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Hello dear readers! The word lethargy is translated from Greek as oblivion and inaction. And not in vain, because a person in this state is really inactive and looks like either dead or very soundly asleep.
Since all the processes of the body during this period slow down. Up to breathing, which is not traced at all, and the pulse is only a couple of beats per minute. Just like in a fairy tale about Snow White or Sleeping Beauty.
And today I want to bring to your attention the most interesting facts about lethargic sleep. As well as stories that really happened in reality.
General information and signs
In medicine, lethargy is a disease in which there is a decrease in metabolism, a weakening or complete disappearance of the body’s response to external stimuli. Also, the body temperature drops so much that the person really becomes cold, like a dead person.
By the way, no one is able to foresee the occurrence of this disease, as well as exactly how long it will last. Either an hour, or decades.
With a mild form, a person looks just sound asleep. His breathing can be traced, and his heart beats at a normal rate. In a severe form, the heart beats 1-3 times per minute. And if you bring a mirror to his mouth, it will not sweat.
Therefore, as you understand, this method is not one hundred percent, indicating biological death.
Historical data
The Duke of Mecklenburg announced in 1772 that it was forbidden to bury people who lived in the territory he ruled earlier than three days after death. A little later, European countries also took similar measures, as many were afraid to suffer such a terrible fate as being buried alive.
In the 19th century there was even, so to speak, a fashion for coffins in which it is quite possible to survive in case of a mistake.
The reason for their appearance is absolutely clear. Emmanuel Nobel, who invented the first models, was terribly afraid of falling into a lethargic sleep. The design of such a coffin is simple, it is a wooden box familiar to us. Only with a long tube, which should be outside the grave.
After the funeral for several days, the priest was obliged to constantly check whether the smell of decay was coming from her or not. Sometimes a bell was installed inside, this is if the forces do not give signs in other ways.
Sometimes they even hired special workers, so to speak, guards, who were around the clock at the cemetery and listened for suspicious sounds. To dig out a person in time if he wakes up and starts screaming or knocking.
A little later, Adolf Gutsmon slightly improved the coffin model for more affluent people. It was now possible to deliver food and water to it. In order to prove the effectiveness of his creation, he even agreed to be buried. And stayed in one of his copies for several hours. And in order not to be bored, he drank beer and ate sausages.
Causes
So far, scientists have not put forward a single exact cause that provokes this disease. But there are a number of hypotheses that are quite valid.
- Transferred angina. After examining a number of cases, experts discovered a strange pattern. Almost every unfortunate person had a sore throat before the onset of this condition. From which they concluded that staphylococci, bacteria, due to mutation, enter the brain tissues and destroy them.
- An overdose of drugs or a side effect of taking antiviral drugs.
- Psychological experiences. Protecting itself from stress that the human psyche is simply unable to endure, the body simply “turns off” for a certain period until it restores its resources.
- As a sign of narcolepsy, it is a disease of the nervous system, which is characterized by sudden falling asleep, loss of muscle tone and cataplexy, that is, unexpected freezing and the absence of any reactions.
- Head trauma, massive blood loss. And even serious poisoning can have such a noticeable effect on a person, causing «imaginary death.»
- Organic diseases of the brain, which can be observed, for example, in schizophrenia.
How is it checked?
About 50 years ago, British scientists developed the first apparatus that could capture the electrical activity of the heart. Because, if only 1 beat per minute — you yourself understand, it may not be noticed. And electrical signals, if the organism is alive, but in a state of lethargy, are always present.
By the way, his first test was very successful. Scientists conducted research in the morgue and the device noticed activity in a girl who was considered dead.
And in Slovakia, the majority of the population, along with the deceased’s favorite things, put an ordinary push-button mobile phone, the battery charge of which is necessarily 100%. So that if something happens, a person can call and ask for help.
In general, in our time, you should not worry, doctors, if they have doubts, always do an electroencephalogram or an electrocardiogram. Medical experts must examine the body for the appearance of external signs of death.
For example, such as cadaveric spots, rotting, rigor mortis. Usually the body is in the morgue for about two days. During this period, they will definitely appear if the person really died. Less commonly used methods of chemical analysis of blood.
Taphophobia
A phobia is a pronounced obsessive fear that cannot be «pacified» by any logical arguments. Accordingly, taphophobia is the fear of a person that she will be considered dead and buried alive, that she will wake up in a coffin and will not be able to get out of it.
George Washington, the first popularly elected president of the United States of America, repeatedly asked members of his family, in the event of death, to bury him no sooner than two days later. Just to make sure he doesn’t wake up.
And the philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer needed five whole days of the so-called delay. As a result, it was not easy for those who came to say goodbye to him, since the cadaverous smell prevented such an outstanding personality from being sent on his last journey.
The Silver Age poetess Tsvetaeva and the British writer Wilkie Collins also suffered from similar fears. But his form of manifestation was too intrusive.
Since before going to bed, each time he left a note near the bed with a request, if he did not show signs of life for a long time, he would definitely make sure that the body was no longer functioning.
Nikolay Gogol
But Nikolai Vasilievich Gogol was considered the most famous taphophobe. He was terrified of being buried alive. Because he had more than once dreams in which he watched how he was buried, and then he comes to his senses, tries to get out of the grave, but, in the end, suffocates.
Boris Yablonsky, a friend of Gogol, even advised him to take sedatives. Considering these ideas only nonsense against the background of stress, depression.
But this fear was not groundless, it turns out that one day, while traveling in Italy, he fell ill with malaria, which spilled over into malarial encephalitis. The main symptoms of which are very reminiscent of lethargy.
After the seizures, he fell into a deep sleep. During which there was a decrease in pressure, respiratory disorders, slowing of blood circulation, and so on.
By the way, when the grave of the writer was opened for burial in another place, they found the body in a completely unnatural position with his head turned to the side. And one could assume that the terrible dreams of Nicholas turned out to be prophetic.
But scientists put forward the theory that changes in the position of the body were the result of the uneven decay of the coffin boards.
Interesting facts and cases
Francesco Petrarca, the Italian poet, had the good fortune to recover just as his body was being prepared for burial. He «fell asleep» for 20 hours. As a result, doctors and relatives concluded that he was gone.
Just imagine the shock and surprise of those close to him when he suddenly stood up and declared that he felt great and did not need such a ritual. By the way, after this event, he created and lived for his pleasure for another 30 years.
But Nadezhda Lebedina from the city of Dnepropetrovsk was not as lucky as Francesco. Having quarreled with her husband in 1954, she «turned off» for as much as 20 years. During this period, her husband died. And she came to her senses on the day of her mother’s death, hearing how the assembled people were talking about it. The daughter found her lying conscious and in tears.
In Norway in 1919, Augustine Linggard gave birth to a child and, due to the stress experienced, fell into a lethargic sleep. But I woke up already in 1941. It is surprising that in these 22 years she has not changed at all, not a single wrinkle and gray hair. Only now, within 12 months, she rapidly aged, reaching the required age.
This happens due to too slow physiological processes, the body is literally hibernating and does not need food and water. Even mental development remains at the same level, as evidenced by the example of a 25-year-old girl from Argentina. She fell into this state at the age of six, and after she woke up, she asked for a doll to play with.
Completion
And that’s all for today, dear readers! I want to say one thing with confidence, so as not to give lethargy a single chance to “knock you down”. Be sure to take care of your mental balance.
If you learn to cope with stress, getting rid of their negative consequences in a timely manner, your health will surely increase. For more detailed recommendations, click here.
The material was prepared by a psychologist, Gestalt therapist, Zhuravina Alina