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Hysterical: Why We Need to Talk About Women, Hormones, and Mental Health
A riveting exploration of the link between women's hormones and mental health--with advice, personal testimony, facts, and research creating a portrait of how hormones contribute to make up the "female animal"
Hysterical seeks to explore the connections between hormones and health, particularly in the frequent mood changes and mental health issues women typically chalk up to the influence of hormones.
Journalist Eleanor Morgan investigates the relationship between biochemistry, our bodies, and our mental health, including the context for this the historic culture of silence around women's bodies. As Morgan argues, we've gotten better at talking about mental health, but we still shy away from discussing periods, miscarriage, endometriosis, and menopause. That results in a lack of vital understanding for women, particularly as those processes are inextricably connected to our mental health; by exploring women's bodies in conjunction with our minds, Morgan urges for new thinking about our health.
Examining the mythology of female hormones, the ways that culture shapes our perceptions of women's bodies, and the latest medical research, Hysterical skillfully paints a portrait of the modern landscape of women and health--and shows us how to navigate stigma and misinformation.
Hysterical seeks to explore the connections between hormones and health, particularly in the frequent mood changes and mental health issues women typically chalk up to the influence of hormones.
Journalist Eleanor Morgan investigates the relationship between biochemistry, our bodies, and our mental health, including the context for this the historic culture of silence around women's bodies. As Morgan argues, we've gotten better at talking about mental health, but we still shy away from discussing periods, miscarriage, endometriosis, and menopause. That results in a lack of vital understanding for women, particularly as those processes are inextricably connected to our mental health; by exploring women's bodies in conjunction with our minds, Morgan urges for new thinking about our health.
Examining the mythology of female hormones, the ways that culture shapes our perceptions of women's bodies, and the latest medical research, Hysterical skillfully paints a portrait of the modern landscape of women and health--and shows us how to navigate stigma and misinformation.
288 pages, Paperback
Published August 27, 2019
24 people are currently reading
774 people want to read
About the author
Eleanor Morgan
16 books31 followersEleanor Morgan has written for a variety of publications including The Guardian, Times, Independent, GQ, Harper's Bazaar, The Believer and others. She also worked as a senior editor at Vice UK. Eleanor is the author of the book Anxiety for Beginners: A Personal Investigation. She is currently training to be a psychologist.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
October 21, 2019
This really wasn’t the book for me, mostly because I already know everything she seemed to be describing as surprising news no one ever told you. I think this is geared towards women who didn’t get proper sex Ed or didn’t do any science/psych courses in university? - and it’s great to reach out to those people and let them know all these things menstrual-related are normal if they don’t, but not really worth reading if you already know how your body works and are comfortable with being a woman.
August 30, 2019
This book is a thorough examination of the hormonal journey women experience throughout their lives from their first period to having babies to menopause, along with issues they experience along the way and how cultural perception continues to adversely affect women who need help understanding what’s going on in their bodies.
I found it an interesting read, though I didn’t feel that it offered up anything truly revolutionary. There is so much to be learned and researched on this subject! Sometimes the book went into great detail about certain scientific aspects—such as the menstrual cycle and how it works—and sometimes it offered more of a general overview.
Morgan talks a lot about her own personal journey: why she became interested in this field of study, all the issues she has experienced, how many doctors never really listened to her or ended up misdiagnosing her. So, parts of the book are heavily influenced by the journey she’s taken in uncovering information to help her.
Should women be defined by their hormonal cycles? In the end, I say no. But more consideration should be given to why and how that cycle can affect mental and physical health. This book is definitely worthy of reading, just to arm yourself with more knowledge about how your body works.
I found it an interesting read, though I didn’t feel that it offered up anything truly revolutionary. There is so much to be learned and researched on this subject! Sometimes the book went into great detail about certain scientific aspects—such as the menstrual cycle and how it works—and sometimes it offered more of a general overview.
Morgan talks a lot about her own personal journey: why she became interested in this field of study, all the issues she has experienced, how many doctors never really listened to her or ended up misdiagnosing her. So, parts of the book are heavily influenced by the journey she’s taken in uncovering information to help her.
Should women be defined by their hormonal cycles? In the end, I say no. But more consideration should be given to why and how that cycle can affect mental and physical health. This book is definitely worthy of reading, just to arm yourself with more knowledge about how your body works.
