Italian-speaking part of the world and need to ask for directions, you should say "Dov'è…?" (Dove eh), once again followed by the name of the place you need to get to. Any Italian worth their salt will quickly understand and point you in the right direction.

Image: JOHN TOWNER

Between Italy and Spain, we find another beautiful Mediterranean language: French. This sophisticated language makes us feel like we are in a movie and can be challenging to anyone who doesn’t speak it, as its correct pronunciation involves some sounds quite different from those commonly used in English.

The French are very proud of their language, as they should be, and appreciate when someone makes an honest effort to communicate with them in French. If you ever need to ask for directions in French, simply say "Où est…?" (Ooh Eh) followed by the name of the place you need to go, which means "Where is…?"

Image: Vita Marija Murenaite

Another soft-spoken language that reflects the beautiful landscapes and atmosphere of its nation is Portuguese. This serene language is a close relative to its neighbor, Spanish, and similarities can be found frequently between the two.

If you ever find yourself in the charming streets of Portugal, or perhaps in Brazil, and need to ask for directions, you can say "Onde está…?" (On The Stah) to a local, followed by the name of your destination. Those magical words translate again into "Where is…?"

Image: Ansgar Scheffold

Moving on from the Latin-based languages, we encounter a language with some common roots with English: German. The German language might sound harsh to some people (especially those coming from Portuguese-speaking regions), but it is extremely poetic, with words that express very deep and specific emotions often hard to find elsewhere in the world.

When asking for directions in Germany or any other German-speaking region, you should say "Wo ist…? (Voo Est) followed by the name of the place you need to go and directions should be provided.

Image: Martin Jernberg

Asian languages are very different from European ones, both in terms of sound and structure. Hindi is an extremely ancient language, a direct descendant of Sanskrit, one of the oldest known languages, and learning to communicate in it can be quite challenging for Europeans.

A significant percentage of the Indian population speaks English but that is not a guarantee and it would be smart to learn how to ask for directions in Hindi, just in case. The magical words are "Kahaan hai…?" (Kah Haan Hi) followed by the place you need to get to.

Image: Tianshu Liu

Japanese people are renowned for their politeness, so you shouldn’t have any trouble asking for directions in a Japanese-speaking area. However, even though many Japanese people do speak English, there is a chance that some may only be able to assist you in their native tongue.

If that is the case, one would be well advised to learn how to say "Where is…?" in Japanese. The correct way of saying so is: "Doko ni arimasu ka…?" ( Doh Koh Nee Aree Mah Soo Kah) followed by the destination’s name.

Image: Sergey Pesterev

Africa is not an ideal place for a foreign tourist to get lost, as its natural wonders can present many hazards and perils. But if that is the case, and the lost tourist happens to run into someone who speaks Swahili, knowing how to ask for directions in that language can be extremely helpful.

To ask how to get to a certain place in Swahili, you must say "Iko wapi…?" (E Koh Wah Pee) followed by the name of your desired destination.

Image: Jacek Dylag

A gorgeous country, full of historic places to visit, beautiful landscapes, and friendly people, Poland is also home to the Polish language, which can be challenging to learn or understand for the untrained ear.

If you ever were to find yourself in the streets of Poland looking for a specific location, know that the correct way to ask for assistance is to say "Gdzie jest…?" (Tzee Eh Yest) followed by the name of the intended destination.

Image: Patrick

One of the biggest tourist magnets in the world is, without a doubt, Greece. Its incredible history and monuments, its beautiful beaches and coastal towns, and its delicious food and wine make for an unforgettable experience.

But even in a country so used to foreign visitors, with its fair share of English-speaking locals, you might encounter people who will only speak in Greek. If you ever find yourself in the situation of having to ask for directions in Greek, know that the right way to do so is by saying: "Pou eínai…?" (Poe A Ni) followed by the name of the place you want to visit.