What are the manifestations of a hysterical attack?
Mar 19, 2025
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Lv Zhiqin
Introduction
Manifestations of a dissociative disorder episode include dissociative amnesia, dissociative fugue, dissociative identity disorder, conversion motor disorder, emotional outbursts, and others. It is important to maintain a positive and optimistic mindset, learn to cope with life's stress and setbacks through appropriate methods, such as engaging in physical exercise, listening to music, and communicating with friends to alleviate negative emotions, and avoid suppressing negative feelings deep within for prolonged periods.
Generally speaking, hysteria refers to dissociative disorders. The manifestations of dissociative disorder episodes include dissociative amnesia, dissociative fugue, dissociative identity disorder, conversion motor disorder, and emotional outbursts. A detailed analysis is as follows:
1. Dissociative Amnesia
Due to the action of psychological defense mechanisms, patients unconsciously separate certain painful memories from their consciousness to avoid confronting unbearable emotional conflicts or stress. Patients typically experience sudden partial or complete loss of important personal memories, usually related to traumatic or stressful events, such as forgetting major accidents they have experienced or conflicts with family members.
2. Dissociative Fugue
Patients suddenly leave their familiar surroundings and engage in aimless wandering while fully conscious. During this period, they may perform seemingly purposeful behaviors, such as purchasing train tickets or checking into hotels, but often have incomplete recall of their actions. This manifestation may represent the patient's attempt to escape pressure and conflicts in reality by changing their environment and identity after experiencing significant psychological trauma.
3. Dissociative Identity Disorder
Due to experiencing severe trauma during childhood, such as prolonged physical or sexual abuse, patients create different identities to cope with unbearable pain and stress. Patients generally display two or more distinct identities or personality states, which alternately control the patient's behavior. The patient typically has no memory of behaviors and experiences associated with other identities.
4. Conversion Motor Disorder
Patients develop motor impairments such as limb paralysis, difficulty walking, or seizures, but neurological examinations reveal no organic lesions. This may represent the manifestation of psychological conflicts or emotional problems through physical symptoms. For example, when facing significant work pressure or family conflicts, patients may suddenly develop limb weakness to relieve internal anxiety and conflict.
5. Emotional Outburst
After experiencing psychological stress, patients suddenly exhibit intense emotional outbursts, such as crying, screaming, chest-beating, tearing clothes, or destroying objects, often accompanied by exaggerated facial expressions and gestures. Patients use these intense behaviors to release pressure and express dissatisfaction.
In daily life, it is important to maintain a positive and optimistic mindset and learn to cope with life's stress and setbacks in reasonable ways, such as engaging in physical exercise, listening to music, or communicating with friends to alleviate negative emotions, avoiding long-term suppression of negative feelings inside.
