4,000+ years ago, hysteria was one of the first mental disorders that was attributed to women, which according to the ancient Egyptians was caused by spontaneous uterine movements within the female body. Stated in the Eber Papyrus, typical symptoms of hysteria were tonic-clonic seizures and a sense of suffocation or death. In greek mythology, Melampus attributed Argo’s phallus-refusing virgins as having gone mad due to lack of orgasm or “uterine melancholy,” and the only treatment was carnal activities with young and strong men.
The term hysteria is first coined by Hippocrates, which he believed was caused by “hysteron,” or the movement of the uterus, causing the entrapment of poisonous humors resulting from an inadequate sex life. As we have discussed in class, Hippocrates also believed that the female body was innately cold and wet, thus making it prone to disease and retainment of humors.To promote bodily cleansing Hippocrates advised the widening of the female canals a.k.a having satisfactory sexual intercourse regularly and procreation, within the boundaries of marriage of course. He also promoted the use of herbal remedies to repair the misplacement of the uterus. Thus single, sterile, or widowed women were at higher risk of experiencing anxiety disorders, tremors, convulsion, and even paralysis.
In Rome, Galen critiqued Hippocrates and the other former theorist. While he agreed that the disease was linked with the uterus, he felt that the only cure was to repress female sexual desires and promoted marriage so as to not excite young women. Greek physician Soranus implored different treatments for uterine displacement. He argued that uterine movement was a result of childbirth. Thus the true remedy was abstaining from sexual activity to allow full recovery, again promoting virginal behaviors.
In the early middle ages, Galen and Hippocrates' theories are translated to arabic, making them more widespread and influencing other scientific thinkers globally. The concept of hysteria was again confirmed by other medical texts and these concepts then spread throughout medieval Europe. Herbal remedies continued to be administered for treatment; new scientific theories emerged to intertwined science and faith, promoting the link between hysteria and original sin. Further convoluting theories of hysteria, ecclesial authorities start to promote chastity and celibacy over the clergy and the imminent threat of heresy increased. Mental illnesses in women now becomes associated with demonic activity because women were weak and vulnerable to the devil's temptations, and exorcisms were deployed as treatment. And along with this new ideas of hysteria came also the connection of women to sorcery and the concept of the woman-witch emerges, which would lead to the false prosecution and murder of thousands of innocent women.
In the case of Margery Kempe, she is accused of heresy on multiple occasions and is outcasted by society due to her disheveling behavior, despite attempting to be the most devoted Christian. Throughout her travels, Margery has many episodes of uncontrollable sobbing and body tremors/trembling whenever she has visions of Jesus and Mary, and when she attends religious services. Often these episodes are described as being extremely physical, and even sexual, which seems consistent with the symptoms of hysteria and its conflicting causes.
Her dalliance was so sweet, so holy, and so devout that this creature might not oftentimes bear it but fell down and twisted her body and made wondrous faces and countenance with violent sobbings and great plenty of tears, sometimes saying "Jesus mercy," sometimes "I die." And therefore many people slandered her, not believing it was the work of God but that some evil spirit vexed her in her body or else that she had some bodily sickness (30, section 17).
Margery has given up her former maternal lifestyle by asserting her celibacy so that she can pursue her devotions and willingness to suffer for Christ, yet because she has chosen to defy her natural duties as a woman, she is casted out by (most of) the Christian community, which was(and is still currently) a male dominated system.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3480686/
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