They lived through the unspeakable at ages when innocence should be the norm. Therefore, these boys and girls have decided cut yourself off from life for an indefinite time, seeking to escape from the shadow of a past marked by death and misfortune. They are in a unexplained coma, caused by the effects of a phenomenon identified as resignation syndromeof which there is only record in Swedena place that houses thousands of refugees.
This is, perhaps, one of the most curious and particular mental illnesses, so we want to delve into its research. Join us in this Supercurious article, we will tell you what resignation syndrome is, what its causes and symptoms are
Find out what resignation syndrome is
The photo you see above was the one that made known what resignation syndrome was. It came to light in 2018 and that same year she was the winner of the WORLD PRESS PHOTO Award. They are two sisters (Djeneta and Ibadeta), who were in the horndale hospital, in Dirty. The girls are plunged into a coma, totally disconnected from the world, all due to this peculiar syndrome.
And it is that Sweden has faced for two decades the syndrome of resignation, a very rare condition that only occurs in this country. Only affects children and adolescentschildren of refugees, aged between 7 to 18 yearsThey are the most vulnerable.
They all converge on a particular trait: they come from regions and ethnic groups that have dealt with catastrophic situations, such as the former soviet unionthe Balkans and the situations experienced by Roma children and Yazidis. Those affected lived in a chaotic, extremely violent environment, which forced them to leave for Sweden, where their residence is not guaranteed.
Is he afraid to return to his old life what has made them disconnect from the world in a way that scientists have not been able to decipher: they remain immobile, incontinent, unable to eat and drink, even if they do not suffer from any physical or neurological problem.
1. Causes of resignation syndrome
The resignation syndrome has been in the sights of all kinds of studies. Which have also led to all kinds of conclusions. Although so far the main cause is directly linked to migration, psychiatrists and psychologists have preferred to consider it as a depressive disorder.
This disorder presents psychotic symptoms, catatonia and other related symptoms with dissociative disorder. Despite the above, the following are taken into account when considering the possible causes of resignation syndrome:
- experimentation of traumatic experiences in their place of origin.
- Migration situation. This situation will be responsible for the intensification of any trauma or disorder with which the child comes.
- Strong feeling of hopelessness and despair due to compelling conditions in the destination country.
- The resignation syndrome could also occur in response to parental or family disorders with whom they meet.
2. What are the main symptoms of resignation syndrome?
As we mentioned before, within the symptoms of this strange syndrome is the gradual disconnection. Which is represented by other effects such as: increased feelings such as sadness and anguish, accompanied by easy irritability.
In addition, affected children limit their communication and relationship skills. But, without a doubt, among the most worrying symptoms are loss of mobility and appetite.
These symptoms show that, literally, children walk the tortuous path of resignation, both physical and mental.
3. Sophie’s Case
Among the hundreds of cases that have been registered in the Nordic country since the 1990s, we find a recent one, that of Sophie. She is a beautiful 9-year-old girl who, if she used to love to dance, now lies inert in her bed.
Doctors say that she is physically healthy, but Sophie She has been asleep for years. She is fed with a tube attached to her nose and wears diapers, like other children suffering from the same syndrome, the resignation syndrome.
— “When I explain to the parents what is happening, I tell them that the world has been so terrible that Sophie has turned in on herself and has turned off the conscious part of her brain” — says Dr. Elisabeth Hultcrantz, a volunteer from Doctors of the World.
His family came from the former Soviet Union, where they were besieged by the local mafia.. In one of the many altercations, the little girl witnessed how her parents were beaten until her father fell unconscious. a traumatic situation that broke something inside her.
— «After a couple of days I noticed that he wasn’t playing as much as he used to with his sister,» recalls his mother.
Sophie was visibly affected, so, for her sake and for the sake of all, the family left for Sweden, where things were not easy either. Shortly after her arrival, the girl heard in a meeting with the Migration Board that his family could not remain in the country.
It was at that moment that the symptoms of resignation syndrome began to manifest. He didn’t want to eat, he didn’t say a word either, until he fell into a deep sleep from which he still hasn’t returned.
Hultcrantz checks her from time to time and assures her that her blood pressure is quite normal, everything is working normally, but Sophie has shown no signs of improvement in all this time, the girl is still not moving. However, the doctors remain hopeful that the little girl will regain her senses and the will to live once her family feels truly safe.
4. Could there be a cure for resignation syndrome?
There is very little research on this disorder, the only thing that specialists can be fairly sure about. is that it is a disease of the mindpresent only in children of refugee families, and that only happens in Sweden – although nobody knows exactly why. Children eventually recover, sometimes with relapses, but the overall picture is one of limbo.
Even so, for many scholars, the cure could focus more on the emotional environment of the child than on his own body. Although children are treated with nutritional support and intravenous rehydration, it is believed that the most important thing of all is family reconstruction.
When a family comes from a similar trauma, it breaks, it becomes a painful situation. That’s what the syndrome responds to. To recover, then, the child must revive, not only her senses, but the hope and confidence in the physical and emotional care capacity of their parents and relatives.
Before saying goodbye to you, we want to ask you: Did you know about this strange syndrome? What do you think could be a solution to reduce its impact? Do not hesitate to tell us everything in the comments section, we want to read you!
Other rare syndromes you should know about
And, if the curious resignation syndrome has caught your attention, be sure to check out this short selection that we have prepared with other truly curious mental disorders.