People have chased anything that promises youth, long life, or a boost in fertility for centuries. Today, supermarkets line their shelves with products that claim similar miracles, but modern science lets us separate fact from fantasy. Back in the day, however, pseudoscience and snake‑oil remedies ruled the market, and a surprising number of everyday foods earned a reputation as love‑potions.

Why These 10 Totally Normal Foods Were Once Considered Aphrodisiacs

The belief that certain edibles could spark desire sprang from four main ideas in early modern Europe: foods that generated heat, those deemed especially nourishing, the “doctrine of signatures” (where a food’s shape hinted at its power), and the oddly named “windy meats” – foods that caused flatulence. The latter category, for instance, included beans, whose expelled air was thought to “inflate” a man’s vigor. Across centuries and continents, these notions took hold, giving rise to a colorful catalogue of supposedly seductive staples.

10 Beans

Beans have fed humanity for millennia, appearing in countless cuisines worldwide. Yet between the 16th and 18th centuries in England, they earned a scandalous reputation as a bedroom aid. The era’s medical lore identified four routes to aphrodisiac status: heating the body, providing hearty nutrition, resembling sexual organs (the doctrine of signatures), and producing gas – the so‑called “windy meats.” Beans fell into the latter group; the belief was that the same wind expelled during flatulence could puff up a man’s “air‑bags,” readying him for lovemaking. Consequently, physicians prescribed beans and peas to men struggling with performance.

This quirky theory persisted despite the lack of any scientific backing, illustrating how cultural superstition could elevate a humble legume to erotic fame.

9 Mustard

Mustard’s fiery kick was once thought to ignite passion. The plant’s natural defense releases isothiocyanates, which irritate pests and, when we bite into the condiment, trigger a sharp, tingling sensation by stimulating pain receptors in the mouth. Ancient Romans cultivated mustard across Gaul, and medieval monks later refined its preparation. Some monastic orders, fearing the “heat” might stir carnal thoughts, even forbade their members from making or consuming it, believing it could tempt them away from chastity.

Thus, mustard’s sharp bite was linked to a metaphorical heat in the lover’s chamber, reinforcing its status as an alleged aphrodisiac.

8 Potatoes

Shakespeare’s comic character Falstaff famously pleads, “Let the sky rain potatoes,” in *The Merry Wives of Windsor*. Though the line sounds absurd, contemporary audiences understood it as a wish for sexual success. In the 16th and 17th centuries, potatoes—especially sweet potatoes, which had been known in Europe long before the white variety arrived from the Americas—were widely believed to boost virility. Falstaff’s odd request was a humorous way of asking the heavens for bedroom prowess.

This belief persisted long enough that potatoes earned a spot on the “love‑food” list, even if the playwright used them for comic effect.

7 Carrots

While today we tell kids carrots improve eyesight, ancient Greeks and Romans saw them as a different kind of stimulant. Their elongated shape and phallic connotations led to the notion that they could loosen inhibitions and spark desire. The doctrine of signatures wasn’t yet rigid, but the visual resemblance was enough for the ancients to deem carrots an erotic aid.

Historical anecdotes reinforce this claim: Emperor Caligula allegedly forced senators to eat carrots to provoke scandalous behavior, and Roman soldiers reportedly brewed carrot broth for captured women, hoping to heighten their passion.

6 Eggplant

Eggplant—technically a fruit—has long been associated with sexuality across cultures. In 16th‑century France it earned the nickname “pomme d’amour” (love apple), while Korean literature and Japanese haiku also likened its shape to the male organ. Its family ties to deadly nightshade added an aura of danger, prompting some societies to believe the fruit could both arouse and cause wild side effects, from fever to madness.

Beyond its visual symbolism, the plant’s toxic relatives fueled rumors that eggplant could stimulate appetite, provoke fever, and even cause leprosy, further cementing its mysterious reputation.

5 Parsnips

Parsnips, especially when sweetened with honey, were once a luxury in ancient Rome. Emperor Tiberius, after tasting them in Germany, imported the root as tribute and made it a patrician delicacy. Their elongated, white form also suggested a phallic link, leading to their classification as an aphrodisiac.

By the 17th century in England, parsnips joined a long list of “bedroom boosters” prescribed to married couples, illustrating how a simple root could be elevated to romantic stature.

4 Almonds

When sugar became widely available, it turned almonds into a sweet treat—most famously as Jordan almonds or dragees, often presented at weddings. In many Middle Eastern cultures, almonds carry aphrodisiac lore, which explains their presence in nuptial gifts.

