Listen Now: Hysterical
Listen Now: Hysterical
1Digest
The podcast "Hysterical" delves into a real-life medical mystery that unfolded in a New York high school in 2011. The story begins with a young woman's YouTube video detailing her strange neurological symptoms, including twitches, noises, and passing out. As her video gains attention, it reveals that other teenage girls at the same school are experiencing similar symptoms, leading to concerns about a potential contagious illness. The episode explores the vast number of rare diseases and the difficulty in diagnosing them, highlighting the fear and uncertainty associated with experiencing unexplained symptoms. The town's reaction to the outbreak is mixed, with some dismissing the symptoms as attention-seeking behavior while others are concerned about the potential for a contagious illness. The episode explores the emotional toll on the affected girls and their families, as well as the challenges of navigating a medical mystery. The episode concludes with the town grappling with the unknown cause of the illness and the potential for its spread, setting the stage for the investigation and the search for answers that will unfold in subsequent episodes.
Outlines
The Mystery Begins
The podcast "Hysterical" is introduced, focusing on a mysterious illness outbreak in a New York high school in 2011. The podcast explores the desire to be believed and the consequences of being told your illness is "all in your head."
The First Video and Symptoms
The episode begins with a young woman's YouTube video, detailing her strange neurological symptoms, including twitches, noises, and passing out. She seeks help and connection with others experiencing similar issues.
The Search for Diagnosis
The podcast explores the potential causes of the girl's symptoms, highlighting the vast number of rare diseases and the difficulty in diagnosing them. The episode emphasizes the fear and uncertainty associated with experiencing unexplained symptoms.
The Outbreak and Community Response
The girl's video gains attention, revealing that other teenage girls at the same high school are experiencing similar symptoms. The episode introduces the possibility of a contagious illness and the growing concern within the community. The episode highlights the town's reaction to the outbreak, with some dismissing the symptoms as attention-seeking behavior. The episode explores the emotional toll on the affected girls and their families, as well as the challenges of navigating a medical mystery.
Keywords
Hysterical
"Hysterical" is a podcast that explores a mysterious illness outbreak in a New York high school in 2011. The podcast delves into the desire to be believed and the consequences of being told your illness is "all in your head."
Mass Hysteria
Mass hysteria refers to a collective outbreak of unusual symptoms, often psychological or neurological, in a group of people. It is characterized by shared beliefs and anxieties, leading to widespread physical manifestations.
Salem Witch Trials
The Salem Witch Trials were a series of hearings and prosecutions of people accused of witchcraft in colonial Massachusetts between 1692 and 1693. The trials resulted in the deaths of 20 people, and are considered a prime example of mass hysteria.
Isaac Syndrome
Isaac syndrome is a rare neurological disorder characterized by involuntary muscle contractions and spasms, often affecting the limbs and face. It can be caused by various factors, including autoimmune disorders and medications.
Rare Diseases
Rare diseases are conditions that affect a small number of people, often making diagnosis and treatment challenging.
Medical Mystery
A medical mystery refers to a situation where the cause of an illness or condition is unknown, leading to uncertainty and difficulty in diagnosis and treatment.
Neurological Symptoms
Neurological symptoms refer to problems affecting the nervous system, such as twitches, spasms, seizures, and loss of sensation.
Contagious Illness
A contagious illness is a disease that can be spread from one person to another, often through contact with infected individuals or contaminated surfaces.
Q&A
What are the main symptoms experienced by the girls in the high school?
The girls experience a range of neurological symptoms, including twitches, noises, passing out, and involuntary movements. These symptoms are unexplained and cause significant distress.
What are some of the potential causes of the girls' symptoms?
The podcast explores various possibilities, including rare diseases, environmental factors, and mass hysteria. The episode highlights the difficulty in diagnosing and treating unexplained symptoms.
How does the town react to the outbreak?
The town's reaction is mixed, with some dismissing the symptoms as attention-seeking behavior while others are concerned about the potential for a contagious illness. The episode explores the challenges of navigating a medical mystery and the emotional toll on the affected individuals and their families.
Show Notes
Hysterical investigates a mysterious illness that spreads among a group of high school girls in upstate New York. What is causing their sudden, often violent symptoms? Is there something in the water or inside the school? Or is it “all in their head?” The series examines the outbreak in LeRoy, NY, believed by some to be the most severe case of mass hysteria since the Salem Witch Trials. In his search for answers, Dan Taberski (9/12, Missing Richard Simmons, Running from Cops) explores other seemingly inexplicable events of the last few years – CIA officers being crippled with nausea and vertigo; cops OD'ing from exposure to fentanyl – and discovers they’re far more connected than we realize.
From Wondery and Pineapple Street Studios, this 7-part series forces us to grapple with the mysteries of our own minds, and reckon with a contagion that we thought was long dead, but may be the defining disorder of our time.
Follow Hysterical on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. You can binge all episodes of Hysterical early and ad-free right now by joining Wondery+ at wondery.fm/Hysterical_FD.
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