Joking addiction can be a sign of mental illness

Sometimes we feel that having a sense of humor is a blessing, because it helps us connect with people faster. But for people with Witzelsucht syndrome, the humor is scary, because it makes the sick turn into ungainly.

Two brain experts from the University of California, Los Angeles, USA (UCLA) have published two studies in the Journal of Neurology and Clinical Neuroscience on 'Brain Injury or Dementia'. can lead to excessive involuntary jokes . ' The scientific name for this disease is Witzelsucht (a German word, meaning 'addicted to jokes'), and this is actually a neurological disease.

People with "joking addiction"

An unnamed man, 69, repeatedly woke his wife at midnight just to tell jokes he suddenly thought of. This went on for five years and stopped only when his wife couldn't stand it any longer. Instead, he decided to write jokes, but funny puns, . into a notebook. His notebook was covered in 50 pages and he was later revealed to scientists.

He could not stop laughing at what he said, but he could not laugh happily because of other jokes. In a test of research, he was fully alert and able to determine which jokes are and which are not. However, he did not find them funny, but he could not stop giggling with one of his own bland words.

The man could not stop telling jokes to his wife at midnight.(Illustration).

Another man with dementia was fired at the age of 57. The reason was that he could not control himself when he exclaimed: 'Oh, who chose such a horrible office location?' . The researchers describe his behavior as 'constantly laughing, almost always giggling at his own words, opinions, comments or jokes'.

His jokes are mostly sexual or political. As in the case above, he did not find the 'real' jokes interesting, but only laughed for his own words.

He usually dances to disco music when he comes to the lab and constantly teases scientists when they pass by. Even, he grabbed their caravats to compare with each other.

"Joke addiction" syndrome is a manifestation of neurological problems

In fact, the two men above like to tell jokes or jokes not because they have such "ungainly" personality but that is a sign of inherent neurological problems.

In the case of the first man, he actually suffered from neuropathy. Ten years ago, when he was in the study, he suffered a brain haemorrhage, from which the behavior gradually changed. Initially, he was "addicted" to recycling. He rummaged through hundreds of trash cans to find recyclables, even continually 'hoarding' tissues from restaurants. Five years later, this behavior changed into another form, making his life a tragedy. He became addicted to jokes and jokes, so much so that the marriage between him and his wife gradually broke.

In the second man, after his death, a brain procedure for autopsy revealed that he had Pick - a form of dementia that causes severe cerebral atrophy.

Witzelsucht syndrome turns humor into an obsession for patients.

The reason for the "joke addiction" syndrome

In both cases, no one died of laughing, their family and friends were extremely patient with their personality. While this syndrome does not cause any serious problems, it is actually a serious problem.

UCLA's research suggests that two cases in the experiment showed signs of damage to the frontal lobe, especially the right brain.

Influence in the brain lobe may be the cause of the syndrome "addiction to joke".(Illustration).

This is an important part of the brain, enabling us to react to jokes and understand puns. People with this syndrome still recognize what is funny, but they can not laugh before the clever jokes, strange jokes, never heard or told by others. And because of this syndrome, they cannot stop themselves from producing " bland jokes."

Although joking addiction is not a deadly disease, it can make it difficult to interact with others. This is also one of the signs of serious brain diseases. Some cases of excessive laughing can lead to severe depression. It is known that they also have the potential to cause ' hypersexuality ' . These people often wait for words and jokes related to 'bed stories'.