9 years of wandering in the cemetery because I thought I was dead

Graham, a man with Cotard syndrome, spent nine years in the cemetery because he thought he was dead. He deluded that he stopped breathing and no longer existed physically.

In 2010, the famous film " The Walking Dead" stormed the movie-loving community. Not too long ago, a series of zombie works from Korea also attracted a large audience. We have never thought that the "zombies" in the movie are in real life. In fact, Cotard syndrome , a rare mental illness, makes patients like "walking corpses".

9 years of hell of a man with "walking corpses" syndrome

Mr. Graham Harrison (57) is one of the patients with the most monstrous disease in the world, always thinking that he is dead even though he still breathes every day. "My mind is empty, I no longer have fun with anything. Even facing other people makes me feel difficult," Mr. Graham told New Scientist Magazine.

Mr. Graham Harrison spent 9 years wandering the cemetery because he thought he was dead.(Photo: Daily Mail).

The bizarre things in his body began to appear after struggling with severe depression. He suddenly felt his brain was dead or gone. Graham's previous smoking or eating habits are no longer available. He stopped normal activities because he felt "there is no meaning in death".

Graham no longer wanted to stay at home and often went to the cemetery as a member of this place. The mind was chaotic and unintentional, he tried to kill himself with electric shock but failed. It was this shock that led to his zombie status. Doctors believe Graham had Cotard's syndrome or " walking dead " syndrome .

The doctors took Graham to meet the neurologist Adam Zeman of Exeter Medical School (Belgium). Dr. Laureys said: "This is the first time I have come into contact with a person with the disease. He said he was dead. I think it is necessary to talk more thoroughly with patients to understand them rather than using remedies. Conventional treatment ".

When the patient's brain was first scanned, doctors found their level of activity to be as low as those of those who fell into the plant state."I have been analyzing scans for 15 years and I have never seen anyone with such an abnormal regimen. Graham's brain function is like that of an anesthetist or sleeper , " said Laureys. added.

Under the help of Dr. Laureys, Graham gradually recovered. After 9 years, he finally returned to life as a normal person.

Cotard syndrome and skepticism about the reason for human existence

People with Cotard syndrome often live in the illusion that they have no heart, blood, and lungs and die even though they still breathe daily. In many cases, some patients consider themselves immortal.

Some people with Cotard's syndrome think they are immortal and therefore go on a hunger strike.(Photo: Milliyet).

This syndrome is very rare, so far scientists have not accurately counted the number of people infected. A study in Hong Kong in 349 mental patients showed that this condition affects about 0.57% of the population.

Cotard syndrome was first discovered by French neuroscientist Jules Cotard in 1880. In retention records, a patient with the nickname Mademoiselle X said that he had missing some internal organs like internal organs, brain, chest, stomach, and intestines and think they are dead. Finally, Mademoiselle X went on a hunger strike and died of hunger.

Symptoms of "walking dead" syndrome are not uniform. Researcher Yamada Katsuragi and colleagues worked hard to find the three stages of the disease in 1999, namely germination, flowering and chronic. According to statistical reports, people with Cotard syndrome are often depressed, always in a state of anxiety and guilt.

Until now, the exact cause and treatment of the disease is still a big question for neuroscientists.