These confection‑coated nuts are traditionally given in bags of five, each almond symbolizing a wish for the couple: health, children, wealth, long life, and happiness. The number five, being indivisible, underscores the wish for a stable, enduring marriage.

3 Coconuts

Coconuts weren’t always the tropical beach‑side staple we know today. In medieval Germany and England, they were exotic imports from India, prized for their shells, which fashioned goblets and cups. Their rarity sparked beliefs in magical properties, including the ability to stir desire and even detect poison.

While Monty Python’s famous coconut gag suggests they were impossible to find in medieval Europe, historical records confirm they were indeed present—and thought to be potent love‑enhancers.

2 Lettuce

Ancient Egyptians elevated lettuce far beyond a salad leaf. Depicted on tomb walls and linked to the fertility god Min, the crisp, tall plant was believed to keep the deity “ready for action.” Its straight stalks and milky sap suggested stamina and vigor, leading Egyptians to view it as a sexual tonic.

Modern science notes lettuce’s vitamin A content supports reproductive health, but whether it truly fuels endless bedroom energy remains a matter of myth versus fact.

1 Beer

Alcohol’s reputation as a libido booster is well‑known, but beer’s aphrodisiac status dates back to pre‑18th‑century Europe. Before hops dominated brewing, beers were flavored with a mixture called gruit—herbs that varied by region. Some of these herbs were stimulants, leading drinkers to credit the brew with heightened desire.

When hops eventually replaced gruit, the belief shifted, as hops were thought to have a calming, even libido‑dampening effect. Today, science confirms that while alcohol can lower inhibitions, it doesn’t reliably enhance sexual performance.

When we talk about the top 10 things kids get up to, we’re really diving into a world where imagination runs rampant and the line between play and pathology can blur once we grow up. Childhood feels like a kaleidoscope of wonder, where every new idea is celebrated and creativity is the daily bread. As we age, however, many of those same whimsical habits get labeled “odd” or even “dangerous,” especially when they linger into adulthood.

Why These Top 10 Things Matter

Below you’ll find a countdown of the ten most eyebrow‑raising behaviors that children love, but that adults often deem “insane” when they persist. Each entry comes with a vivid description, a real‑world example, and a look at the adult mental‑health condition it can foreshadow.

10 They Have Imaginary Friends

Many youngsters conjure up invisible companions, whether they’re invisible playmates or beloved stuffed animals that suddenly gain a voice. Researchers at the University of Oregon estimate that about 37 % of children have reported an invisible friend by age seven.

These companions can take many forms—human figures, animals, even fantastical creatures. Studies show that boys typically imagine male friends, while girls are more likely to picture both genders.

Contrary to the old belief that these friends fill a loneliness gap, many children actually develop stronger social abilities through their pretend interactions.

Imaginary friends can also be mischievous—refusing to answer when called or being blamed for broken toys. Yet, even the youngest kids usually understand that these pals are “just pretend.”

While a childhood imaginary friend is usually harmless, an adult who insists the friend is real might be experiencing early signs of schizophrenia, especially if the invisible companion talks back.

9 They Think They Can Fly

A surprising number of kids recount vivid memories of soaring through the air, describing the sensation of wind against their faces and the thrill of gliding above rooftops.

Some children can paint a detailed picture of the feeling, while others simply hold an unshakeable conviction that they once flew, even if the memory is fuzzy.

In adults, this belief can be a red flag for psychosis. In 2013, a 17‑year‑old named Henry Kwan, after ingesting synthetic LSD, became convinced he could fly and tragically leapt from a balcony, resulting in his death.

This dangerous delusion underscores the importance of seeking professional help when such fantasies turn into life‑threatening actions.

8 They Believe They Are Someone Else

Adopting a different persona is a staple of childhood development. Role‑playing lets kids experiment with new identities—be it an astronaut, fire‑fighter, or superhero—helping them practice predicting others’ thoughts and actions.

During these games, children often truly believe they are the character they’re embodying, though the play usually lasts only a few hours. Some children, however, can extend the fantasy into elaborate, long‑running narratives.

When adults cling to an alternate identity, it may signal dissociative identity disorder (formerly known as multiple personality disorder). This condition often stems from repeated trauma, such as domestic violence or abuse, prompting the brain to create separate personalities for self‑protection.

