ALIEN HAND SYNDROME

 

ALIEN HAND SYNDROME 

Don’t we get agitated when things are not in our control? We want to make things work our way. But, there are people who do not have their body under control, as if to be a separate entity altogether. Yes, this is a rare disorder known as the alien hand syndrome.  

We have a mind that has the authority over the entire body. But in the alien hand syndrome, one hand seems to have its own mind that runs the hand. The hand works on its own free will. The person suffering from the disorder feels that the alien hand is independent to its body. The hand usually acts in an oppositional, incorporative manner. For example, a person might to be trying to shut a door by one of their hands and the alien hand might try to open it forcefully. The hand would start fighting with individuals against the will of the person.  

It is usually the left or the ‘non dominant hand’ that is alien. The person might speak to the hand as if it is communicating with him/her. They might also name it in many cases. A Marathi movie ’Zombivili’ shows a character having an alien hand syndrome who acts involuntarily, speaks to him and has named the hand as ‘Jaggu’.  

TO WHOM DOES THIS OCCUR? 

A person once had suffered from stroke, after few days, he felt as if he had no hold over one of his hand. Gradually he realized that he is not able to hold command over it at all.  

Along with stroke other causes of the disorder can be tumor, neurodegenerative diseases, brain surgeries especially of corpus collosum (the part of the brain that joins the two hemispheres of the brain) or surgeries of epilepsy can create such problems amongst people.  

As of today, there is no treatment for alien hand syndrome. Certain therapies like muscle control therapies, behavioral techniques have proved to be helpful. People try to keep the hand busy by holding something in it to avoid its involuntary movement. 

This interesting disorder can create irritability in the person and can harm his relationships and social life.  

Manpravah Hypnoclinic 

Clinical psychologist & Hypnotherapist 

𝐌𝐨𝐛 – 𝟎𝟗𝟖𝟏𝟗𝟔𝟑𝟗𝟒𝟒𝟒 / 𝟎𝟗137350434 

Web – Dr Sukumar Munje: Best Hypnotherapist 

Clinics @Prabhadevi (W)/ Parel (W), Borivali, Vashi, New Panvel