Chinese woman, scolded at work, stops eating, needs reminders to use toilet
Doctor likens Li to a ‘wooden’ figure trapped in catatonic stupor – an alarming sign of depression
A Chinese woman in her 20s became a “stiff wooden person” and ceased eating, drinking, and moving after being scolded by her supervisor at work.
The woman, identified simply as Li from central China’s Henan province, suddenly became unresponsive and could no longer eat, drink, move, or engage in conversation, according to a report by Chinese media outlet Hongxing News on October 15.
It was revealed that Li had been reprimanded by her team leader a month prior, leading to her prolonged unhappiness.
As her condition worsened, her head would hang in mid-air if her family removed the pillow beneath it, and she required help from her family to remind her to use the toilet.
Her doctor, Jia Dehuan, at the Zhengzhou Eighth People’s Hospital, described Li as resembling a “wooden” figure.
Jia explained that Li was experiencing catatonic stupor, a symptom of depression.