Research indicates that up to 99 % of individuals diagnosed with dissociative identity disorder have endured overwhelming, life‑threatening events.

7 They Think They Can Levitate

Many kids claim they’ve floated down stairs or lifted off the ground, a belief that can blur the lines between dream and reality. Historical accounts, like Samuel Pepys’s 1665 diary entry, even recount childhood levitation as evidence of supernatural forces.

Adults sometimes experience a similar sensation during out‑of‑body episodes, often while under anesthesia, watching the medical team from a detached viewpoint.

While occasional levitation experiences can be harmless—or even positive—persistent out‑of‑body sensations may point to depersonalization disorder, where individuals feel disconnected from their bodies and thoughts.

6 They Think They Are Robots

Robots fascinate children; the idea of a human‑like machine that can move and speak without feeling sparks endless imagination. Many kids love to mimic robotic movements and speak in mechanical tones.

When adults begin to genuinely feel like machines—believing they lack emotions or are merely automatons—it can be a symptom of depersonalization disorder, a condition often mistaken for depression.

Although distressing, this feeling can be temporary; however, without proper treatment, the symptoms may recur and interfere with daily life.

5 They Believe They Have Special Powers

From secret super‑strength to mind‑reading, many children swear they possess extraordinary abilities. Whether inspired by movies or innate imagination, these beliefs often give youngsters a sense of control, fostering patience, helpfulness, and confidence.

In adulthood, however, unwavering belief in superhuman powers can signal delusions of grandeur—a hallmark of certain psychotic disorders. Examples include thinking one is a hidden heir to a throne or a covert celebrity.

One documented case involved a man convinced for 25 years that he was an internationally renowned secret agent capable of steering global military strategy, even claiming to have liberated Kuwait with his mind.

He even persuaded his wife and child that he was a hyper‑charged version of James Bond—an instance of folie à trois, where three people share the same delusional belief.

He alleged he’d been paid over $100 million by grateful nations, only to discover the funds didn’t exist when he tried to withdraw them. When foreign governments supposedly approached him for his “intelligence,” he rebuffed them, only to have his house planning permission denied—a narrative he interpreted as retaliation.

Such grandiose delusions, though seemingly far‑fetched, are genuinely held by sufferers, often overlapping with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder.

4 They Do The Same Thing Repeatedly

Routines are a cornerstone of childhood comfort. Kids frequently want to watch the same movie, read the same book, or play with the same toy over and over, and any deviation can cause upset.

Adults also enjoy familiarity, but when a ritual becomes the primary focus of daily life—disrupting work, relationships, or personal growth—it may evolve into obsessive‑compulsive disorder (OCD).

For instance, a child might find solace in hearing the same bedtime story nightly, while an adult might feel compelled to reread a page repeatedly to ensure nothing was missed, leading to significant anxiety and time consumption.

Severe OCD can consume up to ten hours per day, severely limiting the individual’s ability to function.

3 They Have Night Terrors

Night terrors, typically affecting children aged four to twelve, involve sudden awakening with intense panic, breathlessness, sweating, and a racing heart, often occurring two to three hours after falling asleep.

While children usually remember little of the episode, the experience can be unsettling for observers. These episodes often arise when a child is overtired or sleeping in an unfamiliar environment.Most kids experience only a few night terrors, though some may have them more frequently.

In adults, night terrors are linked to mood disorders such as anxiety, depression, or bipolar disorder, and there’s a notable association with post‑traumatic stress disorder. Though not immediately dangerous, the underlying causes often require professional treatment.

2 They Are Fussy Eaters

Early childhood frequently brings about strong food preferences, with toddlers often refusing anything beyond a narrow selection of familiar foods—a phase that typically fades after a few years.

Some adults, however, retain an obsessive focus on food that can evolve into serious mental‑health conditions. While anorexia and bulimia are well‑known, lesser‑known disorders also exist.

Rumination disorder compels sufferers to regurgitate and rechew their meals, while avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) leads individuals to eat insufficiently without concern for weight or body image.

Both conditions can dramatically diminish quality of life, impacting nutrition, social interactions, and overall wellbeing.

1 They See Monsters Under The Bed

Almost every child has, at some point, been terrified of monsters lurking beneath the bed or inside the closet—a fear amplified by movies like “Monsters, Inc.” that turn the unknown into a source of terror.

