Case History No 30
Diagnosis : Hysteria
Hysteria or Hysteria neurosis is perhaps one of the oldest recorded disease. In essence, it is a mental disorder.
Hysteria is an extreme psychological condition in which a person reacts out of proportion to the stimuli. The reaction could be extreme anger, fear, depression or similar emotion. Experts have called it functional disorder, psychogenic disorder or unexplained disorder.
It is thought that childhood repression or abuse may lead to development of phobias which later lead to overreaction to situations later in life. Hysteria comes in attacks which may be brought about by apparently trivial stimuli.
Symptoms may be widely different. There may be respiratory problems, heart problems, outbursts, spasms, clenching of teeth, violent outbursts etc. All attacks are accompanied by an inability to think rationally. Some persons might think they are possessed by some higher spirits!
Complications may be related to the heart, brain or give rise to paralysis, temporary or even permanent. The best way to deal with a hysterical person is to keep cool and let the attack pass.
This case was brought to Yoginiji by a meditator who had been contacted by the parents. The latter had tried all sorts of traditional and non-traditional methods, to no avail.
“Another friend’s sister in law was prone to hysterical fits for some 3-4 years. She used to imagine herself possessed by some spirit. She would create hell in the house, become violent, yelling, shouting, swearing, breaking furniture etc. Psychiatrists could not help. A lot of money was spent with other traditional ‘healers’, in vain! Once she had a particular bad episode. They came running to me for help and asked me to accompany them to Yoginiji.”
“Yoginiji made her sit and allowed her to shout until she was tired. Then she told her to call back the ‘spirit’ so she could have a chat with it! It was then that the lady realized that there was no spirit. It was some psychological problem due to some family stress. Since that day she never had any further attacks and was completely cured.”
(Excerpts from article, Preetam Magazine 4, 2011 P 74-76)