August 26, 2019
An appropriately info-heavy book that allows me to not only learn more about my body, but keeps me *wanting* to learn more and to take care of myself, coupled with the author’s humor and wit, makes this book so worthy of a listen to anyone (all genders welcome) who also has a ton of questions about the complexity that is the menstrual cycle.
January 8, 2020
I'm always looking for more books like this where the author presents an account of her own experience alongside specific scientific data showing how she was mistreated by doctors or in a greater sense, society as a whole, and pointing out how we can be better moving forward, believing women and people with uteruses about the truth of their pain and mental health.
June 27, 2021
This wasn’t what I expected it to be. I had hoped it would give concrete advice like, “if you have this specific mental health concern, you may have this certain hormonal imbalance.” It did not do that. Instead, it read like a high school biology textbook, describing to me how babies are made and what having your period is like.
May 4, 2022
Some interesting food for thought about how much of our bodies are impacted by the menstrual cycle. Lots of great points and questions for us to ask ourselves.
July 22, 2024
Your experiences are not universal.
September 4, 2019
Hysterical is a deep-dive exploration into the historical and current interpretation of hormones’ role in women’s mental health. It offers an amazing presentation of how our patriarchal medical system demonized hormone-related female anguish over the years (the word “hysterical” itself comes from the Greek word for womb “hystera” -- a la "hysterectomy" -- because it was thought to be caused by a disfunction of the uterus…so interesting..and sad...and thus only experienced by women...!).
Morgan presents her research to understand the menstrual cycle, her personal struggle with debilitating PMS and her journey to understand its causes. I was fascinated and appreciate being made aware of our culture’s continual negation of women’s personal emotional experiences. (Though menopause is mentioned, it is not tackled deeply.) The book would be particularly meaningful for women struggling to live with difficult PMS/PMDD or those very interested in women’s health and its history.
Morgan presents her research to understand the menstrual cycle, her personal struggle with debilitating PMS and her journey to understand its causes. I was fascinated and appreciate being made aware of our culture’s continual negation of women’s personal emotional experiences. (Though menopause is mentioned, it is not tackled deeply.) The book would be particularly meaningful for women struggling to live with difficult PMS/PMDD or those very interested in women’s health and its history.
July 15, 2019
This book represents the most thorough discussion around female hormonal cycles - and the resultant effects on the body - that I have ever read. I learned a huge amount about about PMS, and all the attendant side-effects in a scientific and comprehensive fashion, presented in a conversational and readable voice. I very much appreciated the consideration and discussion around the extent to which women are - and should be - defined by their hormonal cycles. I'd definitely recommend this for anyone who suffers with their periods, and the first chapter in particular should be required reading for all teens, male and female.
March 14, 2021
I listened to this as an audiobook, which was read by the author herself.
Not sure how I feel about this one. I knew about alot of what was in here, and wasn't at all surprised by how little women's health is taken seriously. The author does talk a lot about her own health and struggles within the health system and I'm more inclined to put this in the memoir genre for it if it weren't for the subject matter. I think hearing about her health struggle is important because not all women's health struggle is the same, but in a way I think she is lucky. Not because of her health issues, but because it seemed like a lot of her doctors were men and they actually tried helping her. I never have luck with male doctors even listening to me at all and was actually turned away at my last encounter for intense ovary pain on my right side, the doctor saying it was normal to feel "cramps" during menstruation. I've been menstruating for 2/3rds of my life at 30, I know if a cramp doesn't feel right. A month later a female doctor actually took the time to look me over and discovered I have fibroids on that side.
While the title says, "Why We Need to Talk About Women, Hormones, and Mental Health," I feel like everything was barely brushed upon. Like, yes, those things were covered, but nothing really significant stood out to me. Whenever I read books like these, I always question how the author thinks we can move forward, but unfortunately there wasn't much she was suggesting. I would love to know how to talk to my doctors to make sure they listen to me. Or how to make sure drug companies aren't just making sure their medicine works for men and completely disregarding women's reactions or side-effects. I can't take medication for my mental health because of the side-effects.
The one thing I was surprised to hear about was PMDD (Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder). I have done my own research on PMDD in the past, looking for answers about my own menstrual health. Very little is known or said about it, so I thought it would be interesting to hear her take, but I was again running into the problem of already knowing what she was saying.
Would I recommend this book? Actually, yes. I don't think this book is bad by any means, and in fact it may help a lot of women. It just didn't have what I wanted out of it. I do a lot of my own research on things like this, so it wasn't really for someone like me, but I will say it is nice to have a lot of that information in one place.
