Have you been hearing ‘Jerusalem Syndrome’ a lot right now and are wondering what it refers to? It’s the term used to describe a group of religious-focused mental conditions that have one thing in common: they’re sparked by a visit to the city of Jerusalem.
While Jerusalem Syndrome is not currently officially recognized as a condition in the International Classification of Diseases or Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, it is becoming increasingly accepted by medical professionals and wider society. The vast majority of those developing Jerusalem Syndrome have been previously diagnosed with a mental health disorder or condition, although – rarely – it has affected individuals with no previous history of mental health issues.
The Three Types of Jerusalem Syndrome
It’s important to note that Jerusalem Syndrome is distinct from returning home after living abroad depression. While the sense of dislocation, loss, etc., that may be caused by coming back home after an extended stay abroad may trigger depression, this is distinct from the sort of religious psychosis seen in those manifesting Jerusalem Syndrome. There are three main ways that this syndrome presents:
Type One
This type of Jerusalem Syndrome is seen in those who have a recognized mental condition prior to their trip to the city – in this case, their visit to Jerusalem is likely to form part of a mission linked to their delusion. For example, the individual may believe themselves to be an important religious or historical figure or that their visit could be a vital element of the Second Coming.
Type Two
Unlike Type One Jerusalem Syndrome, the individual may not be suffering from a mental illness before their visit to the city but could hold an obsessive idea regarding Jerusalem as part of a wider religious or cultural belief system.
Type Three
This is the rarest but the most well-known form of Jerusalem Syndrome and describes the condition suffered by those with no previous history of mental illness who become delusional only upon arrival in the city. These delusions could take the form of paranoid beliefs around, for example, being poisoned by a hostile agency.
Jerusalem Syndrome: Real-Life Manifestations
There are a plethora of stories and case studies regarding tourists becoming delusional during a visit to Jerusalem. A middle-aged American male recently attempted to dismantle part of the city’s historic Western Wall with his bare hands, convinced that he was Samson, the Bible’s strong man. And then there’s the Austrian chef who, certain that he had been sent to Earth to prepare a Last Supper-type meal ahead of Armageddon, walked into one of the city’s hotels and demanded to be escorted to the kitchen to begin work.
One of the most well-known cases of recent times is that of British tourist Oliver McAfee, a twenty-nine-year-old devout Christian who disappeared in the Negev Desert in 2018. Although McAfee has never been found, investigators discovered a trail of pages torn from the Bible, along with notes made by McAfee that made references to Jesus going into the desert for forty days and forty nights. It’s been suggested that McAfee developed Jerusalem Syndrome (Type Two) as a direct result of his visit to the city.
Why Do So Many American Tourists Develop Jerusalem Syndrome?
It’s estimated that Jerusalem Syndrome affects approximately fifty to one hundred people annually, and the overwhelming majority of sufferers (whether or not they have exhibited prior incidences of mental ill health) are evangelical Christians. A report by Operation World notes that North America is the most evangelical continent in the world -therefore, it makes sense that this population is statistically the most likely to present with the condition.
A classic example is a case of an evangelical Christian male American tourist who felt compelled to visit Jerusalem following the breakdown of his marriage and loss of his job. Arriving in the city, he took to visiting church to pray for hours on end, certain that he had been called to the site. He felt the compulsion to fast for forty days and nights, stopped washing, and began introducing himself as ‘The Messiah.’
What Causes Jerusalem Syndrome?
Neuroscientists have noted the changes in the brains of those experiencing moments of extreme devotion. The limbic system, responsible for our emotions, goes into overdrive, while the frontal lobes, which usually act to calm us down, begin to shut down. In the most extreme cases, these combined events can bring on hallucinations. In the case of Jerusalem Syndrome, it’s suggested that the city and its religious associations themselves play a key role in precipitating these changes to brain activity. This can result in those suffering from the condition experiencing delusions, such as believing they’re hearing God speaking to them.
Final Word: The Outlook
For those who suddenly develop Jerusalem Syndrome upon visiting the city, where no previous history of mental illness is present, the outlook is good: in these cases, most individuals make a full recovery upon leaving the city. As a brief but intense break with reality related to the place, the great news is that simply leaving the place can precipitate a return to normal.
