This article explores hysteria, discussing its causes stemming from organic issues to lifestyle factors, symptoms like breathing problems and memory issues, potential complications, characteristics, and available treatments.
Heard the term “hysteria” thrown around, maybe in movies or books? What’s the real deal with it anyway? We’re unpacking the myths and realities behind what’s sometimes called hysterical neurosis.
- What is Hysteria?
- Causes of Hysteria
- Symptoms of Hysteria
- Complications That May Result From Hysteria
- Characteristics of the Hysterical Personality
- Treatment of Hysteria
We’ll dive deeper into each of these points below, so keep reading!
What is Hysteria?
The word “hysteria” or “hysterical neurosis” often refers to a mental state where someone exaggerates their reactions. They might overreact to feelings of intense fear, or maybe other emotions, making their behavior seem out of proportion to what’s actually happening.
Hysteria can be seen as a kind of psychological defense mechanism, a way for the mind to cope when faced with difficult or overwhelming situations.
There are a couple of types of hysteria:
- Dissociative hysteria: This is when someone experiences disturbances related to their memory, awareness, identity, or perception of their surroundings.
- Conversion hysteria: This type, which is more common, involves a person showing symptoms or physical ailments without having a known medical cause.
Causes of Hysteria
We can broadly categorize the causes of hysteria into two main groups:
1. Organic Causes
There are a number of potential organic reasons behind hysteria including:
- Organic and brain disorders.
- Schizophrenia.
- Depression.
- Acute mania.
- Bipolar disorder.
- Personality disorders.
- Dementia.
- Tumors in the brain.
2. Causes Stemming From Lifestyle
Lifestyle-related causes of hysteria can include things like:
- Revealing a person is exploiting feelings in an exaggerated way in Freud’s life.
- The death or loss of a dear or close person.
- Failure or unexpected loss at work.
- Derogatory words or claims made by someone, especially if they’re close to you.
- Severe and recent psychological shock, or recalling painful old memories.
- Addiction to stimulants.
Symptoms of Hysteria
Symptoms can show up as:
- Problems with breathing.
- Memory issues related to an event that caused the fear and associated thoughts.
- Increased heart rate.
- Crying and screaming.
- Speech problems.
- Muscle spasms.
- Double vision.
- Excessive drooling.
- Tremors in the limbs.
- Severe tongue biting.
- Numbness or tingling in the extremities.
Complications That May Result From Hysteria
There are three primary complications that can come from experiencing hysteria:
- Heart problems: Hysteria’s panic attacks can sometimes mimic heart attacks due to the rapid heart rate. In rare cases, it can be fatal.
- Stroke: Hysteria may result in reduced blood flow to the brain or a hemorrhage, possibly leading to stroke, though this is pretty rare.
- Paralysis: The most common long-term consequence involves either temporary or lasting paralysis, which can seriously impact one’s ability to live their life.
Characteristics of the Hysterical Personality
Often, someone with a hysterical personality has new social skills; they’re always looking to use these skills to draw others in, wanting their attention all the time.
Here are some common traits you might see:
- A constant need for excitement if they’re not getting enough attention.
- Dressing provocatively with suggestive comments and sexual innuendo in both speech and actions.
- Emotions change quickly and often.
- Being overly dramatic and theatrical, like they’re always putting on a show for an audience.
- Being easily influenced by others.
- A continuous craving for reassurance and praise, needing others to admire them to feel good.
- Feeling intensely hurt when criticized or rejected by anyone.
- Difficulty maintaining objectivity and feeling jealous and competitive quickly when a situation arises.
- Making quick decisions.
- Being self-centered and preoccupied with themselves.
- Having difficulty maintaining genuine friendships with others.
- Trying to seduce or manipulate others to gain attention.
Treatment of Hysteria
Treating hysteria usually involves a combination of methods:
- Psychotherapy: This involves talking to a therapist to address the underlying psychological issues. The therapist listens and gently guides the person to understand themselves better.
- Medication: Sometimes, antidepressants might be prescribed, particularly if the hysteria is severe.
“I always brushed off my anxiety as ‘just stress,’ but after experiencing some pretty intense physical symptoms that my doctor couldn’t explain, I started to wonder if there was something more going on. Finding resources and relatable stories online was a game-changer, and therapy has helped me understand triggers and develop coping mechanisms.”
“Honestly, I felt crazy for a long time. My reactions to certain situations seemed way out of proportion, and it affected my relationships. Learning about hysteria, especially conversion disorder, helped me understand that what I was experiencing was real and treatable.”
“It’s been a journey. I still struggle with feeling overly sensitive at times, but I’m better equipped to manage my emotions and communicate my needs. Therapy, mindfulness, and a supportive network have been key to my progress.”
FAQ, Myth & Facts
Is hysteria just a “female problem”?
Absolutely not! Although historically it was more associated with women, hysteria, or what we now understand as related anxiety or somatoform disorders, can affect anyone, regardless of gender.
Can hysteria cause permanent physical damage?
While the physical symptoms of hysteria are real, they don’t usually cause permanent damage. However, the emotional and psychological distress can have long-term effects if left untreated. Things like paralysis, which are not common, are possible but do not usually stay for the long haul.
Is there a cure for hysteria?
There’s no single “cure,” but with the right treatment like therapy and sometimes medication, people can manage their symptoms and improve their quality of life.
For me, learning about hysteria was a real eye-opener. It made me think about how we often dismiss or minimize people’s experiences, especially when their reactions seem “over the top.” It’s a reminder to approach everyone with empathy and understanding because you never know what they might be going through. That’s something we could all use a little more of, don’t you think?