Not sure how I feel about this one. I knew about alot of what was in here, and wasn't at all surprised by how little women's health is taken seriously. The author does talk a lot about her own health and struggles within the health system and I'm more inclined to put this in the memoir genre for it if it weren't for the subject matter. I think hearing about her health struggle is important because not all women's health struggle is the same, but in a way I think she is lucky. Not because of her health issues, but because it seemed like a lot of her doctors were men and they actually tried helping her. I never have luck with male doctors even listening to me at all and was actually turned away at my last encounter for intense ovary pain on my right side, the doctor saying it was normal to feel "cramps" during menstruation. I've been menstruating for 2/3rds of my life at 30, I know if a cramp doesn't feel right. A month later a female doctor actually took the time to look me over and discovered I have fibroids on that side.
While the title says, "Why We Need to Talk About Women, Hormones, and Mental Health," I feel like everything was barely brushed upon. Like, yes, those things were covered, but nothing really significant stood out to me. Whenever I read books like these, I always question how the author thinks we can move forward, but unfortunately there wasn't much she was suggesting. I would love to know how to talk to my doctors to make sure they listen to me. Or how to make sure drug companies aren't just making sure their medicine works for men and completely disregarding women's reactions or side-effects. I can't take medication for my mental health because of the side-effects.
The one thing I was surprised to hear about was PMDD (Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder). I have done my own research on PMDD in the past, looking for answers about my own menstrual health. Very little is known or said about it, so I thought it would be interesting to hear her take, but I was again running into the problem of already knowing what she was saying.
Would I recommend this book? Actually, yes. I don't think this book is bad by any means, and in fact it may help a lot of women. It just didn't have what I wanted out of it. I do a lot of my own research on things like this, so it wasn't really for someone like me, but I will say it is nice to have a lot of that information in one place.
March 15, 2020
Both by analyzing an extensive collection of medical research and by exploring treatments firsthand, Morgan examines the link between mental health and hormones, and the stigmas that have historically accompanied women's bodies. Ultimately, she argues for abandoning the social construct of emotional stability and control, and instead accepting the inherent variability of emotions - embracing both the physical and mental "excess".
She writes, "Our truths, biological and emotional, have been derided, oppressed, and repackaged back to us as different kinds of pathology that we can, should, fix... We fear what our bodies do and what comes out of them because it all points to that terrible thing: excess. We are wriggling for vocal, bodily, emotional freedom in a world that doesn't really want to let us have it yet. But we have to keep wriggling."
This book was riveting, a captivating blend of evidence-based research with firsthand personal experience. Morgan explores various treatments for hormonal imbalance, such as nutritional food analysis and synthetic hormone replacement therapy, while also educating readers about female physiological and providing the historical context for public health systems' relationship with women. In the 1960s and prior, American wives could be institutionalized, for example, for wanting divorce. Ancient Greeks' treatment for the vaguely defined hysteria involved pelvic massage and clitoral stimulation. These historical facts are only just the start of a quick, easy-to-read journey into both the historical and present-day battle for female autonomy.
A standout tidbit, to me, was Morgan's exploration of progesterone's association with both PMS and the irritability associated with extended periods of hunger. If you have ever wondered what PMS irritability feels like, just think back on any times you've felt "hangry." Overall, this was a fascinating read, ideal for any person seeking to better understand the emotional variability of the human body.
She writes, "Our truths, biological and emotional, have been derided, oppressed, and repackaged back to us as different kinds of pathology that we can, should, fix... We fear what our bodies do and what comes out of them because it all points to that terrible thing: excess. We are wriggling for vocal, bodily, emotional freedom in a world that doesn't really want to let us have it yet. But we have to keep wriggling."
This book was riveting, a captivating blend of evidence-based research with firsthand personal experience. Morgan explores various treatments for hormonal imbalance, such as nutritional food analysis and synthetic hormone replacement therapy, while also educating readers about female physiological and providing the historical context for public health systems' relationship with women. In the 1960s and prior, American wives could be institutionalized, for example, for wanting divorce. Ancient Greeks' treatment for the vaguely defined hysteria involved pelvic massage and clitoral stimulation. These historical facts are only just the start of a quick, easy-to-read journey into both the historical and present-day battle for female autonomy.
A standout tidbit, to me, was Morgan's exploration of progesterone's association with both PMS and the irritability associated with extended periods of hunger. If you have ever wondered what PMS irritability feels like, just think back on any times you've felt "hangry." Overall, this was a fascinating read, ideal for any person seeking to better understand the emotional variability of the human body.
