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Hysteria is an outdated term that
usually refers to emotional expressions of intense anger, sadness or fear
with persistent psychosomatic symptoms. Hysterical symptoms are more likely
to be called conversion disorders, hysterical neurosis or
histrionic personality disorder.
Conversion disorders are big
business. About half the visits to medical doctors and at least
10% of all medical treatments are for people with no evidence of organic
disease. Hypochondriacs often spend nine to ten times
as much for health care as healthier people ...
Histrionic Personality Disorder
is a term used by the World Health Organization and the American Psychiatric
Association to characterize emotionality and attention-seeking, an excessive
need for approval and inappropriate seductiveness. This seems often related to
covert emotional incest.
What is Hysteria?
Hysteria was first identified in ancient Greece, and
although the description changed many times, it was called a woman's
disease, because the uterus (womb) was thought to move around the body. Intense emotions,
screaming, kicking and unusual body sensations were called hysterics.
Hysterical outbursts usually include a temporary loss of
adulthood. Expect impulsive childish emotional expressions
of anxiety, depression, excitement and / or frustration.
Symptoms called hysteria may include nausea, vomiting and difficulty breathing.
Occasionally, the symptoms can include convulsions, loss of sensitivity to touch
or pain and psychosomatic sensations such as tingling skin.
Some psychiatric drugs such as Diazepam
and Valium, and occasionally antihistamines, are known to trigger
hysterical symptoms. But we find that when people are on the edge of an
emotional explosion - almost anything can trigger the intense reactions that may be called hysteria.
Historical treatments for hysteria included surgical
removal of the womb (hysterectomy) and/or ovaries. Adolf von Strümpell (1853-1925)
postulated psychic trauma as the cause for hysteria in 1884 and Paul
Möbius (1853-1907) developed a psychotherapeutic concept for treating these
disorders before Sigmund Freud (1856-1939) developed his psychoanalysis. Pierre
Janet (1859-1947) first used the term dissociation to describe the
behavior of people who had been diagnosed with
hysteria.
If you do any of the following, you may benefit
from our emotional coaching:
- you react impulsively
- you feel deserted or isolated
- you damage or destroy relationships
- you cannot cope with strong emotions
If you notice any of these in yourself, perhaps
arrange peaceful talks with trusted friends. (Note that if you use an
organization's employee-assistance program, your personnel file may forever
include details of your need of assistance). We are often asked to be
professional friends.
Conversion Disorders
We find that many mild symptoms similar to those of conversion
disorders are common in young adults, although rarely at a severity that would
indicate referral to a psychiatrist. Strangely, young people rarely seem to
want to resolve their symptoms or to improve their lives. We assume that the
benefits of the symptoms often outweigh the advantages of health.
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The symptoms associated with conversion
disorders appear to be delayed (age regressed) emotional reactions to
relationship disappointments. These disappointments are shown by adults
as dramatic and exaggerated childish behavior. The symptoms often attract
attention and sympathy - forms of love that are often desired
by children and immature adults.
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Some people work hard to attract attention and sympathy.
There is no evidence that these behaviors are genetic, rather children
can copy these behaviors from their parents, and use these symptoms as
relationship bonds. ("Look Mummy,
I'm just like you!")
Histrionic Personality Disorder
The World Health Organization characterizes histrionic
personality disorder by the presence of at least 3 of the following:
- shallow, flexible emotional attachments
- overly concerned with physical attractiveness
- continually seeks to be the centre of attention
- easily influenced by people and circumstances
- inappropriately seductive appearance or behavior
- exaggerated, dramatic and theatrical emotional
expressions
Women with histrionic behavior often describe
covert father-daughter emotional incest.
This form of emotional incest can result when a woman feels enmeshed with her
father, often resulting in a strong father-daughter emotional bond (that may
delay or prevent subsequent bonding with a male partner). Also, such father-bonds
can damage mother-daughter relationships and future partnership.
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My wife cannot get enough attention.
If she's not the center of attention she explodes ...
I am frustrated with her shallowness but I can't leave her ...
inside she's just a lost little girl ...
