Hysteria is both a memoir of author Katerina Bryant’s experience of illness and a historical account of four women whose lives have intersected with the idea of ‘hysteria’. The book looks at the strength of women who were not seen as themselves but as patients alone. Katerina examined the lives of these women, touched on the South Australian context and spoke to what it means to contextualise herself within this complex history. This public lecture was a part of the History Trust's Talking History series and a special event for Mental Health Week 2020. Katerina Bryant is a writer and PhD student based in South Australia. Her first book, Hysteria: A Memoir of Illness, Strength and Women’s Stories Throughout History (NewSouth), is out now.