Teraphobia, the fear of monsters, affects nearly 100 % of children but fades for most as they reach puberty. Temporary spikes can be triggered by scary films or ghost stories, usually subsiding within days.

For a minority, however, the dread persists into adulthood, evolving into a full‑blown phobia that can impair daily functioning.

Treatment typically involves cognitive‑behavioral therapy and, in some cases, antidepressant medication. Simple strategies—like leaving a night‑light on—can also provide immediate relief.

Welcome to a whirlwind tour of 10 outrageous theft figures that most people never even suspect exist. While the FBI reported over 800,000 arrests for larceny in 2019, the numbers below reveal a world of pilfering that goes far beyond cash and jewelry, stretching into the absurd and the unexpected. Buckle up, because each statistic is stranger than the last.

10 Millions of Pets Are Stolen Every Year

When you think of high‑value targets for thieves, you probably picture cash, cars, or the latest tech gadgets. Surprisingly, our beloved animal companions rank up there, too. Pinpointing exact figures is tricky—pets can wander off, be rescued as strays, or truly be taken. In the United Kingdom, a 2017 survey found that roughly 360,000 residents believed their cat had been stolen, and just over half of those felines were eventually recovered.

Across the Atlantic, the numbers are equally murky. The Humane Society groups together lost and stolen pets, estimating that 10 million animals disappear each year in the United States. The American Kennel Club offers a sharper lens, reporting that two million dogs were reported stolen in 2020 alone, a surge linked to heightened demand during the pandemic.

These figures illustrate a sobering reality: our four‑legged friends are a coveted commodity in a black market that thrives on emotion, rarity, and the promise of a quick profit. Whether it’s a prized pedigree pup or a beloved household cat, thieves are clearly not shy about targeting pets.

9 One Million Parking Cones Are Stolen Every Year

Orange traffic cones are the unsung heroes of road safety, guiding drivers around construction zones and alerting the public to hazards. Yet, in the United States, a staggering one million of these bright beacons vanish annually.

The phenomenon isn’t just a curiosity; it’s a genuine headache for municipalities. In Coventry, Connecticut, officials once left cones out after storms to warn residents about downed power lines, only to discover that nearly every single one disappeared by the next morning. Across the Atlantic, the UK has even organized “cone amnesty” days, inviting people to return stolen cones without penalty, underscoring the scale of the problem.

Each cone costs roughly $20, and the expense falls on taxpayers. The sheer volume of theft highlights how even the most mundane objects can become lucrative loot for opportunistic thieves.

8 10% of Employees Admit to Stealing Toilet Paper From Work

Office theft isn’t always about big‑ticket items. According to a study by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, a whopping 75% of employees have taken something from their workplace, and a notable slice of that group targets the most unassuming item: toilet paper. The data shows that one in ten office workers confessed to pinching a roll.

Real‑world cases back up the statistics. In 2020, a hotel housekeeper was caught with a bag brimming with 66 rolls of toilet paper, claiming he was donating them to a friend who was out of work. The pandemic’s early days, marked by frantic toilet‑paper hoarding, also saw a truck recovered with 18,000 pounds of stolen rolls, underscoring how even a mundane commodity can become a high‑value target in a crisis.

These anecdotes reveal a quirky side of workplace theft—people often think a single roll won’t be missed, yet collectively the loss adds up to a significant expense for businesses.

7 Thieves Once Stole $18 Million in Maple Syrup

Maple syrup may seem like a sweet, harmless product, but it’s also a lucrative commodity. Between 2011 and 2012, a group of thieves pilfered 9,600 barrels of the golden liquid from a warehouse in Quebec, Canada. Initial estimates suggested the haul was worth nearly $30 million, but a later recount settled the figure at a still‑impressive $18 million.

Law enforcement eventually recovered about 70% of the stolen syrup, but the remainder slipped into the U.S. market, finding its way into unsuspecting breakfast plates. The heist illustrates how even seemingly niche products can attract organized crime when the profit margin is high.

With a single quart of premium organic maple syrup fetching around $22 at major retailers, the monetary value of the stolen barrels becomes crystal clear. It’s a sticky situation for the syrup industry, reminding us that no product is too sweet to be targeted.

6 Up to 380,000 Guns Are Stolen Every Year in America

The United States houses an estimated 433.9 million firearms, roughly 1.3 guns per resident. With that many weapons in circulation, it’s no surprise that theft is rampant. The ATF reports that up to 380,000 guns are reported stolen from private owners each year.

