[familyop]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

 Hysteria \Hys*te"ri*a\, n. [NL.: cf. F. hyst['e]rie. See
 Hysteric.] (Med.)
 A nervous affection, occurring almost exclusively in women,
 in which the emotional and reflex excitability is
 exaggerated, and the will power correspondingly diminished,
 so that the patient loses control over the emotions, becomes
 the victim of imaginary sensations, and often falls into
 paroxism or fits.
 [1913 Webster]
 
 Note: The chief symptoms are convulsive, tossing movements of
 the limbs and head, uncontrollable crying and laughing,
 and a choking sensation as if a ball were lodged in the
 throat. The affection presents the most varied
 symptoms, often simulating those of the gravest
 diseases, but generally curable by mental treatment
 alone. Hysteric

[farlander]

Thank you for that... erm... ‘succint’ observation. I’ve been trying to figure out an internet equivalent of a good slap or a cold water cannon, but mere rational thinking has only barely worked so far.