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Haley Smith17-year-old American woman who became a victim of “walking corpse syndrome”
Country:
 USA |
Content:
Biography of Hailey Smith
Hailey Smith, a 17-year-old American girl, became a victim of the "Walking Corpse Syndrome" and spent three years of her life firmly believing that she was dead. She was drawn to cemeteries and watching zombie movies. She became a victim of an extremely rare condition known as Cotard's syndrome. This rare mental disorder causes people to sincerely believe that they are dead. Some sufferers even believe that certain parts of their bodies have ceased to exist. In some cases, victims die of starvation, believing that it is unnecessary for the dead to eat. Fortunately, Smith managed to return from the "afterlife" with the help of a therapist and, strangely enough, Disney cartoons.
The Cotard Syndrome
Similar to bipolar disorder or schizophrenia, Cotard's syndrome is another form of delusional psychosis, but the patient can recognize their own insanity. The history of the "Walking Corpse Syndrome" dates back to 1788, but it was officially defined by French neurologist Jules Cotard in 1880. Among the small number of sufferers, a 53-year-old woman from New York, who claimed in 2008 that she was dead and smelled like rotting fish, has been registered. Distorted reality is caused by a malfunction in the brain area called the fusiform gyrus, which is responsible for facial recognition. In addition, difficulties arise with the amygdala - a set of almond-shaped neurons responsible for human emotions.
Hailey Smith's Journey
Realizing how few people are familiar with "Walking Corpse Syndrome," Hailey Smith from Alabama, US, decided to openly share her own story of becoming a zombie. "My parents had just divorced at that time," Smith says, "and I wasn't really coping well with that fact. One day, while sitting in my English class, I had a really strange feeling that I was dead, and I couldn't shake it off." She went to the school nurse, who couldn't find anything unusual. "On the way home," she continues, "I thought about visiting a cemetery to be close to those who were also dead. Since there were none nearby, I went straight home and tried to sleep it off to rid myself of this obsession."
For a few days, Hailey felt normal again, but then the dark thoughts returned. It happened again while she was shopping. "My body went numb," she recalls, "and I threw away all the clothes and ran out of the store. I felt like I was losing my mind." From that moment on, the terrible sensations never left her. Smith started skipping classes, sleeping all day, and staying awake at night. "I fantasized about having picnics in the cemetery," Hailey admits. "And I spent a lot of time watching horror movies because observing zombies made me feel relaxed, as if I were with family."
As time went on, Smith accepted her "new" life. She says, "I decided to eat whatever I wanted because if you're dead, there's no need to worry about weighing yourself." She stopped interacting with friends who suspected that something strange was happening to her. Eventually, Hailey decided to confide in one of them. "I thought he would think I was crazy," Smith remembers, "but he just nodded and listened to me. It gave me the confidence to tell my father everything." Her father, Floyd, advised her to see a psychiatrist. It took two more years before Hailey had the courage to fully understand her "dark existence." She was immediately diagnosed with Cotard's syndrome.
"It's a rare condition," she explains, "where patients believe that they or parts of their bodies are dying. It was so amazing to find out that it's a real illness. I went online and found stories of other people with the same condition. They also wanted to spend time in a cemetery. Knowing that I wasn't alone made it easier for me."
Conversations with the psychiatrist paved the way for Smith's recovery. She discovered that, strangely enough, Disney cartoons greatly helped her break away from the "other world." She rewatched "The Little Mermaid," "Aladdin," "Sleeping Beauty," and "Bambi." She asked her boyfriend Jeremy, "Could I be dead if Disney makes me feel so wonderful?" However, Hailey's boyfriend helped her just as much as the animated characters. She stated her plan to marry Jeremy and then find a job at the Disney studio.
In conclusion, Hailey sums it up: "Experiencing being a corpse was a strange journey, and I am so glad that I managed to return to life."
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