Between 2017 and 2021, more than one million firearms vanished, according to ATF data. Because there is no federal requirement to report a stolen gun—and many states lack such mandates—the true figure is likely much higher. Even small towns feel the impact; Jonesboro, Arkansas, with fewer than 80,000 residents, logged over 40 gun thefts by April 2022.

These numbers highlight a serious public‑safety concern, showing that gun theft isn’t confined to big‑city crime rings but permeates communities of all sizes.

5 One in Five Americans Had Their Identity Stolen in 2021

Identity theft remains a pervasive threat in the digital age. In 2021, a startling one in five U.S. residents fell victim to some form of identity fraud, costing the nation roughly $56 billion in losses.

By 2018, about 33% of Americans reported having experienced identity theft at least once. Compared with the global average, Americans suffer theft at twice the rate, a discrepancy linked to lax security habits—44% of surveyed individuals didn’t protect their home Wi‑Fi with a password.

Compounding the issue, a 2016 survey found that 11% of victims chose not to file a police report, often out of embarrassment. This under‑reporting suggests the actual impact may be even larger than the already staggering figures.

4 Porch Thieves Steal 260 Million Packages Per Year

Online shopping has birthed a new breed of crook: the porch pirate. In 2021, an estimated 260 million parcels vanished from front porches across the United States, equating to roughly 1.7 million stolen packages each day.

Security firm Safewise identified San Francisco as the nation’s most vulnerable city for porch theft. Over 75% of Americans have experienced at least one stolen delivery, and the total financial loss tops $19.5 billion, with the average package valued between $50 and $100.

The sheer volume of theft underscores a modern challenge for homeowners and delivery companies alike, prompting new security measures and community vigilance.

3 Millions of Bicycles Are Stolen Every Year

Cycling culture is booming worldwide, but that popularity makes bikes prime targets for thieves. In the United States alone, roughly 2 million bicycles are reported stolen each year, while Europe sees about 4 million thefts annually.

Under‑reporting is a chronic issue; experts estimate that only one in five bike thefts is ever filed with police. With 51 million Americans riding bikes in 2021 and a staggering 90% of Dutch residents cycling regularly, the market is saturated with high‑value, easily portable loot.

These figures demonstrate that bike theft remains a global nuisance, costing owners time, money, and the joy of a simple ride.

2 $75 Million in Used Cooking Oil Is Stolen Every Year

What many see as kitchen waste—used cooking oil—has become a treasure trove for criminals. The United States produces over 2.5 billion gallons of used oil annually, a resource that can be refined into biodiesel, a fuel more expensive than regular gasoline. In 2023, thieves walked away with roughly $75 million worth of this greasy gold.

Biodiesel commands a premium price—averaging $4.95 per gallon compared to $3.69 for regular gasoline—making the stolen oil highly lucrative. Restaurants are required to hand off their waste to licensed processors, creating a steady supply chain that thieves exploit.

The industry’s reliance on a consistent feedstock means that stolen oil not only hurts individual eateries but also disrupts the broader push toward greener fuel alternatives.

1 Dairy Farmers Lose Up To $100 Million a Year in Milk Crate Thefts

Milk crates may seem like humble plastic containers, but they’re a massive hidden cost for the dairy industry. Each year, dairy producers suffer losses upward of $100 million due to theft of these reusable crates.

The theft translates to the disappearance of roughly 20–25 million crates, each valued at about $4. The loss ripples through the supply chain, inflating the price of milk for consumers. The issue gained viral attention in 2021 when TikTok users launched the “Milk Crate Challenge,” showcasing precarious stacks of crates and inadvertently highlighting how widespread the problem had become.

Because crates are meant to be returned to dairies for reuse, their absence forces farms to purchase replacements, driving up operational costs and ultimately affecting the bottom line of an industry that already operates on thin margins.

The medical world is a very organic and ever-changing thing. Science improves, and we gain a superior understanding of the causes and treatments of disease. What was treated 100 years ago with something like cocaine and leeches can be treated with antibiotics or NSAIDS today. The world of mental health is very similar. The things we used to consider “crazy” can be better understood, better treated, and even de-stigmatized. And sometimes the things we used to consider disorders weren’t really issues at all.

10. Nostalgia

A whole lot of pop culture seemed to be fueled by nostalgia, this sense of sentimental warmth and attachment we have to things from our past. Whether it’s just an era or specific things like movies and music, it’s actually a big money maker as well. Just look at how shows like Stranger Things jam pack their stories with it, and retro gaming systems land with a big splash. People love loving the things they used to love.

