The nervous system is easier to work with than psychostematic conditions of other organs that cause things like pain. In communities where people are having these sleeping sickness, it's pretty easy to figure out that something is psychosematic because it simply doesn't obey anatomy. The overlap between their individual physical symptoms and how they differ from each other reminded me that bioloy is the same everywhere.
Michael Shermer speaks with award-winning Irish neurologist Suzanne O’Sullivan about her work exploring the complexity of psychogenic illness affecting people all around the world. Her book The Sleeping Beauties, documents her investigation of psychosomatic disorders as she traveled the world visiting communities suffering from these so-called mystery illnesses. O’Sullivan records the remarkable stories of syndromes related to her by people from all walks of life. Riveting and often distressing, these case studies — both fascinating and of serious concern — are recounted with compassion and humanity as these syndromes continue to proliferate around the globe.