Skip to main content

What is hysteria, and why were so many women diagnosed with it? - Mark S. Micale

433,729 Views

1,888 Questions Answered

TEDEd Animation

Let’s Begin…

Do you ever feel tired? Overwhelmed? Depressed? Do you have headaches, dizziness, cramps, difficulty breathing? From 300 BCE to the 1900s, if you answered yes to any of these questions and you had a uterus, a doctor would likely diagnose you with hysteria. So, where did this medical diagnosis come from? And why did it persist for so long? Mark S. Micale traces the history of the catch-all term.

Create and share a new lesson based on this one.

About TED-Ed Animations

TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »

Meet The Creators

  • Educator Mark S. Micale
  • Director Laura Jayne Hodkin
  • Narrator Bethany Cutmore-Scott
  • Music Phil Brookes
  • Sound Designer Phil Brookes
2 Open Discussions

Discussions are closed. To create a new discussion customize this lesson.

More from Getting Under Our Skin