Hysteria can rightfully be called a product of the 21st century. After all, this disease in most cases develops against the background of stressful situations, which are very, very many in the life of a modern person. However, you must understand that this violation is not just a bad mood, theatrical tearfulness or a tendency to make scandals. It is a mental illness that requires treatment.
general description
Hysterical neurosis (synonyms - hysteria, conversion disorder) is a group of neurotic diseases that are characterized by a wide range of neurological and mental disorders, as well as the patient's focus on attracting attention.
Neurosis in psychiatric science is a category of diseases that are manifested by disorders in the functioning of the central nervous system of a temporary nature due to mental trauma. Patients are always aware of the presence of the disease, their perception of reality is not impaired.
The patient may manifest various disorders of motor or sensory functions (for example, paralysis, blindness, etc.), which are as if due to organic causes, although the latter is incorrect.
Disease risk factors
As a rule, in hysterical neurosis, the patient tries to attract the attention of other people by behaving in a demonstrative manner. In addition to the symptoms that he has, he can come up with new ones, as he suffers from a high level of suggestibility.
Such a violation should be treated by a doctor, otherwise it can go into neglected form, find a severe form of hysterical psychopathy. This leads to the absolute asocialization of man. The main risk factors for hysterical neurosis include:
- Severe or very prolonged emotional stress. In particular, people with an unstable psyche are exposed to it. In this case, an attack of the disease can be caused even by a small quarrel or a bad mood.
- The presence of an intrapersonal psychological conflict or some kind of external problems, for example, the situation of choosing a place of study, work, etc.
- Severe trauma in the past, prolonged exposure to a difficult psychological environment, emotional stress, such as being in prison.
Scientists note: as a rule, symptoms of hysterical neurosis in women are manifested more often than in the stronger sex. Children are also prone to this disorder - especially if one or both parents are alcohol-dependent or have personality disorders.
Why is this disorder more common in women? Psychiatrists associate this primarily with their greater sensitivity and vulnerability. Ladies are much more sensitive to difficult situations and conflicts, and can also become upset because of irrelevant details.
The main reasons for the manifestations of hysterical neurosis also include traits such as hyperresponsibility, a strong sense of anxiety (for example, for the health of relatives), the presence of a conflict situation (for example, a quarrel with loved ones, a threat to life and health, divorce).
Also, people with schizoid disorder or belonging to an excitable personality type are prone to this violation. The first manifestation of the disease is usually noted in adolescence.
People with an unstable psyche who always listen to other people's opinions and do not make independent decisions can suffer from a violation. Neuroses of this type are also frequent in creative personalities during moments of creative crisis.
Symptoms
In psychiatry, much is currently known about hysterical neurosis. This disease is associated with processes occurring in the brain, which in various ways affect the human psyche. Symptoms of the disorder are individual and may vary significantly:
- Motor impairment, paralysis of the extremities may occur. The patient sometimes cannot get out of bed to serve himself.
- Speech becomes confused; there is no logic in it.
- Voice changes - a person can speak in a whisper or in raised tones.
- The eyelid or any other muscle may twitch, tremor may appear.
- Hysterical neurosis is characterized by a very violent emotional reaction to various kinds of information. The patient can cry, laugh out loud, throw objects and perform various actions that could attract the attention of others.
- Some patients may have a seizure, ending in a swoon. In addition, the disorder may be accompanied by disturbances in the functioning of the stomach and intestines, changes in taste and color sensations.
- Sometimes a rash or itching occurs on the skin.
- Sensitivity disturbances can be observed - for example, the patient says, "that the legs are like strangers, they don’t obey."
- Soreness at a specific point in the body or area. Sometimes spills of pain are observed. The severity of pain in this case can be different - from mild to intense.
- Hysterical deafness is usually observed on one of the ears. This symptom is accompanied by an imaginary loss of auditory sensitivity.
Autonomic symptoms in hysterical neurosis are diverse. A hysterical seizure, which even a healthy person can experience at least once in a lifetime, is just a disorder in the functioning of the vegetative section. In this case, the cause may be even a slight impact from the outside. One person will calmly endure rudeness in a public place, another may have a nervous breakdown on this basis.
Hysteria in the weaker sex
Hysterical neurosis in women may have specific symptoms. Most often, young people who are highly suggestible are susceptible to the disease, always eager to be in the spotlight. An interesting fact about this disease is that the word "hysteria" comes from the Greek word "hyster", which means "womb".
Female hysteria is manifested as follows:
- Violations in sexual relations.
- Pain in the heart, stomach.
- Increase or decrease in blood pressure.
- Sleep disturbances.
- Overwork.
- Depression and many other symptoms.
Diagnostic Features
It is necessary to distinguish hysterical neurosis from panic attacks or, for example, epilepsy. The diagnosis is made based on the observations of a neurologist and the exclusion of organic causes of the disease. An important point is the patient’s attention on the exclusivity of his suffering, “enjoyment of the disease”, as well as the dependence of the intensity of symptoms on the number of spectators watching.
