What Is Hysteria?

“Hysteria” in Victorian times described a cluster of signs and symptoms such as hallucinations, nervousness, and partial paralysis thought to affect only women. These are now known to be common in psychological conditions such as dissociative and somatic disorders in both males and females. “Hysteria” is also modern slang for a state of excessive emotion and behavior, often amusement and laughter.

History of Hysteria

Hysteria referred to a psychological disorder in females as far back as 1900 BCE, when ancient Egyptians first described the condition as “spontaneous uterus movement.” It was also known as “wandering uterus.” To treat it, Egyptians placed bad-smelling or other scented substances near the woman’s vulva or face, depending on whether the uterus was thought to have moved up or down. The Greek physician Celsus suggested that both virginity and abstinence helped cure hysteria.

The notion that this condition affected only females was common until the early 1600s, when anatomist Thomas Willis concluded that hysteria did not originate in the uterus, but in the brain. This understanding opened the possibility that hysteria could affect men as well. Still, the term remained a common diagnosis for women, particularly in Victorian times. The second edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), published in 1968, mentioned “hysterical neurosis”—a term deleted in 1980.

Today, people exhibiting “hysterical” symptoms might be diagnosed with somatic symptom disorder, dissociative disorder, or conversion disorder.

Hysteria and Psychoanalysis

Hysteria helped shape the field of psychoanalysis. In the 1800s, for example, French neurologist Jean-Martin Charcot used hypnosis to treat women suffering from hysteria. The famed Austrian psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud studied with Charcot, so he had firsthand experience observing these patients and Charcot’s treatment methods.

Freud’s work with colleague Josef Breuer on the case of Anna O, a young woman experiencing symptoms of hysteria, helped lead to the development of psychoanalytic therapy. Anna found that simply talking about her problems with a therapist had a major impact on her well-being and dubbed this treatment the “talking cure”—also known today as talk therapy. 

Freud’s colleague, Carl Jung, treated Sabina Spielrein, a young woman also thought to suffer from hysteria. Jung and Freud’s many discussions of Spielrein’s case helped give rise to their theories. Spielrein herself became a psychoanalyst who helped bring the psychoanalytic approach to Russia before the Nazis murdered her during World War II.

What Does Hysteria Feel Like?

Signs and symptoms considered characteristic of hysteria include:

Additional symptoms often associated with a hysterical state vary but include:

• Feeling as though in a trance
• Developing amnesia
• Experiencing paralysis
• Fainting or passing out (syncope)
• Having epileptic-like seizures
• Feeling increased pain sensations
• Rigid or spasming muscles

Hysteria’s Evolving Diagnoses

Now known as an outdated term for a cluster of signs and symptoms, hysteria can feature in several psychological disorders.

Dissociative Disorders

Dissociative disorders interrupt aspects of consciousness such as identity and memory. Disorders in this category include:

Somatic Symptom Disorder

Several conditions fall within this category, including:

In somatic symptom disorder, the person is preoccupied with physical symptoms such as weakness, pain, or shortness of breath, causing significant distress and difficulties with normal functioning. The person might (or might not) have a true physical problem, so it’s important to note that they aren’t faking an illness per se: They truly believe that they are ill. 

Causes of Hysterical Signs and Symptoms

Over time, theories about what causes hysteria have changed. Although they originally focused on the uterus, researchers now know that the causes of both dissociative and somatic disorders are often psychological.

Dissociative disorders are generally caused by some type of trauma, such as physical, sexual, or emotional abuse. Natural disasters and military combat experiences also can lead to a dissociative disorder.

Somatic symptom disorder can also arise from childhood abuse or parental neglect, as well as from extreme anxiety about bodily processes and illness combined with a low pain threshold.

Hysterical contagion, a form of social contagion, causes symptoms often associated with hysteria to spread among people. In this phenomenon, groups develop symptoms that could be attributed to a physical or contagious source; however, in reality, they stem from social and psychological influences.

Treatment for Hysteria

Treating hysteria-like symptoms associated with dissociative and somatic symptom disorders typically includes psychotherapy. Common treatment approaches include:

In some cases, medications are prescribed to help reduce symptoms—for example, amitriptyline, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), and St. John’s wort.

Coping With Hysteria

If you or a loved one experience symptoms once associated with hysteria—such as having emotional outbursts, losing sensation, or having hallucinations—seek the help of a mental health professional. In the meantime, here are a few tips to help you cope:

• Practice mindfulness. Concentrate on the present instead of focusing on yesterday or tomorrow. This can help you stay grounded.
• Engage in breathing exercises. Relax your feelings of anxiety by breathing in and out in specific patterns.
• Write in a journal. Get your feelings out on paper. Put the sources of your stress in black and white, then let them go.
• Get physically active. Go for a walk, hike, or bike ride. Physical activity helps boost mental health
• Develop a consistent sleep schedule. Give your body the rest it needs so you can deal with the symptoms and emotions you’re feeling.