There is nothing wrong with loving animals, but sometimes obsession with pets can reach pathological extremes.
The hygiene, space and coexistence problems that this phenomenon can generate have a negative impact on the animals, the person who “adopts” them and their close social environment. That is why it is worth paying attention to the warning signs that reveal the presence of this mental disorder.
Below we will review the traits that characterize those who are too obsessed with animals as pets.
1. They accumulate animals in their house
Noé syndrome is a variant of Diogenes syndrome, which is characterized because the person who suffers from it accumulates a large number of animals in your home. Some of the causes of this disorder are situations of psychosocial stress and loneliness.
However, many of the subjects with Noé syndrome also present a previous mental or medical disorder, and it is very common for it to appear together with dementia, major depression, psychotic characteristics and even due to drug addiction.
2. They have hygiene problems
People who are obsessed with pets to a pathological extreme usually carry out behaviors of abandonment of self-care (self-care) and home, they also tend to accumulate useless objects and show isolation behavior. The disorder usually develops in older people.
These individuals not only collect many animals (usually dogs or cats), but they also do not give them the basic care they need and are unable to recognize what this can mean for both their own health and well-being as well as that of their animals. animals. It’s not that they are cruel, it’s just that They are not aware of their own behaviorsince they present a phenomenon known as anosognosia.
4. They are not animal lovers
It is important to distinguish between these people and animal lovers, who may have several pets in their home. When we talk about Noah’s syndrome, we are talking about a disorder, and therefore the person has serious problems associated: dementia, adjustment problems, depression…
The animals that can accumulate in your home are: dogs, cats, chickens, exotic birds… It is also possible that you have horses, cows, goats, sheep and other animals more typical of a farm in your own home.
How do they get the animals?
Animals can be obtained in two ways: actively or passively. The first method takes place when the person affected with this syndrome rescues them from the street or they are handed over by other people in good faith.
During active acquisition, a person with a pathological obsession with pets may search for abandoned animals on the street or through advertisements.
Both methods can also occur at the same time, that is, animals are taken home and they reproduce there without control.
In most cases, this strange behavior goes unnoticed, largely due to the image of an altruistic person that is projected. Likewise, it is difficult for these people to seek help because they are not aware of how they act. This also makes treatment difficult, since willpower is an important part of psychological therapy.
These individuals usually present psychological disorders along with this syndrome. In fact, between one third and one half of people with Noah’s syndrome have dementia or some other type of mental disorderlamong which schizophrenia, obsessive-compulsive disorder or depressive disorder stand out. Alcoholism is also common.
Likewise, some studies have also found neurophysiological alterations associated with the disorder. For example, there is a decreased activity in the anterior dorsal cingulate gyruswhich affects decision making and lack of attention and concentration. In addition, abnormalities have also been observed in the prefrontal cortex.
For this reason, it is very important to carry out a complete psychological evaluation to detect comorbidities. Family and neighbors can be valuable sources of medical and social information, and excellent support in therapeutic interventions. However, the isolation of these people makes this option unlikely.
Causes of Noah syndrome
One of the possible causes that cause this disorder to develop is loneliness. Accumulating pets would be a way to overcome this situation traumatic, in which pain and social abandonment predominate.
These animals, unlike objects (in Diogenes syndrome), are an ideal company for the patient. Let’s say that these people have an altered pattern in affection and attachment relationships and, therefore, have difficulties socializing. Animals are an ideal substitute, providing company and support in moments of loneliness.
