"Hysteria" Footage from the 30s | Dr Syl’s Analysis

Delve into the fascinating evolution of psychiatric understanding as we journey from the enigmatic era of hysteria to the nuanced diagnosis of conversion disorder. Join Dr. Syl, a junior doctor training to become a psychiatrist from Australia, as we analyze archival footage and discuss the historical context alongside modern perspectives. Explore the complexities of mental health through a lens of curiosity and compassion.
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** The information in this video is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. All content, including text, graphics, images, and information, contained in this video is for general information purposes only and does not replace a consultation with your own doctor/health professional. If anything in this video was distressing please consider calling LifeLine 131114 **
Timestamps
00:00 - Introduction

[@DrSyl]

EEEK! Sorry I said 'clonic' when I meant to have said 'tonic' (when I was talking about seizures). What should I react to next? Here's a link to my upcoming newsletter (use it to follow for updates on my CBT course!): eepurl.com/iMHJp6

[@flowerlight]

P.s. this is one from ww2 kzbin.info/www/bejne/hIO5gouXrp5jicUsi=kYfcn3A7m10-S_LU

[@kandymich4861]

Do you have a video on Gaslighting from mental health professionals? And Is it recommended that is you have a mental health diagnosis that you should Always have a psychiatrist? I know some medical issues you really only see the specialist for a bit then referred back to GP and other you always see the specialist for that issue.

[@dionysusapollo]

When you are told you have this you become your own gaslighter.

[@j9andphoenix]

I have a few things I would like to ask you. One is that Borderline PD also seems to be a diagnosis gender specific. Anyway, I should preface this to explain as I can ramble on.... I have worked with psychiatrists since 1996 in a few different settings. 4 years at the Anxiety Disorders Clinic set up from Prof Gavin Andrews, then a Family Law Psychiatrist for one "interesting' year and then what seems an eternity in the medico-legal "industry". With that, I wonder if Adam Martin is one of your tutors. As you are a registrar, and we have not met, do you any treatment at all and is that with supervision or 'post interview wiii peers or tutors? The other thing (or one of the other things) is I am really glad you have been reviewing those videos from I am guessing, the 50s...from a professional. I have watched many of them previously. It is great to now to hear the interpretation/explanation from the perspective of a professional. I watch (too much) KZbin videos, mainly, but not restricted to ) and find it so hard to hold back when someone comments things like the "they are just psycho or delusional" or similar when that word has a meaning clearly not applicable. And it feeds on itself. Or how all schizophrenics are just by "Joe in Texas"referred to as" psychos". How do you feel when psychological/psychiatric terms are used so randomly and inappropriately.? I have just realised that last question is a "how does that make you feeeeeel?" dumb as question. It is staying in cause it made me laugh...

[@j9andphoenix]

The stigma surrounding mental health so that people can learn more about psychotic breaks like what occurred at Bondi Junction. It was so horrific. But there are many people who cannot understand what occurs in someone' brain to create such mayhem. They are also in torment.

[@any.moment.now.]

As always very interesting and educating but also hard to watch. Woman and hysteria in the same sentence always makes me very uncomfortable.

[@ladybaabaa3294]

Wow. In the second video, it actually looked like she was possessed. Obviously she was not, but it looked like all her emotional pain, fear, discomfort and whatever else had overwhelmed her mental state to the point of physical manifestation beyond her control.

[@boopthefloof]

All i can say is that even though things are not as good as it could be within mental health treatment, at least we don't live in the 1930's. Wow

[@sue4947]

My daughter has these seizures and it has been life-changing and the most difficult 3 years! In her and our lives 😢

[@reem46490]

What time period did we think that the uterus was moving around the body?? I'm absolutely blown away by this concept.