Back in the 17th century, nostalgia was described as a mental disorder that was characterized by being uprooted, having fragmented contacts and dealing with isolation, frustration and alienation. Which, in so many words, sounds like loneliness.

The name comes from the Greek terms for homecoming (nostos) and pain (algos). Sufferers were considered manic with longing. It affected soldiers or children who had been sent to the country or really anyone who was away from home and wanted to go back. Some people even faked it in the hopes they could be sent home. 

Symptoms ranged from feelings of melancholy to brain inflammation. For a time it was thought it was caused by a nostalgia bone. Treatments could range from being weaned off of whatever the patient was nostalgic for to the much less gentle sounding incitement of “pain and terror” and then later, shame. 

9. Homosexuality

For younger generations, it may come as a surprise that, for many years, homosexuality was considered a mental disorder. And not simply in the sense of intolerance, that there are people out there who are prejudiced against the very idea of homosexuality, but from a professional standpoint. Mental health professionals the world over had long considered it a legitimate mental disorder, and it was listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, or DSM, for the American Psychiatric Association until 1973. That’s the manual that lists and details all recognized mental conditions. The World Health Organization only de-listed it as a mental disorder in the year 1990. 

Some viewed homosexuality as a phase towards heterosexuality that the immature basically got stuck in. Others thought it could have been caused by some prenatal defect or exposure to some kind of pathogen. Another belief held that homosexuals just have the brains of members of the opposite sex, which causes them to be attracted to the “wrong” sex.

Numerous cures were tried, some far more terrifying than others. Things like hypnosis gave way to conversion therapy and the use of reinforcement to force homosexuals into believing they were not gay. Other more aggressive and cruel methods included electroconvulsive therapy and lobotomies. One doctor castrated homosexual men and then transplanted “heterosexual testicles” into them. 

8. Sluggish Schizophrenia

Most people have at least a passing understanding of what schizophrenia is. Unfortunately, this is one of the conditions most people often associate with the idea of being “crazy.” It can manifest in the form of delusions, visual and auditory hallucinations, behavioral issues, disorganized thinking, and more. It can very much limit or even destroy someone’s ability to function. That said, you may be less familiar with sluggish schizophrenia.

Sluggish schizophrenia was most often diagnosed in the Soviet Union and it was less a legitimate mental illness than it was a political tool. Imagine a doctor decides that you have schizophrenia and are therefore a danger to yourself and others. You need to be medicated or institutionalized. You might feel very scared of what that implies. And you might be tempted to defend yourself by saying you have no symptoms. Well, sluggish schizophrenia sidestepped that defense. It allowed doctors to acknowledge that, sure, you have no symptoms now, but you might later. Best to medicate you or lock you up now. It made for a convenient way to get rid of people who posed political problems for those in power. 

Victims of the diagnoses were given painful treatments with no anesthetic or even forced into insulin comas, among other abuses. 

7. American Nervousness 

Despite the fact this sounds like it might fit nicely into modern society, American nervousness is no longer considered a real condition, though it was a term that existed back in 1881 when George Miller Beard wrote a book explaining it in detail.

Beard believed America had a unique set of illnesses not experienced in other countries. His characterization of American nervousness included things like susceptibility to narcotics, hay fever, tooth decay, premature baldness, diabetes and even unprecedented beauty of American women among many, many, many other things. 

There were a number of causes identified by Beard, who was apparently quite a prominent neurologist, and they included environmental and social factors such as things like science, the telegraph and steam engines. He also blamed increased mental activity of women. All of these combined to overtax a person’s mind and lead them into the darkness of American nervousness.

6. Penis Envy

It’s hard to pinpoint a more controversial figure in the history of mental health than Sigmund Freud. He created the entire field of psychoanalysis and arguably evolved the whole concept of psychiatry and the treatment of mental disorders by leaps and bounds while at the same time getting so very much wrong.

In Freud’s view, nearly every aspect of human psychology had a sexual basis and women were on the inferior side of things. Women suffered penis envy because they wanted to be men. This weirdly blanket view informed pretty much all of his opinions on women, who were, in his mind, little more than incomplete men. 

Freud believed penis envy manifested in women desiring their own fathers at a young age and then, later, wanting to have male children because this was as close as they could ever get to having a penis of their own. These days the entire premise is considered little more than nonsense.