April 1, 2024
Wanted to like this book a lot more than I did. It kind of jumped from topic to topic without going too into depth for any (women’s health, me too, pop culture, periods, pleasure, mental illness….) Honestly found it really difficult to want to finish this.
There was also this 1 very weird paragraph on Jewish rituals for women on their periods and it was written in a tone that didn’t feel right with me. I don’t see the relevance of going into it this when the author was not informed enough to be writing about it and is kind of missing lots of context. Just felt like a weird jab at religion in general because that was the only mention of religion and there was a lot of other stuff she could have mentioned! This just kind of goes with the theme of the book feeling like the author is talking about a lot of stuff without necessarily having the background or have done the appropriate research to be writing about it.
Either way wanted to like this much more than I did sadly. If you want similar books there are so many better ones. Just didn’t feel well researched and I feel like the author really just wanted to talk about her own health problems (which is fine) but then write the book just about that instead of a hundred different topics you don’t know that much about. It went into just far too many sub-sections of women's health and I feel like I didn't gain much since none of the topics she mentioned felt like they went into that much depth.
Would not recommend. If you want to read about women's reproductive health would recommend "this is your brain on birth control" its so much better.
There was also this 1 very weird paragraph on Jewish rituals for women on their periods and it was written in a tone that didn’t feel right with me. I don’t see the relevance of going into it this when the author was not informed enough to be writing about it and is kind of missing lots of context. Just felt like a weird jab at religion in general because that was the only mention of religion and there was a lot of other stuff she could have mentioned! This just kind of goes with the theme of the book feeling like the author is talking about a lot of stuff without necessarily having the background or have done the appropriate research to be writing about it.
Either way wanted to like this much more than I did sadly. If you want similar books there are so many better ones. Just didn’t feel well researched and I feel like the author really just wanted to talk about her own health problems (which is fine) but then write the book just about that instead of a hundred different topics you don’t know that much about. It went into just far too many sub-sections of women's health and I feel like I didn't gain much since none of the topics she mentioned felt like they went into that much depth.
Would not recommend. If you want to read about women's reproductive health would recommend "this is your brain on birth control" its so much better.
September 5, 2019
I'm about two-thirds of the way through this book. which I thought would be an examination into the catchall word "hysterical" regarding women's ailments, reliability, trustworthiness, and other cultural phenomena. The author spends the first third of the book talking about her period. I felt after reading it that I could have given a lecture in women's hygiene in some junior high class. As I read it, I am less and less impressed with whatever cultural argument the author may be setting forth, but I am so grossed out by all the talk about "women's problems" that I'm not sure if I'll be able to finish it. Every time I open it, I am newly repulsed with information about her unfortunate body and its mysterious machinations that I may not finish it. I would say this book is not especially about hysteria as a cultural concept as it is about the author's fairly miserable health.
The research, however, is extensive and excellent.
The research, however, is extensive and excellent.
September 8, 2019
📚📚📚📚 1/2 (Libro.fm audiobook) Should be required reading for women of all ages to understand more about their bodies’ complex reproductive systems!
Morgan uses her own personal struggles with severe PMS and gastrointestinal issues to talk about the larger dysfunction in modern medicine and society in which women’s pain and fluctuating body cycles are disregarded, demonized or misunderstood, perhaps to serve the greater patriarchal goal of keeping us in place and under the control of men.
Taught me loads about my own body and how it functions within the 28-day cycle of menstruation and ovulation, plus Morgan’s plucky British narration keeps the narrative from getting too bogged down with medical terms and procedures. Definitely made me aware of the work we need to do to continue to be heard and understood better within the medical community.
Morgan uses her own personal struggles with severe PMS and gastrointestinal issues to talk about the larger dysfunction in modern medicine and society in which women’s pain and fluctuating body cycles are disregarded, demonized or misunderstood, perhaps to serve the greater patriarchal goal of keeping us in place and under the control of men.
Taught me loads about my own body and how it functions within the 28-day cycle of menstruation and ovulation, plus Morgan’s plucky British narration keeps the narrative from getting too bogged down with medical terms and procedures. Definitely made me aware of the work we need to do to continue to be heard and understood better within the medical community.