[@coraldell3091]

Yes me too, a concept, and idea.. it's sounds ridiculous to me 😂

[@annipsy2185]

they could have just examined the woman and its like....visibly right there all the time 😂

[@Evelyn_2401]

We diagnose FND and conversion disorder way too much in Australia. I have Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, and the symptoms I have, especially pain, have a physical explanation, however ive had it diagnosed as a conversation disorder before. Same with the neurological symptoms I have due to the impacts of EDS on my spine and neck, and even then the neurologist has mentioned FND as a possibility, without proper testing. Its quite disappointing that they are so easily jumping to a psychological reason, even though im very psychologically stable. I dont know of any male with EDS that's been diagnosed with FND, but i know of many women, even if they dont fit the diagnosis. Its horrible. It should ve a psychologist that diagnoses it, not neurologists

[@novaangle2183]

It's awful. I've been told I had anxiety for a long time and ignored till they couldn't ignore it anymore then told i had FND and ignored again. Then I've been told I have dystonia and seizures with no apology to how they been treating and ignoring me. Can you guess my gender? If you guessed a female ding ding ding! It's amazing how I ended up in the er and dismissed in critical condition, then when I showed up at my general doctor he got so angry at the er hospital he called them and yelled at them for dismissing me (they said i had anxiety but I was actually in lactic acidosis which could have killed me if i hadn't got my general doctors help. It was so high they thought i was septic). Not all doctors are bad but so many blame pains and things for women on the stupidest things and literally hand wave you off.

[@dionysusapollo]

Theres a film called Hysteria with Maggie Gyllenhaal based on a true story, its very amusing. The doctor who treats it services are in great demand

[@dionysusapollo]

It's called Functional neurological disorder now, and it's very stigmatizing.

[@mezh1559]

I also thought it was called FND, Functional Neurological Disorder now

[@dionysusapollo]

I don't mind people knowing about bipolar but not the FND. Also I have symptoms of tardive dyskinesia now and I don't know what to do because they will just say it's FND.

[@ladybaabaa3294]

In the first video, I wonder if they were sisters who may have experienced some kind of horrendous trauma that caused a "psychotic break" and thus caused their regression. Or maybe they had never even reached full mental adulthood before regressing back to what appears to be early toddlerhood.

[@kandymich4861]

The last one reminds me of when you get a build up and there’s no way of getting it out but this, a twitch, stretch, continuous movement, all involuntary, and most times with an extremely heavy pressure on the chest. It’s like an overload that the body can’t get out any other way. Extremely annoying

[@Kammo.222]

Another great and educational video! Hard to watch that kind of distress, but nonetheless love your knowledge and commentary always Dr. Syl 🫶🏾

[@Whytdrgn206]

That last lady seems like she was confined at some stage. Like she was in a box or tied down or something and desperately trying to get out. Very confronting and hard to watch. I really felt for her. The trauma she was dealing with was so overwhelming… great explanation of what we were seeing and what could be done to assist the patient. You’re super intuitive and interesting Dr Syl. Thank you.

[@storiewilson7213]

I agree. Like she was in a box or chained to a bed where her arms were chained down and she coped like that when ever she felt overwhelmed at being restrained/held captive

[@DoorDash-nf7cd]

Just wanted to say thanks! i found your videos trying to get an example of some of the symptoms of catatonia in schizophrenia and they really helped me on the final a few weeks ago. I hope I will be half as good as a psychotherapist as you are some day!

[@kasie680]

Right that’s it! I’m getting some perfume just in case my uterus plays up! 😂😂😂 How cruel was this video, imagine how it feels to be locked into that, so heartbreaking 💔

[@AutumnsFlameDances]

Good to know that it wasnt just me confused about the first video and that Dr listed the common symptoms typically associated with FND/conversion. Ive saw rare cases of peoples dialect changing but never heard of patients suffering regression before. Love your work, especially the Ren vids - could you please do another video on FND?

[@dianahenderson5053]

This is very interesting. The second video reminds me of what happened to myself once during an episode of psychosis. My mom dad and I were coming home from a doctor appointment. I had been experiencing delusions all day. I was in the back seat of the car when all of a sudden I started crying loudly and moving uncontrolably. This lasted the majority of the hour long ride home. It was the only time I have experienced this.

[@booksandsea]

I would love to listen you to talk about eating disorders like binge eating or anorexia dr syl I’m curious about your opinion on that 😊

[@deepbluehue3]

There is a deeply moving four minute video Dr. Syl might consider for this topic ; which contains scenes from a documentary on Norway’s leading photographer-artists Lene Marie Fossen who was suffering from anorexia set to music by Susanne Sundfor ... It's called ' When the lord ' Susanne Sundfor channel on YT. My sister actually had both anerexia AND bulemia when she was younger .

