Acquired Cognitive-Empathy Deficiency Syndrome
(Eóten/Wetiko Psychoorganic Complex)
Symptoms: gaeaphagy (primary), commensurate with compulsive eating disorder; changes in body image; compromised ego boundaries; mild analgesia; paranoia; depersonalization; aggression.
MULTI-VECTOR IMPACT
- Psychological: change from empathetic-oriented anthropomorphic framework (what is my relationship to them?), for sociopathic anthropocentric view (what is their relationship to me?)
- Physical: Gut biome change through privation, alteration needs to occur >1 year to account for biome. Suggest that it is up to a generation so that the changes are chronic and not acute.
- Epigenetic: changes dealing with a radical shift in diet, that consists of: chronic pathologies associated with nutrient restrictions, spikes and crashes due to carb overload, heightened aggression, lowered empathy.
POTENTIAL TREATMENTS
[Suggested, incomplete]- Group therapy, restoration of extended family and appropriate tribal / band-level social support;
- elimination / reduction of gluten (fermented breads preferred), reduction of carbs and increase in bio-diverse food sources to re-establish gut biome that is appropriate to local environment, may include some geophagy;
- In addition, fascia work, along with a varied movement program, meditation-through-movement training;
- Lastly, eliminate / reduce exposure to infection vectors.
NOTES
Props first to Jack D. Forbes, a native author, and the scholars after him, who identified wetiko syndrome as an endemic infection among the European invaders (and later extended to other world civilizations). The Algonquians created the term to describe a cannibalistic, destructive illness they encountered, which bore a striking resemblance to their interactions with colonists.
In addition, the Alqonquian’s description of the syndrome includes a radical change in diet through privation and a break of faith with traditional values. As a result, both psychological and gastrointestinal issues were identified as issues in this syndrome.
The term eóten is a variant of the Norse term ‘jotun’. It is used, with intention, to describe the original meaning of the mythological term. ‘Jotuns’, as originally presented in Norse mythology, were not all giants. Instead the term means “devourers”. They had an infinite appetite that the gods held in check. Eóten was also placed first to indicate the most virulent strain currently resides with Europe and the United States.