In addition, hysteria has characteristic features, given which the doctor may suspect this particular disease. For example, with paralysis, the patient can not control the limb, but the range of motion is preserved. Or he will have difficulty coordinating movements in a standing position, but as soon as the patient lies on the sofa, all functions are restored. An experienced neurologist will always notice these discrepancies and refer the patient to a psychiatrist.
Another characteristic feature is the patient’s reluctance to believe that all of his symptoms are “invented”. A person may for a long time refuse to go to a psychiatrist - because, in his opinion, he does not have any mental deviations. This is especially true in situations where a person has really recently had a serious illness. Then he can until the last believe that he is dealing with the consequences of the disease, and with his psyche absolutely everything is in order.
Treatment of hysterical neurosis
As a rule, therapeutic measures are as follows:
- Elimination of traumatic conditions of the psyche.
- Creating favorable conditions for a good rest.
- Psychotherapy.
- Hypnotic suggestion.
- Physiotherapeutic measures.
- Occupational therapy.
- Normalization of the sexual sphere.
- Autotraining.
In some cases, treatment of hysterical neurosis is carried out using small doses of medication. Tranquilizers are used (Sibazon, Diazepam, etc.), sedatives (for example, Nitrazepam), antidepressants (Amitriptyline), antipsychotic drugs (Eglonil, Etaperazin).
All drugs are taken only as directed by a doctor. Before use, consult a specialist.
Violation in children and its causes
The main reason for hysterical neurosis in children is the desire to attract the attention of other people, especially mother and father. At the same time, the child feels that he is not noticed, and tries to get the attention he needs through illness. In addition, he may exhibit symptoms of hysteria in a stressful situation, especially one associated with his personal failures or failures.
In this case, it is difficult for a small patient to come to terms with the fact that he was not up to par, so his body works in this way.
Of course, not all babies are prone to developing symptoms of this disorder. In order for this to happen, the child must be emotional and sensitive from nature, have unstable self-esteem, and depend on the opinions of others. All babies are self-centered by nature, but sometimes it happens that a child or teenager holds a very high opinion of himself. And then the reaction to failure will be very painful for him.
Doctors sometimes diagnose such disorders in babies who have suffered severe stress. This may be a move, the divorce of the mother and father, a change of team in connection with the transition to another class, or the death of someone close to you. However, similarly to the case with adult patients, a stressful situation is not the main reason for the appearance of hysteria symptoms. Rather, it is an occasion.
Symptoms in small patients
This disorder can occur in children of different age categories, including adolescents. The most common factors causing hysterical neurosis in a child or adolescent are difficulties in the family, and errors in education. With constant exposure to the traumatic factor, the symptoms of the disorder may worsen.
In children, hysteria can manifest itself in the form of:
- Crying, screaming.
- Strong vagaries.
- Of frequent headaches.
- Loss of appetite.
- Spasms in the intestines.
- Demonstrative behavior - falling with a hit on the floor.
As a rule, for children with similar symptoms, it is characteristic to flaunt their experiences and fears. They want to be given more attention - for example, to get the toy they like.
In older children, including adolescents, a change in skin sensitivity can occur, much less often - blindness and other signs of hysteria that occur in adults. It should also be noted that the disorder may worsen during puberty, but overall has a rather favorable prognosis.
Toddler Treatment Methods
Hysterical neurosis in adolescents and children is much easier to treat than in adult patients. Therefore, doctors often manage to do without the use of serious medications. However, this always requires the participation of parents, who often have to change their relationship with the child and the style of communication with him in order to get rid of the symptoms of hysteria.
Currently, there are a large number of treatment methods for hysterical neurosis in children. When the doctor makes a diagnosis, he draws up an exposure plan. With an adequate approach, the effect is already observed after several procedures. As a rule, in the case of childhood hysteria, a certain type of psychotherapy is prescribed. Consider how to treat hysterical neurosis in young patients.
- Psychotherapy - primarily aimed at improving the family climate.
- Art therapy. Here the psychotherapist works with what the child can do with his hands - draw, dazzle.
- Fairytale therapy. In this direction, information is conveyed to the baby through images, fairy tales.
- Drug therapy is carried out in rare cases. Medicines are prescribed, as a rule, in small doses.
Prevention and prognosis
If the patient receives timely and adequate treatment, as a rule, the prognosis is favorable (especially when it comes to hysterical neurosis in children and adolescents).
The development of the disorder can be prevented with the help of adequate educational measures, taking into account the individual psychological characteristics of the child.
If the disease lasts a long time, and the patient does not receive appropriate treatment, this can lead to a chronic state of neurosis.
Preventive measures include:
- Building relationships within the family.
- Normalization of work and rest.
- Nutrition and sleep.
- Sanatorium-resort rest.
- The use of tea, coffee, alcohol is excluded.
- Adequate sports loads are shown.
Hysteria is a combination of bodily, neurological and mental disorders that can be effectively treated if the call to a specialist was timely. Like many other diseases, this neurosis is easier to prevent than to treat.