Susto
A Latin American folk illness of fright, in which a shock is believed to unsettle the soul, treated by healers who call it back.
Also: espanto, soul loss, pérdida del alma
Susto, Spanish for fright, is a folk condition widely described in Mexico, Central America and the Andes, where it is sometimes called espanto. People say a sudden fright, a fall or a frightening event can make the soul leave or become unsettled, leaving the person tired, listless and sleepless. A curandero may perform a rite to call the soul back, and families sit with the person, often with prayers and a cleansing. In anthropology and psychiatry, susto is known as a culture-bound syndrome, a term some now avoid, and scholars study how it reflects distress, grief and social strain. Medical professionals suggest that persistent symptoms deserve a clinic visit, which many families accept alongside the healer.