[@AutumnsFlameDances]

Interesting that its still called conversion disorder in Australia. In U.K it has been changed to FND (functional neurological disorder). However there is a lot more research and supprt available in Australia than here, ive heard the aussies are leading the way for FND patients in that regard, especially compared to U.K, USA and Canada.

[@Evelyn_2401]

It's called FND in Australia too... At least in Neurology it is

[@kerstin.jitschin5861]

It looks like reliving a traumatic experience imo, but I’m not professional

[@IAWild]

It was an interesting and educational video, thank you Doctor. BTW I'd like to suggest *I Prevail-Breaking Down* for reaction video.

[@123________]

😊 Could you do a video On the keto diet and mental illnes

[@nrivera4380]

This is really hard to watch. I was wondering if they are reliving their trauma.

[@flowerlight]

Thankyou for your reaction! Here’s links for 3 older military mental health videos that would be interesting to react to : ww1 silent vid of soldiers at mental health hospital kzbin.info/www/bejne/emKwmquHl6dggZIsi=2FRkwBR7eTprjkLj , Brit Medical officer ww2 training vid (with actors) kzbin.info/www/bejne/aqaciaSoeceEoNEsi=fh60-EZAdQJc2t9B , US training and real cases vid kzbin.info/www/bejne/hIO5gouXrp5jicUsi=l33hRmEF45SCw-Gu

[@kara-ib5nd]

I have those seizures , exactly like that. There's no control. it's like being possessed. I often urinate and scream as well. I have ASD.2 and PTSD and the asd is thoyght to be linked to these seizures. 100 od yrs ago, they would have called a preist!

[@EliseP-w3z]

this is not a conscious action, and your right it is a seizure of sorts. i have experienced it.

[@NeroKosonen]

The woman in the second video looks like she's in severe neurological pain.

[@spiffykates]

Back then, if a male was exhibiting these symptoms, would he have been diagnosed with hysteria as well? (sorry, I'm 2 minutes in, so if you answered it already don't mind me).

[@dionysusapollo]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/h5jIaJaVga5qgcksi=XYcJy435A0GcZSYS Here's men doing it, and better examples

[@dionysusapollo]

Lots of men who went to the two great wars got it too.

[@ladybaabaa3294]

More likely psychosis.

[@coraldell3091]

I would think not men , wouldn't have been called hysterical.. I haven't heard a man been called hysterical before ever. I would think wars caused PTSD post traumatic stress disorder. Although it wasn't called that then....... . Which a lot of people get for all sorts of reasons.

[@jeremysmith302]

Yeah men were diagnosed with hysteria

[@thalinakonadu7965]

I have borderline peronalistu disorder and I also had this earlier in my life, I didn't talk about this even not in my theraphy only my close ex has witnessed a part of this

[@dionysusapollo]

It seems like the doctors are trying to assume a paternal role with the bottles, maybe there was an idea that this would be helpful(it's not)

[@iamsquatty]

I remember seeing or reading something about the ancient romans or greeks doing that thing with scents and such to treat the hysteria...or... "wandering uterus" 😂💜

[@sophiegolden]

The second woman seems to need an exorcist... It's horrific... But Dr Syl, I still don't understand what is hysteria... 😊 Bonjour de Paris France

[@glenngray675]

Russia's own mentallly ill tend to gravitate toward cannibalism. Why they eat their neighbors is of little interest to me. I wonder what they would be if not mentally ill from life in an alien culture. Studying the childhood development of different peoples to prevent mental illness seems more worthwhile than studying the symptoms of the mentally ill though everyone seeks relieve from their own symptons.

[@ReneeWelsh-b6u]

And of course men came up with the "Hysteria" terminology and meaning🙄 i am so glad i am a woman now and not back then. This poor darling lady in video 2❤

[@SQUAREHEADSAM1912]

Ah yes, because things are clearly better then the past. Both past and present have really bad and really good.

[@ila9063]

I got told my FND would resolve itself if I got married in 2020 so idk that things are much better nowadays

[@thalinakonadu7965]

I want to understand this

[@jamieabraham-brett2978]

Please analyse Baby Reindeer and the Piers Morgan stalker interview!