December 22, 2019
I found the book to be the first of it's kind, but the first part disappointed me simply because the author had to mention that she was a lesbian. Despite the interesting and useful information, I fear she has stigmatized her work by stating that and it's a true shame because the topic of hormones and mental health is not widely discussed even by doctors when it comes to women. It's always one or the other. It's always bothered me that most doctors and researchers don't widely accept that the two correlate. 🙁 Despite this, I think every woman or girl should read this at least once. It definitely made me feel a little less crazy about all the strange pms symptoms I have.
There is a paragraph about sensitivity that I truely love, and a scientific theory that was quite hilarious and interesting as it relates to reproductive behavior and success. Worth reading.
There is a paragraph about sensitivity that I truely love, and a scientific theory that was quite hilarious and interesting as it relates to reproductive behavior and success. Worth reading.
May 1, 2025
Concise and easily digestible. The author does an excellent job of shedding light on the history of intentional ignorance around women’s health and the impact this has on half the world’s population while putting on a clinic to help catch women up to speed on basic processes within their bodies. Unfortunately, in the last part of the book, she steps out of her well researched lane to speak more broadly about the DSM, borderline personality disorder and some other topics. She may have felt that she could address these topics since she had recently gotten a masters in psychology but the lack of comprehension is glaring the overreach should draw criticism as she risks spreading misinformation to support her beliefs. Worth the read but take with a grain of salt.
April 6, 2022
Overall this is more of a 3.5 star. I agree with other reviews that this covers the female biology that a lot of us had in middle school but goes deeper. I appreciated how she dived into taboo topics, shared witty stories throughout, and just made me feel seen as a female overall. Considering I was raised in a very conservative household where we didn’t speak of anything really, especially sex and anatomy, I really wish something like this was around. I think it would have really helped me grow up and be comfortable with my body.
May 23, 2022
It’s a bit slow to start if you know the biology behind how hormones work in the body, but the depth Morgan achieved in discussing mental health was so profound — I haven’t come across it in other books about women’s reproductive health or justice, and the book was so much richer for it. She tries to weave in her personal experience as a patient, walking through some trial and error that’s a bit disjointed and doesn’t follow the structured topics, but the thought was there. Despite that (and a need for titled sections), I still think this is a 5 ⭐️ read!
May 7, 2020
Eleanor Morgan not only talks about the general history of women's pain and suffering being dismissed by medical professionals, but her own experiences as well. Never has a book ever made me want to scream "YES THANK YOU FOR SAYING IT, THANK GOD I'M NOT ALONE" more than this one when it comes to describing the experience of being a woman desperately seeking medical treatment and being dismissed as an overreacting hormonal person.
September 18, 2019
Some helpful info in here and I liked parts of it. But 1. totally cisnormative 2. as a person with chronic PCOS I really quibble with the hammered home idea that naturopathy is useless or inherently misogynist — especially in a book that drives home the point that different treatments offer different kinds of relief for everyone’s unique hormonal makeup.
August 7, 2020
While a well-written and comprehensive guide to menstruation and women's health, definitely not the perspective I was interested in. I was hoping this book would be a more social-science oriented read, maybe social justice heavy. Instead, it was very scientific, and I found myself often lost in medical terms surrounding various hormones and conditions. That said, just my personal preference.
March 16, 2025
I was hoping for more from this book. The title made me think it might be funny in addition to being informative, but the author was not funny. I felt like it was just a long ramble of her many, many, doctor’s appointments to help with her PMS. I did learn some things about perimenopause and menopause, I have read other books that I found more interesting.
September 5, 2020
This book made me seen. I could never pinpoint the disconnect I felt with doctors until this book perfectly explained it. Most women have a complicated relationship with western medicine and it’s just nice to know I’m not alone with that.
August 22, 2022
This book often infuriated me, but it raised some questions and gave me information I still think about. Probably geared more towards people who don't have more than a very basic understanding of their menstrual cycle, but still interesting.
December 9, 2024
Nothing new here! One of the of the other reviews on here said that this would be geared more towards women that might not have had access to good sexual education & I have to second that statement. I just wish I had read that before buying lol
October 4, 2020
I only read about a hundred pages, but just could not find this book interesting, in fact, it was wearisome.
December 22, 2020
This was a wild ride! I got a lot out of it, but was surprised to find no mention of trans experiences or of medical racism in the book.
October 22, 2024
Different than what I was expecting. Lots of great information, but it is only a starting place for this subject. I will seek out more information on hormones and their link to mental health.
October 26, 2025
probably very healing for her but ??? girl i don’t really care about your pain cramps
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews