Tag: mental-illness

Pathalogical Liars and Mental Disorders

On By LaetitiaIn Divorce, Family Concerns, Mental Health Disorders, Narcissistic Abuse, Relationship Matters, Slander, Gossip and LiesLeave a comment

By Kristina Robb-Dover

Everyone lies. It’s a part of life, for better or for worse. Some people find peace in white lies and don’t feel bad about occasionally avoiding the truth to spare a loved one’s feelings. Others, however, see lying, even major lies, as something completely inconsequential.

Pathological lying goes far beyond the standard lies most people tell. Pathological liars lie about all kinds of things, big and small, for seemingly no reason whatsoever. Individuals with this personality trait may lie about innocuous things, like weekend plans, or larger topics, like past experiences, work, schooling or relationships. This may seem like nothing more than an obnoxious personality trait — and in some cases, it is — but lying to this level can also be a symptom of a larger problem. When narcissistic pathological lying begins to interfere with someone’s personal life or the lives of those around them, it may be time to consider a conversation with a therapist or other trained mental health professional.

Defining Pathological Lying

Pathological lying is a behavior pattern in which individuals lie chronically or compulsively. Sometimes referred to as mythomania or pseudologia fantastica, pathological lying generally manifests as lying for lying’s sake. In some cases, individuals may lie to make themselves look better, but in others, they may have no good reason to lie or gain nothing from the act of lying. Being the friend or family member of a pathological liar can be very frustrating, as it’s hard to tell what’s a lie and what isn’t or when a liar can be trusted.

There may be biological drivers behind pathological lying. One study found that central nervous system behavior may influence a propensity for lying, and another found evidence of lying due to an imbalance in the hormone-cortisol ratio. However, due to the differences in the nature of lying and the purposes of lying from one individual to another, there’s not always clear logic behind when or why pathological lying occurs.

“Sometimes lying can be a coping response, often starting in childhood, for some psychological or personality issue that may not be at first visible, it is important to see past just dealing with the lying to uncover the cause,” shares Dr. Beau A. Nelson, DBH, LCSW, Chief Clinical Officer at FHE Health.

Mental Health Disorders

Mental health disorders can and do play a role in pathological lying and may be a contributing factor. In many instances, getting a diagnosis can be the first step to addressing chronic lying.

Determining the difference between lying for social or personal reasons and lying due to mental illness can be a challenge. However, there are often differences in the manifestation of lying in those with mental illnesses versus those who lie for other reasons. For example, there are links between mental illness and believing your own lies; liars with other motivations often don’t believe what they’re saying.

Some of the mental health disorders that cause or contribute to pathological lying include:

Narcissistic personality disorder. Also called NPD, narcissistic personality disorder manifests as arrogant and self-centered behavior with little regard for other people’s feelings. Narcissistic pathological liars may lie for attention, to make themselves feel better, to feel superior to others or to manipulate others for the purposes of self-gain.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder. Obsessive-compulsive disorder, or OCD, is a mental disorder that features intrusive thoughts and feelings, or obsessions, and a strong urge to perform certain behaviors, or compulsions. In some cases, there are ties between OCD and compulsive lying. Lying can be a true compulsion in a person with OCD experiences, or it can be a negative coping method.

Anxiety disorders. Anxiety can manifest in numerous ways, from acute episodes to more generalized anxiety. While pathological lying isn’t a defining feature of anxiety as it is with other disorders, such as NPD, anxiety and compulsive lying can sometimes go hand in hand. People with anxiety disorders may lie to protect themselves from anxiety triggers or to handle things like a fear of rejection.

Antisocial personality disorder. Antisocial personality disorder is a serious diagnosis that often involves manipulation and cruelty toward others for the sake of personal amusement. It’s often associated with psychopathy. Those with APD might compulsively lie to manipulate the people around them, hurt others’ feelings or otherwise cause harm.

