What the heck is hysteria?

A examination of the myths surrounding hysteria and the foundational myths of Psychoanalysis.
( Versión en Español )

Immerse yourself in a captivating historical journey through the ideas that shaped the concept of hysteria in What the heck is Hysteria?. In this modern treatise, author Claudio J. Chiabai aims to answer a simple question: How was this enigmatic illness known as hysteria visualized and manifested? Through a meticulous exploration of the ideas that shaped this mysterious condition, utilizing the voices of the physicians who encountered it, this book provides a detailed picture of what these experts referred to as the "hysterical."

The prominence of hysteria inevitably leads us into the world of Sigmund Freud, the creator of psychoanalysis, who conceived it precisely as a tool to address this intriguing illness. What the heck is Hysteria? devotes an entire chapter to exploring Freud's work on hysteria, emphasizing the historical context of the late 19th century, the fertile ground for the emergence of psychoanalysis. However, this book goes beyond that.

By carefully examining the history of hysteria, numerous associated myths are debunked. Moreover, as many of the myths of psychoanalysis are rooted in the myths of hysteria, this journey also dismantles many of the ingrained myths of the couch. By demystifying hysteria, the very foundations that have legitimized the practice of psychoanalysis crumble. And this, in turn, allows us to glimpse the true place psychoanalysis held in its own time, appreciating the revolutionary nature of Freud's ideas.

In conclusion, What the heck is Hysteria? is a modern treatise supported by citations and reliable sources that dismantles not only many of the myths surrounding hysteria but also a significant portion of the foundations of psychoanalysis, revealing its scant originality, limited value, and almost negligible impact on the history of hysteria. This book challenges both those who are drawn to psychoanalysis and those who seek to unravel the hidden aspects behind the term hysteria, providing a critical and enriching perspective for an open debate on this negligently obscure and detailed-lacking topic. It is a subject that everyone seems to know about, yet no one can accurately describe how a hysterical patient appeared.