My psychiatrist told me that a partnership with a hysterical person
can destroy the partner.
How can I help her before that happens?
Hampshire, England |
Men seem less likely to show these symptoms so
obviously, although in my experience, these symptoms in men are a common
consequence of
mother-son emotional incest.
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My last boyfriend was beautiful. He looked
like a male model although he worked in a car wash. He spent all his money on
clothes, and he would change them many times each day. He was always posing, and
if I didn't continually compliment him, he would sulk like a scolded
puppy - and then visit his adoring mother. Orlando, Florida |
Emotions & Maturity
Carl Jung wrote that we cannot solve the most important
problems in life, we can only outgrow them. Loss, rejection, unrequited love,
unfulfilled ambitions ... we may not be able to solve these problems
although we often help people cope with them.
Anxiety, irritation and depression often increase when
people hide strong emotions, family secrets and other
emotional baggage ... until people may feel on the edge of an emotional explosion.
Then something can trigger behavior that may be called hysterical.
People who show signs of hysteria often seem to be
egotistic and/or irresponsible. Egotists may focus on
showing the world how special they are, while irresponsible people may be
described as childish or emotionally immature. Some people with these
habits may be described as dysfunctional.
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Martyn, for my master's degree in
psychology, I learned history, theories and statistics from professors
who have never been in private practice.
You offer experience! Boston, Mass |
We help people learn how to relax and manage their emotions
... how to resolve entanglements and unwanted
relationship bonds ... how to build and enjoy
healthier relationships. We help people change destructive habits
and improve their relationships - and their relationship skills.
Relief for Unpleasant Emotions
If you suffer unpleasant emotions following relationship
disappointments, you have three main choices. You can ignore them - you can
take drugs - or you can change your life. Your emotional explosions or need
for attention may be only a temporary setback if they motivate you to improve
your emotional maturity and enjoy better relationships. You can choose to ...
- Do Nothing: If you do nothing about your symptoms,
you risk becoming bitter and angry as healthier people build happier
relationships. If you do nothing, your emotional and physical health may
decline and you may risk broken relationships and dismissal from your work.
- Take drugs: While there are no specific drugs for
the direct treatment of conversion disorders, medications are often
prescribed to help people manage associated anxiety, aggression or
depression. (Many health professionals believe that drugs can manage
relationship problems.)
- Change Yourself: You can use your symptoms
to motivate yourself to re-evaluate how you want to live your life,
resolve your emotional issues and limiting beliefs, participate in
relationships and achieve your goals. We help people develop
emotional maturity.
Emotional Maturity
We help people develop three essential components of emotional
maturity - self-esteem, responsibility for one's own decisions and self-control.
We have experience with emotional blocks and relationship issues, and can help
people identify harmful assumptions and habits. We can help you explore your
relationships, emotions, reactions, and the actions of other people.
If you are prone to emotional outbursts, some points to ponder
are ...
- Not all good advice will benefit you
- Happiness reflects emotional maturity
- You are unique ... and not particularly special
- You can attract healthy people by living healthy values
- Consequences can teach you to avoid repeating mistakes
- Too much positive thinking can have unpleasant
consequences
- Childish reactions are not bad - only childish
- yet they can damage adult lives
We can help you define your life goals and carefully plan to
achieve them, rather than running away from people or work that you dislike.
We offer feedback, change-work, encouragement and perspective ...
we help people develop emotional maturity and build healthy relationships.
We help people
resolve emotional blocks and relationship issues.
Online Coaching for Strong Emotions
Plagiarism is theft. Copyright © Martyn Carruthers 2008-2012
All rights reserved.
Hysterical References
- Dorland's Pocket Medical Dictionary.
25th edition. Philadelphia: W. B. Saunders Company.
- ICD-10 Classification of Mental and Behavioral
Disorders. World Health Organization. Geneva.
- Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy,
Section 15. Whitehouse Station, NJ: Merck Research Laboratories.
- DSM 4 Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental
Disorders. 4th edition. American Psychiatric Association.
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