![]() ![]() And the house? Well, it was in a state of as much disrepair as my friend… I’m sure you can get the picture. To say they looked as though they had aged a hundred years would indeed be an exaggeration, but to say they had aged twenty would not – they had lost possibly as much as 25% of their body weight now walked with a hunched posture at a snail’s pace had tried to cut their hair as it had become matted from being unwashed for I don’t know how long had discoloured cheeks and teeth and wore ill-fitting, unlaundered clothes. ![]() What was I met with, when I arrived for our coffee date? Well firstly, my friend was barely recognizable – to the extent that, if I had walked past them in Checkers, I may not even have paused to say hello. I only discovered this ten days ago, when – after receiving one excuse after another as to why they were not able to accommodate me – I forced a visit upon them. This friend’s life had begun to rapidly spin out of control as Diogenes Syndrome took an increasing grip. ![]() I assumed that, as per our telecoms, everything was fine – but it wasn’t. While we spoke occasionally, I didn’t visit or invite them over after the initial level 5 lockdown was lifted. As noted above, it is with a very heavy heart that I have to say I forgot about a friend that lives alone, and only about 5 kilometres from my house. Since the onset of the covid pandemic and the various levels of lockdown, we have all been reminded not to forget about potentially vulnerable people, especially those that are living alone and who could be at risk both physically and mentally from the isolation. Sufferers are unaware of the “condition” and are usually reluctant to accept assistance from others, even family. People who suffer from this condition also withdraw from life and society, so what better time to conceal the signs than during a pandemic lockdown? There are no medications or therapy specifically for Diogenes Syndrome – however the underlying issues can often be treated. It affects older adults, usually over the age of 60, and typically those living alone. While most these underlying causes are mental illnesses (including depression, dementia, schizophrenia and substance use disorders), the syndrome itself is not classified as a mental illness in its own right.Īlso known as senile squalor syndrome, Diogenes Syndrome is a behavioural disorder characterized by extreme self-neglect, domestic squalor, apathy, compulsive hoarding of garbage or animals, plus a lack of shame. In many of my mental health workshops I speak about the psychiatrist’s diagnostic manual, the DSM, currently on its 5th edition, so how could I not have heard of this? Well, because it is not a mental illness in and of itself, but rather a descriptive label for the results of other underlying causes. Have you ever heard of Diogenes Syndrome? No, me neither – despite having worked in the mental health industry for more than 30 years. I am writing this today with a heavy heart, but I feel the need to share this saddening story in the hope that it may help others. ![]()
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