The reason why tourists are nauseated and hallucinating when coming to Paris

Despite the diversity of cultural destinations, stunning architecture and dozens of Michelin-starred restaurants, a few people experience "Paris syndrome" - a psychological condition with symptoms of nausea, hallucinations, and heart palpitations. increased upon arrival in the French capital.

What is Paris syndrome?

Although very rare and not listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), Paris syndrome is recognized by many experts as a real phenomenon.

Paris syndrome is an extreme form of culture shock.

Culture shock is a term used to describe the anxiety and emotions such as surprise, disorientation, confusion, etc., that a person feels when exposed to a purely cultural or social environment other.

According to The Atlantic, symptoms of culture shock resemble anxiety and psychosis. When someone feels anxious, a signal is sent to the stomach. The signals change the way the stomach and intestines process and digest food, causing feelings of nausea.

"In cases of particularly severe anxiety - like culture shock - the feeling of nausea can lead to vomiting and a host of other physical reactions such as acute paranoia, hallucinations, dizziness, sweating, feeling of being persecuted".

Paris syndrome is an extreme form of culture shock.

Most cases of culture shock are foreigners or international students who live for a few months in a new country. Meanwhile, Paris syndrome occurs with short-term vacationers.

Mathieu Deflem, professor of sociology at the University of South Carolina (USA), said visitors have a slightly romanticized view of the city of light. This is mainly due to the way Paris is represented through films such as Amélie (2001), Before Sunset (2004) and Emily in Paris (2020) or the books A Night at the Majestic (2006), A Moveable Feast (1964).

The works focus on art, coffee culture, quaint restaurants and smart conversations. This expectation is unrealistic, he said.

In a 2020 study by CEOWORLD magazine, 36% of respondents rated Paris as the number one rudest city in Europe, twice as high as London (ranked second).

In addition, there are a variety of problems that this city has to deal with such as rats, garbage, graffiti, pickpockets and unpleasant odors.

Japanese people are most susceptible to Paris syndrome

According to Deflem, Paris syndrome is most common among Japanese tourists. He said Japan has a very orderly and polite culture. Meanwhile, Parisians sometimes look down on even French people who don't live in the city.

Cultural differences, unmet romantic expectations, burnout, and language barriers explain why Japanese visitors are at high risk for Paris syndrome.

Two Japanese tourists take a photo in front of the Eiffel Tower in Paris.

In 2006, NBC News reported about 10 travelers in serious condition requiring medical attention. That year, the Japanese embassy in Paris repatriated at least four tourists. In it, two women claimed that their hotel room was wiretapped.

The Japanese Embassy also operates a 24-hour hotline to help foreigners experiencing this syndrome.

Paris syndrome can happen anywhere

Do visitors to other famous, historic cities such as Vienna (Austria), New York (USA) or Beijing (China) experience feelings and symptoms similar to Paris syndrome?

Dr. Rodanthi Tzanelli (University of Leeds, UK) said that Paris syndrome is not exclusive to the French capital. She considers this a "complex psychological phenomenon involving disappointment, even despair, when reality does not match the visitor's expectations".

Young people tend to travel around the world more, preparing well for what they will experience in a new destination. However, Tzanelli wants to point out that no one is immune to culture shock, regardless of age or the number of countries they have traveled to.

"Humans are creatures of habit. We get caught up in a particular way of life, adopt behaviors and habits from our surroundings, and become part of a culture, a social group. When suddenly removed from belief systems and routines, people have no way to shape and define who they are, when to apologize, when not to ask questions," Deflem analyzed.