Catatonia and Mutism

Can a person who is brainwashed by the media develop catatonia or mutism? What are their common symptoms; how do you stop it?

You may have come across people like this, especially if you are talking about the flat earth and other biblical truths. This also applies to just about any topic that the media tries to push on you. I had this happen to me – one quite recently when in a clinic and had to go back two times because of a mistake made by someone else. Three women in reception could not understand what the frustration was; no sympathy, no empathy; just stares and not responding or showing emotion. Those sci-fi films about zombies is coming true, unfortunately.

Here is what I found that you may find of interest.

Brainwashing, a form of psychological manipulation, can indeed lead to various mental health issues, including catatonia and mutism, although these are not common outcomes. Catatonia is a state of unresponsiveness, while mutism is the refusal or inability to speak. Both can be symptoms of severe psychological distress or trauma. Here’s how these conditions might manifest in someone heavily influenced by media, and steps to help them:

Common Symptoms:
1. Catatonia:
– Mutism (complete lack of speech)
– Negativism (resistance to instructions)
– Waxy flexibility (passive, unresisting posture)
– Stupor (dull, lethargic state)
– Stereotypy (repetitive, involuntary movements)
– Echopraxia (mimicking the actions of others)
– Echolalia (repeating the words of others)

2. Mutism:
– Complete lack of speech, despite the ability to understand language
– Refusal to speak, even when it’s beneficial to do so
– Inability to initiate or maintain a conversation

Causes in the Context of Media Brainwashing:
– Chronic stress and anxiety due to constant exposure to negative or biased information
– Dissociation, a disconnection from one’s thoughts, feelings, memories, and sense of identity, as a coping mechanism for overwhelming information or trauma
– Feelings of helplessness, hopelessness, or powerlessness, leading to a shutdown or refusal to engage with the world

How to Help:
Limit Media Exposure: Encourage critical thinking. Turn to God, read the Bible and pray on what you read.