Snow Psychosis
Symptoms
Snow Psychosis commonly manifests as hallucinations, confusion, high blood pressure, shortness of breath, disrupted sleep cycles, a slowed sense of time, headaches, nausea, fatigue, hypervigilance, and loss of appetite, and blindness.
Treatment
The best course of action if someone suffers from Snow Psychosis is to move them to a lower altitude. Once the symptoms associated with high altitudes have gone away, it's safe to slowly reintroduce patients to other people and provide them with books or newspapers to read. Due to the effect of altered chronology, many patients are unable to remember the date or time of day, so reminding them periodically is beneficial for recovery.
Prognosis
Most patients who receive treatment for Snow Psychosis recover within a month. Extreme cases may take longer, but many people who experience it are able to return to ordinary life.
Sequela
Symptoms of Snow Psychosis such as headaches, disrupted sleep, and loss of appetite may persist for three months after receiving treatment. In more severe cases, symptoms may persist for up to a year.
Affected Groups
The people most at risk are those who spend long periods of time alone in the mountains. Solo adventurers are the most prone, and many inexperienced mountaineers don't know how to address the dangers of Snow Psychosis.
Prevention
Mountaineers and adventurers can reduce their likelihood of getting Snow Psychosis by having a companion while hiking, wearing proper snow goggles, and going out on short excursions under a week.
Cultural Reception
Historically, many people believed that Snow Psychosis was the cause of a malevolent spirit up in the mountains. People used to descend babbling incoherently and reacting strongly to unseen enemies. Modern science has disproved folklore, and Snow Psychosis is now classified as a weakness of the mind. There is considerable stigma around Snow Psychosis in Petrek where the illness is associated with a fragile psyche.
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