10 Disturbing Events That Turned People Insane

10 Disturbing Events That Turned People Insane

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re exploring the most notorious times in history when people experienced cases believed to be mass hysteria, psychological epidemics, or unusual phenomena that caused them to question their sanity.

The Soap Opera Virus

In 2006, a mysterious illness swept through teenagers in Portugal. With symptoms such as rashes, difficulty breathing, and dizziness, the disease seemed to be highly infectious as it spread through several schools, affecting more than 300 students, and, strangely, no adults. However, rather than the cause being an unknown virus, there was another reason. The first case was recorded days after a particular episode of the Portuguese teen soap opera “Morangos com Açúcar” aired. During it, a life-threatening disease with the same symptoms engulfed the on-screen school. It’s thought that viewers underwent mass psychogenic illness, believing they'd also been infected by the fictional disease. It’s speculated that stress from the students preparing for approaching year-end tests also played a major factor.

The Face of Pure Evil

In 2018, a malevolent force was seemingly calling the SMK Ketereh school in Kelantan, Malaysia, its home. Students saw a “black figure” and “a face of pure evil,” causing them to shriek in terror and even faint. As more and more of them saw the creature, screaming echoed across the building, causing teachers and students to barricade classrooms. Within a day, nearly 40 people had seen the monster. Despite Islamic spiritual healers arriving to perform prayers, it was determined there was no monster, and it was instead a case of mass hysteria. The school increased its security in the aftermath, including changing staff, to help prevent this terrifying event from repeating.

The Monkey-Man of Delhi

In 2001, Delhi, India, was in chaos as the Monkey-Man stalked the community. With hundreds of sightings, the creature would attack people at night as they slept on the roofs of their buildings to escape the summer heat. The Monkey-Man would leave many scratches on its victims before fleeing. However, the witness accounts of what it looked like varied wildly. Sometimes it had metal claws, a helmet, or even used roller skates. The fear of the Monkey-Man even resulted in deaths, as around two people lost their lives upon fleeing the creature. There was even a report that a mob killed a man whom they suspected was the monster. Yet rather than a creature, mass hysteria was declared as the source.

The Mad Gasser of Mattoon

In 1944, the residents of Mattoon, Illinois, believed a sinister assailant was in their midst. This person, armed with a pesticide sprayer, would spread an unknown gas into homes. When people smelled the sweet scent, they began experiencing severe symptoms, including coughing, vomiting, and leg paralysis. Thankfully, the symptoms eventually vanished. Yet the MO of the Mad Gasser became more intense, as reports that they’d broken into homes emerged. Within a couple of weeks, after the police previously mentioned mass hysteria as a possible cause, they went further by declaring that the gas was potentially coming from nearby industrial buildings that used chemicals. This declaration seemingly coincided with the Gasser’s attacks stopping, leading to evidence that this was likely mass hysteria.

The Sri Lanka Epidemic

In 2012, something strange emerged from a school in Gampola, Sri Lanka. In one day, 1100 students began showing symptoms of an allergic reaction, including coughing, skin rashes, and vomiting. Hundreds were sent home after getting medical treatment, while many had to stay at the hospital for further aid. To make it more terrifying, the epidemic spread rapidly. Within a week, 15 schools reported similar incidents, resulting in around 1900 cases, including five teachers. Officials began testing various possible sources in the schools. However, medical staff found the patients showed signs of their symptoms being psychological, leading to the belief that it was likely mass hysteria.

Murder of Bridget Cleary

In 1895, Bridget Cleary was in dire straits in Ballyvadlea, Republic of Ireland. She’d come down with a disease believed to be bronchitis, tuberculosis, or another similar ailment. Bridget’s recovery looked unlikely as a priest came to perform the last rites. However, this wasn’t what took her life. Instead, her husband, Michael, had convinced several people, including her own father, that Bridget wasn’t Bridget. Instead, she’d been abducted by a fairy, and an imposter had taken her place. It’s believed that Michael and his accomplices burned Bridget to death. As well as others involved being criminally charged, Michael was sentenced to 20 years for manslaughter. It’s speculated he had Capgras syndrome, a disorder where a person believes someone has been replaced by an imposter.

The Tanganyika Laughter Epidemic

Usually, the sound of children laughing is joyful. But not in this case. In 1962, at an all-girls village boarding school in Tanganyika, now known as Tanzania, kids began laughing in class. This continued for hours, sometimes up to 16 days, which, understandably, caused many victims to cry from the pain and fear of constant chuckling. After 95 students, the majority of the school, began laughing uncontrollably, the facility was forced to close. Yet the epidemic then spread, causing around 1000 students within 14 schools to have symptoms. The ground zero school was reportedly sued by families affected by the spread. However, it’s believed that instead of a disease, mass hysteria sparked by stress from Tanganyika gaining independence the previous year was responsible.

The Havana Syndrome

In 2017, reports emerged that sent shockwaves through world governments. From 2016, several diplomatic staff and their families based in Cuba reported symptoms including dizziness, headaches, and cognitive problems. Seemingly, before the symptoms, the victims heard a grating sound or felt pressure in their heads. By 2022, it was believed that over 1000 people who’d experienced “Havana Syndrome,” including those stationed in other countries beyond Cuba. This led to the belief by some that the diplomats were being attacked with some kind of sound weapon. There were even recordings released of the apparent sound. However, they were later dismissed as noise caused by insects. Governmental reports have stated a purposeful attack was very unlikely, pointing the finger towards possibly mass hysteria.

The Dancing Plague of 1518

Apparently, not all fairytales are make-believe. In this case, there are similarities with Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Red Shoes.” In 1518, in Strasbourg in modern-day France, a mother and daughter began dancing on the streets without any music. Soon, up to 400 people joined. However, the victims couldn’t stop, even in horrible pain. While it's disputed, some accounts claim up to 15 people a day perished from the mania. After medical help didn’t work, the authorities believed a possession had taken place and tried to combat it. Within a couple of months, the mania stopped. It’s speculated that, on top of mass hysteria, the incident might’ve happened due to ergot poisoning, a type of fungus that grows on rye and similar plants.

The Salem Witch Trials

Over three centuries later, the city of Salem, Massachusetts, hasn’t been able to shake off this dark history. Beginning in 1692 and lasting over a year, over 200 people in the community were accused of partaking in witchcraft and putting spells on their neighbors. Around 30 people were executed or imprisoned after a trial. After the saga ended, years later, several of the accusers admitted they’d lied. As such, it’s believed this is one of the most infamous cases of mass hysteria in the US. It’s also been linked to ergot poisoning, which can cause hallucinations, psychosis, and a sensation of crawling under the skin. Experiencing these symptoms, this may have sparked the accusers to feel as though they’d been bewitched by someone using magic.

Have you ever been swept away and into an incident of mass hysteria? Let us know below!