The signs of hysteria vary from person to person. In some cases, most of the symptoms listed below are present, while in some, very few symptoms are manifested.
- Heaviness in the limbs. When a person is controlled by fear, the muscles characteristically “freeze.” As a result, the person is immobilized, feeling a certain heaviness on the limbs.
- There may be severe cramps, especially in the extremities. The common areas where cramps may occur during hysteria attacks are in the hands and in the feet.
- A person may sigh continually. This is often a means to release some emotion as well as to afford some relief to the body by venting out some of the forces that affects a person during hysteria attacks.
- There is difficulty in breathing as well as some tightness in the chest. In some cases, a person may experience a racing heart that further makes it difficult to breathe properly.
- There is the sensation of having some foreign object lodged in the throat.
- Frequent clinching of the fists. Just like with sighing, fist clinching is also a means to release some of the bottled emotions to allow the person some measure of relief.