Other Reasons for Pathological Lying

While pathological lying can be linked to mental health disorders, it isn’t always. There are numerous other reasons people may lie with abandon, including:

Insecurity. Some people feel very insecure about who they are and might lie in an effort to make themselves feel better or inflate their own sense of self-worth. Lying may also be a defense mechanism to prevent ridicule or social exclusion. Lying under these circumstances is often quite transparent.

Social status. For those who value social status, lying may be a way to maintain a reputation. For example, communities focused on looks or financial status may look down on behaviors they perceive as lesser. Participants in these kinds of communities, like country clubs or prestigious social organizations, may lie to fit in with their desired peers.

Humor. Though less common than other reasons, some people may lie often because they find it funny. They may not understand the frustrations that come with being lied to or may believe their lies are so egregious that no one would believe them.

Substance abuse. Many substance abusers have issues with honesty, but this is generally inspired by a desire to hide signs of abuse rather than lying for attention or sympathy.

Pathological lying can seem harmless, albeit annoying, but it may be the sign of a bigger problem. Compulsive lying can be a symptom of a mental health disorder or even substance abuse. If pathological lying is a problem in yourself or others, therapy can be a good place to start in getting to the bottom of an issue. Confronting another person about their lying can be challenging but may be a good way to bring a problem to light. When addressing a friend or loved one’s lying, be prepared with a plan, including examples of lies that have harmed relationships or other life circumstances.

How to Cope With a Pathological Liar

It can be challenging, even overwhelming, to maintain a close and trusting relationship with someone prone to pathological lying. The constant uncertainty and broken trust make it difficult to have such a person in your life. If the pathological liar is a close friend or family member or even a spouse, learning to cope with them is crucial to your own well-being.

First, it’s important to recognize that pathological lying is often a compulsion rather than a deliberate act of deceit. Much like a compulsive overeater who might not make a conscious choice to stuff themselves to the point of getting sick or causing health problems, the pathological liar probably isn’t choosing to intentionally spew falsehoods but is instead struggling with an overwhelming urge to fabricate.

You should also understand that pathological lying is usually not the underlying issue. Rather, it’s typically a symptom or manifestation of an underlying mental health condition. If you share a close relationship with someone who compulsively lies, consider gently encouraging them to seek professional help. If you can compel them to address the root cause of the issue, you can play an active role in their healing process.

Treatment for Pathological Lying

Because it isn’t a standalone medical condition, pathological lying doesn’t have a specific treatment. That said, it can often be treated by addressing the underlying mental health issue that causes it. For instance, if pathological lying is the result of a personality disorder, such as dissociative identity or borderline personality, treatments such as medication and cognitive behavioral therapy can make a major difference.

Getting help for mental health issues, including conditions that may lead to pathological lying, can be a critical step. Contact FHE Health today to learn more about our comprehensive treatment options.

FHE Rehab

Faking Mental Illness for Attention

On By LaetitiaIn Mental Health Disorders, Narcissistic Abuse, Slander, Gossip and LiesLeave a comment

….. can exacerbate existing stigmas.

Image – You Tube

Attention-seeking behaviour refers to actions or behaviours individuals engage in to gain the attention, validation, or sympathy of others. This can manifest in various ways, and sometimes individuals resort to falsely claiming to have a mental illness as a means to fulfil their need for attention.

Sometimes people who want others to notice them might tell big, made-up stories or make their experiences sound more exciting than they really are. They might make up things about their feelings and struggles with their mind, and the things they’ve been through, just to get more people interested in what they’re saying. When they receive attention or sympathy as a result, they might feel validated and encouraged to continue the behaviour. Positive responses from others can reinforce their belief that faking a mental illness is an effective way to gain the attention they desire.
Some people that experience boredom or satisfaction with their daily routine, falsely claiming a mental illness can introduce an element of excitement and unpredictability into their lives. Attention-seeking behaviour can provide a temporary break from the monotony and routine they might be experiencing.

