Share to Facebook Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Paris Syndrome; a severe form of culture shock getty We all know the feeling of arriving somewhere that we've planned to go for years and it just not quite living up to our expectations. It makes logical sense then, that there's a name for that in one of the most visited cities in one of the most visited countries in the world—the Paris Syndrome. What Is Paris Syndrome And What Causes It? It's a real, psychologically-known condition, identified as severe culture shock, leading to—what The Independent describes as—hallucinations, high heart rate, dizziness and nausea, defined by psychiatrist, Hiroaki Ota, in the 1980s.
Imagine you're expecting the equivalent of the Champs Elysées and the sweeping boulevards designed by Haussmann but then realise that not all Parisian streets look the same and you might have over-romanticised the city in your dreams. Sometimes the language barrier is tricky to overcome and the cultural differences too pronounced to easily overlook—experiences heightened through homesickness and the exhaustion of traveling. What Can Paris Syndrome Look Like? In 2011, The Atlantic reported that at least 20 people were suffering from Paris Syndrome over that summer, predominantly Japanese, because upon arrival for the first time, they discovered Paris just wasn't what they thought it was going to be.
Paris Syndrome is more often reported amongst Japanese tourists visiting the City of Lights, possibly b.