Parigiwith its romantic boulevards and the lights reflecting on the Seine, is in the imagination of many the perfect city. Yet, for some visitors, the dream can turn into a nightmare. It’s the so-called “Paris Syndrome”a psychosomatic disorder recognized in the 1980s that causes anxiety, disorientation, tachycardia and profound emotional disappointment in tourists – particularly Japanese – who do not find in reality the Paris idealized by guides and cinema.
When the dream of Paris becomes a trauma
The first to describe the phenomenon was the Japanese doctor in 1986 Hiroaki Ota, then in service in Paris. In his research he defined the syndrome as “a psychological state of confusion and anguish, accompanied by physical symptoms such as dizziness, insomnia and a sense of persecution”. According to Ota, those affected experience a kind of “acute culture shock”a fracture between the ideal image of the French capital – refined, romantic, welcoming – and the reality of a large, noisy, chaotic metropolis, often not very patient with tourists.
Because it especially affects the Japanese
Subsequent studies, also conducted by the psychiatrist Youcef Mahmoudiahave identified a recurring profile: they are mostly very sensitive young Japanese, educated in a culture based on respect, harmony and discretion. In Paris they suddenly find themselves in an environment perceived as direct, blunt and individualisticwhere the frenetic pace, the bright tones and even the humor can be destabilizing. Some patients said they felt “targeted” or misunderstood by Parisians while feeding sense of loss and isolation. An extreme form of culture shock that can lead to a real psychophysical breakdown. To manage the situation, the Japanese Embassy in Paris activated one 24-hour emergency telephone linewhich offers psychological assistance to travelers in difficulty.
When beauty disappoints
In most cases, those who develop Paris Syndrome are a very cultured traveler and sensitive to art: students of fine arts, writers or simple lovers of French culture, who arrived with very high expectations. But the distance between the dreamed Paris and the real one — with the traffic, the crowds, the urban stress and the slums — can be devastating. As Ota explained, “the mind cannot support the distance between imagination and reality.”
Other cities that can surprise… in a negative way
It is not only Paris that causes disappointment in the most sensitive tourists. All over the world there are iconic cities and places that, beyond their fame, can generate reactions similar to the Paris Syndrome. Various surveys and rankings drawn up by travelers report some famous destinations as “disappointing” experiences: Times Square in New York, Checkpoint Charlie in Berlin, the Eiffel Tower in Parisbut also the Hollywood Walk of Fame or the Colosseum in Rome. Of course, the degree of disappointment depends greatly on personal perception and the circumstances of the visit: intense heat, crowds, long queues and inconveniences can accentuate the sense of frustration even in the most iconic places.
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