When someone is doing things to get attention, it’s not always simple. It’s good to be kind and try to understand them. They might be doing this because they need something emotional that they’re not getting. Being there for them and connecting with them can help with these feelings.

We should also be careful not to mix up people who really need help with those who just want attention. It’s not good to ignore someone’s feelings without thinking about it. That can make things worse instead of better.

Avoiding responsibilities

Some people pretend to have a mental illness so they don’t have to do things they don’t want to do. They use the idea of being mentally unwell as an excuse to avoid tasks, responsibilities, or things they don’t like or find difficult.

Faking a mental illness might provide individuals with temporary relief from the pressures of their responsibilities. They might believe that claiming a mental health issue allows them to take a break or receive understanding from others, offering them a respite from their obligations. also can be used as a strategy to avoid accountability in cases where they’ve made mistakes or neglected their duties. Presenting themselves as mentally unwell can act as a temporary shield from repercussions.

When people make it seem like they’re really struggling mentally, they might hope that others will be nicer and more forgiving when they don’t do well at something. This can happen in places like school, work, or with friends or family. They think that if they act like they’re having a hard time, people will feel sorry for them and be more patient with their mistakes or problems.

Wanting to avoid responsibilities can also come from different reasons like being scared of failing, feeling not so good about oneself, wanting things to be easy, or not feeling motivated. Pretending to be mentally ill is a way to explain why they’re avoiding things, and they might think that doing this will make people feel bad for them and help them out.

Personal Gain

Sometimes, people might pretend to be mentally ill to get things for themselves. They might want special treatment, attention, or help that they wouldn’t get if they were honest. They might believe that acting like they have a mental illness will make people feel sorry for them and give them what they want.

One reason for this could be that they want others to notice and care about them. They might think that if they act like they’re struggling mentally, people will pay more attention to them and offer help. This attention could make them feel important and liked.

Another reason could be that they want to avoid doing things that are hard or not fun. By pretending to have a mental illness, they might hope to get out of tasks or responsibilities they don’t want to do. They think others will be more understanding and won’t make them do those things.

But even though this might seem like a good idea at first, it can cause problems in the long run. People might stop trusting them, and they could hurt their relationships with others. It’s better to be honest and find real ways to deal with challenges.

Manipulation

Manipulation is when someone tries to control or influence others in sneaky or unfair ways. It’s like trying to make people do what you want by using tricks or lies. People who manipulate might pretend to be your friend, but they’re really trying to get something from you.

One way manipulation can happen is by playing with your emotions. Someone might make you feel guilty or sad on purpose so that you’ll do what they ask. For example, they might say things like, “If you really cared about me, you would do this for me.” This makes you feel like you have to do what they want, even if it’s not right or fair.

Another way is by giving you compliments or being extra nice, but only when they want something. They might act really friendly and say nice things to make you like them and trust them. Then, when they need help or want you to do something, you might feel like you owe them because they were so nice before.

Sometimes, people who manipulate will twist the truth or make up stories to get sympathy. They might lie about being in a tough situation or having a hard time just to make you feel sorry for them. This can make you want to help them, even if they’re not being honest.

In the end, manipulation is not a good way to treat others. It can hurt your relationships and make people not trust you. It’s better to be honest and ask for things in a fair and respectful way. And if someone is trying to manipulate you, it’s okay to stand up for yourself and say no.

Stigmatisation of mental health

Stigmatising mental health means treating people with mental health problems unfairly because of misunderstandings and wrong ideas. This can make it hard for folks to ask for help and can lead to less understanding about mental health. One way this happens is when some people pretend to have a mental illness when they don’t really. This can make others believe wrong things about mental health and make it even harder for people who need help.

When people fake mental illnesses, it can make it tough for those who are really struggling. Others might not believe them or think they’re just pretending. This can make it lonely for people who need care and support.

Faking mental illnesses can also make real mental health problems look less serious. It can make others think these problems aren’t as important as physical health problems.

