Adele Syndrome: How Love Turns into a Dangerous Diagnosis
An extreme form of love addiction, reminiscent of obsession, is known as Adele syndrome. Although in the International Classification of Diseases it is classified as a type of erotomaniac delusion, some experts consider this condition a separate disease, comparable to drug addiction or gambling addiction. What is Adele syndrome, how does it manifest itself and why did it get this name?
The syndrome was named after Adele Hugo, the daughter of the great French writer Victor Hugo, author of Notre Dame de Paris and Les Miserables. Adele was the youngest of the writer's five children and was born in 1830. She stood out for her beauty and high intelligence. The young Frenchwoman preferred reading to the company of her friends, and the person closest to her was her older sister Leopoldine.
When Adele was 12, her sister Leopoldine died tragically, which was a great blow to the girl. She could not come to terms with the loss and began to conduct spiritualistic sessions, believing that in this way she could communicate with her sister. Later, when Victor Hugo fell out of favor with the authorities, Adele went with her father into exile to the Channel Islands. They first settled on the island of Jersey, and then moved to Guernsey.
By that time, Adele was already over 20, the age when it was time to think about marriage. Victor Hugo insisted that his daughter return to Paris and start arranging her personal life. Adele resisted for a long time, but at the age of 26 she finally agreed to return to the mainland. However, she did not stay in Paris for long and soon went on a trip to Great Britain.
It was in Foggy Albion that Adele Hugo met Albert Pinson, who became the love of her life. At first, the man was happy to communicate with her. He was even flattered by the attention of the famous writer's daughter. But soon the handsome Englishman lost interest in Adele and began to avoid her. However, the enamored Frenchwoman continued to seek his company, literally stalking her lover.
When Albert Pinson was transferred to Canada, Adele followed him without hesitation. Overseas, she continued to pursue the man. Her persistence interfered with his personal life and made him a target for ridicule from his friends. In letters home, Adele, already maddened by her obsession, described fictitious details of their supposed affair.
Adele went so far as to invent a story about Pinson's stillbirth. She also told her family that they were engaged and would soon be married. Albert was indeed planning to marry, but not Adele, but the daughter of a local judge. He announced his engagement and, following tradition, published the date of the upcoming wedding in the local newspaper.
Upon learning of the engagement, Adèle Hugo hired lawyers to contest it. She argued that Albert was already married to her and that a new marriage would be illegal. Although her claims were not confirmed, it still damaged Albert's relationship with his fiancée, and the engagement was eventually broken off.
After the scandal, Albert Pinson left Canada and went to serve in Barbados. As you might guess, Adele followed him. Her mental state was rapidly deteriorating. In tropical Barbados, she continued to wear dresses made for the cold climate of London, which soon wore out to rags.
Adèle had poor sense of time and place and became the town's madwoman. She insisted on being called "Madame Pinson" and always carried a notebook with her in which she wrote things down. The local boys teased her, chased her, and even threw stones at her. Because of this, Adèle only went out on the streets after dark.
In 1872, Victor Hugo arranged for his daughter to return to France. By that time, all her relatives except her father had already died. However, Adele did not care - she had completely lost her mind. The unfortunate woman spent the rest of her life in a psychiatric clinic. The only person who visited her was her father, who remained close until his death in 1885. Adele Hugo herself died in 1915.
After Adèle's death, a whole stack of her diaries was found. The early entries were dedicated to her father, brothers, sisters, and life in exile on the islands. But later, almost all the pages were taken up by references to Albert Pinson and descriptions of her feelings and experiences associated with him. The diaries were published, and in 1975, director François Truffaut made a drama about the life of this woman called "The Story of Adèle G." The leading role in the film was played by French actress Isabelle Adjani.
In the second half of the 20th century, the term "Adele syndrome" appeared, which is still used today. This concept refers to an extreme, painful form of unrequited platonic love, leading to self-destruction. The American Psychiatric Association has identified the main prerequisites for the emergence of this condition.
First of all, it is a lack of parental attention in childhood. It also happens that the syndrome develops as a response to excessive strictness on the part of the mother. The list includes unfavorable heredity, or more precisely, a tendency to mental illness. In addition, insecure people who prefer to be in their own imaginary world are at risk. Nowadays, the symptoms of Adele syndrome are clearly defined:
Nowadays, Adele syndrome is successfully treated with psychological sessions. In more complex cases, patients are prescribed special medications. And in situations where the addiction becomes extremely strong, hospitalization may be required. This syndrome is dangerous not only for the patient himself, but also for those around him. For example, American Joyce McKinney went so far as to kidnap her own lover.
Adele syndrome is not just a painful love, but a condition that requires attention and professional help. Have you ever encountered people suffering from Adele syndrome? Share your stories in the comments!