5. Transgenderism

In 2019, being transgender was no longer considered a mental illness, according to the World Health Organization. Obviously, transgender people still face a number of hurdles and, in many places, a stark lack of acceptance, but they are no longer considered mentally ill by the majority of mental health professionals in the world. Instead, it was reclassified as an issue related to gender incongruence, which is essentially feeling a persistent incongruence between your assigned sex and your experience with gender. 

Under these terms, the WHO still acknowledges that a transgender person may require medical assistance in some way, but that they don’t suffer a kind of pathological condition at all. The change went into effect at the beginning of 2022 and the new classification could both limit some of the stigma transgender people face and also offer up additional healthcare resources.

4. Catastrophic Schizophrenia 

Yet another schizophrenia variation, this one has also been rendered defunct but was a functional diagnosis for a time. So what has to happen for schizophrenia to become catastrophic?

The condition is mostly defined as, well, really bad schizophrenia. That includes acute onset of the disorder and “devolution into a serious chronic psychosis without remission.” So it’s fast and furious and doesn’t seem to go away. It’s also referred to as “schizocaria” which leads to “rapid deterioration of personality.”

Dementia was the end result, and it occurred within two or three years of the initial diagnosis. Based on what doctor’s observation, it tended to occur most often in patients in their late teens and early twenties. 

The diagnosis fell out of favor and is more generally considered just an acute onset of schizophrenia that is not likely to respond to treatment.

3. Newyorkitis

There’s a long history of mental illness being the butt of jokes, sometimes in a mean-spirited way and sometimes a little more tolerably. Few illnesses seemed to have been written off almost entirely as jokes, only to have some evidence crop up later that people took it entirely seriously, but that seems to be the case with Newyorkitis.

In the early 1900s, Newyorkitis was a nervous condition afflicting those who lived in New York. Tongue in cheek though it sounds, that didn’t stop people from offering up treatments for it. You could head to the YMCA back in 1908. As one doctor involved put it, they were using “straight psychology applied directly to the abnormal conditions of urban business and social life.”

Dr. John H. Girdner wrote an entire book on the subject, fascinated by what he perceived as a condition unique to those in New York, of all places. He said many people in the city lived an artificial life and all the noise, the pursuit of money, the tall buildings and everything considered part of that New York experience was inflaming itself in people’s mind, body and soul. 

Doctors would send patients to New Jersey to have hydrotherapy baths as a cure for the condition, which apparently caused nearsightedness (from all the tall buildings), irritated ears (from the noise), and muscular degeneration along with greed and self-centeredness.

2. Hysteria

Hysteria dates back to the second century BC and is, by and large, considered the mental disease that was only applicable to women, though it’s worth noting someone did make up male hysteria at one point as well. In women, hysteria was a physical condition before it was a mental one. Way back it was actually demonological, for whatever that’s worth. It was listed in the DSM until the year 1980. 

Ancient cures ranged from more sex to less sex to herbs and even fire. Sometimes marriage was considered a way to fix it. A roving uterus was blamed for it once and then Freud ushered in the idea of it being a mental condition caused by trauma and repression, And, because this is Freud, his basic reasoning was that female hysteria was a result of women not having a penis. If traditional methods of curing the condition didn’t work, then the idea of uterine massage was offered up. That involved, as you might suspect, massaging the uterus. This came from a technique first developed to treat a prolapsed anus and involved some fairly invasive manual stimulation. Clinics used to treat over 100 patients per day. 

1. Drapetomania, the Slave Disease

The first slave ship arrived in America in 1619 and for the next 246 years, until the passing of the 13th Amendment, slavery was perfectly legal. During that time, slaves were not regarded as people, but that didn’t stop some backward thinking doctors from trying to both treat them as people and then act like they were broken in some way for not wanting to be slaves. Chiefly, this was the work of Samuel A. Cartwright.

Cartwright was a medical doctor and believe there must have been some disease at play for any slave who tried to flee bondage. He called this condition drapetomania and it could be cured by slave owners whipping it out of their slaves or cutting off their toes.

The lengths Cartwright went to in an effort to justify slavery from a scientific point of view are shocking by today’s standards. He claimed, medically, that a slave was incapable of being happy unless they were a slave and that they had immature nervous systems and small brains. 

All of this fed into the propaganda spread by slave owners that slaves were actually benefitting from their position and that slave owners were basically doing their slaves a favor.