[@coffeecat086]

I have epilepsy., holy crap. You don’t know what’s happened what’s happening after a seizure and everything hurts when you kinda become aware again. They suck. Smiling is definitely NOT A THING. You’re too busy kin a state of wtf to even think much less do anything except lay there slowly coming to the realization that 1. Your brain just glitched, and 1.. you did some crap you don’t remember afterwards. I know what PNES is. They originally tried to give me that sign when I didn’t have a seizure in hospital after having 2 in one day. Yeah, nope. Still have epilepsy, and it still doesn’t respond to meds. I think now that there’s more knowledge of PNES, people are being misdiagnosed or maybe have both and it’s effects on mental health and physical are awful

[@Dpatsp]

Hello! Can you please react to RM's new song "Come back to me" (out May 10th), the MV will be a short movie directed by Lee Sung Jin (Netflix Beef's director). RM is a rapper, member of BTS, and his album "Right Place Wrong Person" (out May 24th) will be an indie alternative genre. Thank you!

[@foolishlyfoolhardy6004]

The first clip with the contractions, it looks like kind of the end stage tetanus. I wonder if maybe that's some she had seen, or even experienced, before, that would be very traumatic.

[@coraldell3091]

Wonder what was in the bottle 🍼?

[@coraldell3091]

Would have liked to have heard what was being said. As who would know ,, 🤔

[@SouthernArtist77]

How odd that only women suffered from it.

[@coraldell3091]

There would've just called it another name for Men 🤔

[@thcrs1]

You are going to have to change that title in less than 6 years otherwise "30s" might be confusing.

[@kristinbruton2640]

You, Dr Syl, are not the typical guy I would be attracted to (physically), but your calm demeanour, humble intelligence and genuine kindness has always made me think of you as a "catch"! Ive always thought that my attraction to personality and intelligence/education makes sense on an evolutionary level, but I think I caught a bit of hysteria for a minute there because I swear my uterus did a little dance when you said you knew French. I don't have any connections to France or their language. Why the heck did your attractiveness skyrocket when you said you knew French!? I'm trilingual, so I shouldn't have been nearly as impressed as I was 😂😂

[@cherrymeez]

I read about hysteria being female sexual frustration to the extreme 🤷‍♀️

[@Ehecatl1111]

Fourth!

[@susanthebeautiful]

Lobotomized?

[@j0.ZEF-Who]

Looks like she has no control of her body movements - mental paralysis effecting the body - then to push out her belly button as a regression looking for that attachment with her mother - interesting

[@petergriffin680]

Hey Dr. Syl! Love the videos man. I’m a student here in the US studying archaeology, but psychology has always fascinated me. The treatment of mental disorders throughout time is a very interesting topic. I always learn something new from your videos.

[@robynmills3934]

Thank you - imagine living with that level of emotional pain. How tragic.

[@ila9063]

could you please refrain from using the term Conversion Disorder. the term is outdated. the term you are looking for is Functional Neurological Disorder and the definition no longer includes the ridiculous Freudian idea of psychological trauma being converted into physical symptoms. in fact, the DSM has removed psychological trauma as a diagnostic criteria altogether.

[@karenfitzpatrick6256]

The 1930's woman I really had no idea. With the 1960's woman, the first time through I could see it wasnt a typical grand mall seizure. I thought maybe Huntington's? The second time it played I noticed her facial expression more and it looked like a night terror. I'm not at all sure if she was awake and conscious. Only one thing I am sure about, neither case was caused by hysteria because their wombs were moving around in their bodies!

[@rohini8084]

"thought to scare the uterus back where it's meant to be' is the wildest phrase i've heard this year lol

[@ReneeWelsh-b6u]

Was the "Hysteria " behaviour or response perhaps due to some hidden or deep seated trauma experienced? Not a Psychologist or Psychiatrist but a Counsellor. Just wondering if perhaps this happened due to trauma back in the day before we had more knowledge. I found this so very confronting and distressing to watch but thank you for showing it and talking it through Dr Syl❤

[@Whytdrgn206]

Thanks

[@DrSyl]

Thank you for your support!!