hysterical blindness
Emotionally caused blindness
Hysterical blindness is loss of vision with no detectable physical cause, arising instead from psychological stress or trauma.
The condition belongs to a class of conversion disorders where mental distress manifests as bodily symptoms.
The older term reflects outdated beliefs linking such conditions to the uterus (Greek *hystera*), though it affected men and women alike.
Now usually called functional or psychogenic blindness in clinical settings.
Psychological distress causing physical symptoms
- psychogenicCaused by the mind
- dissociationMental separation from surroundings
- repressionUnconscious blocking of thoughts
- unconsciousNot awake or aware
defense mechanism · somatization · psychoanalysis · Freudian · neurosis · psychodynamic · subconscious · emotional detachment
Diminished ability to see
- tunnel visionInability to see periphery
- blurred visionUnclear visual perception
- sudden onsetRapid unexpected beginning
- temporaryLimited in duration
reversible · transient · episodic · fluctuating · partial sight · visual field · nonpermanent · acute
Sudden intense fear episode
- fearEmotional response to threat
- phobiaPersistent irrational dread
- dreadIntense anticipatory fear
- nervousnessState of anxious unease
apprehension · hyperventilation · trepidation · unease · worry · angst · fight-or-flight · avoidance
Defeat by excess
- acute stressSudden severe psychological tension
- crisisDecisive dangerous moment
- emotional overloadExcessive feeling state
- burnoutChronic occupational depletion
breakdown · tension · distress · pressure · panic · meltdown · exhaustion · strain
Chronic reaction to horrific events
- flashbackInvoluntary past memory
- abuseCruel or violent treatment
- assaultViolent offensive act
- shockViolent sudden disturbance
survivor · victim · emotional pain · witnessing · combat · childhood trauma · repressed memory · dissociative
conversion disorder
Psychological distress causing physical symptoms
- psychogenicCaused by the mind
- dissociationMental separation from surroundings
- repressionUnconscious blocking of thoughts
unconscious · defense mechanism · somatization · psychoanalysis · Freudian · neurosis · psychodynamic · subconscious · emotional detachment · denial
vision loss
Diminished ability to see
- tunnel visionInability to see periphery
- blurred visionUnclear visual perception
- sudden onsetRapid unexpected beginning
temporary · reversible · transient · episodic · fluctuating · partial sight · visual field · nonpermanent · acute
panic attack
Sudden intense fear episode
nervousness · apprehension · hyperventilation · trepidation · unease · worry · angst · fight-or-flight · avoidance · terror
overwhelm
Defeat by excess
- acute stressSudden severe psychological tension
- crisisDecisive dangerous moment
- emotional overloadExcessive feeling state
burnout · breakdown · tension · distress · pressure · panic · meltdown · exhaustion · strain · agitation
PTSD
Chronic reaction to horrific events
shock · survivor · victim · emotional pain · witnessing · combat · childhood trauma · repressed memory · dissociative · trigger
- blindnesslow vision, vision loss, sightlessness, visual impairment, tunnel vision
- psychosomatic disordersconversion disorder, functional disorder, hypochondriasis, somatization, neurasthenia
hysterical, blindness, hysteria, hysterically, hysteric, hysterics, hysterectomy, blind, blindly