Stigmatising mental health can also stop people from talking about their feelings. When they’re worried others might judge them, they might not want to say what they’re going through. This means they might not ask for help when they need it.

To stop this, we need to be kind and learn about mental health. We can share real information to help people understand better. By being understanding and talking openly about mental health, we can make it easier for everyone to get the help and support they need.

Soufiane N. is a passionate writer and mental health advocate. Soufiane is the founder of The Mindful Messenger.

Psych Reg

Are There More Suicides at Christmas Time?

On By LaetitiaIn Bereavement and Grief, Divorce, Family Concerns, Mental Health Disorders, SuicideLeave a comment

The Seven Greatest Myths About Suicide Reviewed by Kaja Perina

Myth One – Suicide is very uncommon. False. In the US, nearly 30,000 people die by suicide each year, and the rate of attempted suicide is much higher—so much so that there is an estimated one attempted suicide per minute. Worldwide, suicide claims more deaths than accidents, homicides, and war combined. And many cases of suicide, particularly in the elderly, go completely undetected and unaccounted.

Myth Two – People often commit suicide for rational reasons. False. Psychiatrists believe that over 90 per cent of cases of suicide are not the result of a rational decision but of mental disorder. Suicidal ideation can be particularly intense in people with a mental disorder who are unmedicated or who are resistant to or non-compliant with their medication, and/or who are experiencing certain high risk symptoms such as delusions of persecution, delusions of control, delusions of jealousy, delusions of guilt, and commanding second-person auditory hallucinations (for example, a voice saying, ‘Take that knife and kill yourself’).

Myth Three – People are most likely to commit suicide around Christmas time. False. Contrary to popular belief, the suicide rate peaks in the springtime, not the wintertime. This is probably because the rebirth that marks springtime accentuates feelings of hopelessness in those already suffering with it. In contrast, around Christmas time most people with suicidal thoughts are offered some degree of protection by the proximity of their relatives and the prospect, at least in the Northern Hemisphere, of ‘things getting better from here’.

Myth Four – The suicide rate rises during times of economic depression and falls during times of economic boom. False. The suicide rate rises during times of economic depression and during times of economic boom, as people feel ‘left behind’ if every Tom, Dick, and Harry seems to be racing ahead. Although economists focus on the absolute size of salaries, several sociological studies have found that the effect of money on happiness results less from the things that money can buy (absolute income effect) than from comparing one’s income to that of one’s peers (relative income effect). This may explain the finding that people in developed countries such as the USA and the UK are no happier than 50 years ago; despite being considerably richer, healthier, and better travelled, they have only barely managed to ‘keep up with the Joneses’.

Myth Five – The suicide rate rises during times of war and strife. False. The suicide rate falls during times of national cohesion or coming together, such as during a war or its modern substitute, the international sporting tournament. During such times there is not only a feeling of ‘being in it together’, but also a sense of anticipation and curiosity as to what is going to happen next. For instance, a study looking at England and Wales found that the number of suicides reported for the month of September 2001 (in the aftermath of 9/11) was significantly lower than for any other month of that year, and lower than for any month of September in 22 years. According to the author of the study, these findings ‘support Durkheim’s theory that periods of external threat create group integration within society and lower the suicide rate through the impact on social cohesion’.

Myth Six – Suicide is always an act of individual despair and never a learned behavior. False. For example, the suicide rate rises after the depiction or prominent reporting of a suicide in the media. A suicide that is inspired by another suicide, either in the media or in real life, is sometimes referred to as a ‘copycat suicide’, and the phenomenon itself as the ‘Werther effect’. In 1774 the German polymath JW Goethe (1749–1832) published a novel called The Sorrows of Young Werther in which the fictional character of Werther shoots himself following an ill-fated romance. Within no time at all, young men from all over Europe began committing suicide using exactly the same method as Werther and the book had to be banned in several places. In some cases suicide can spread through an entire local community with one copycat suicide giving rise to the next, and so on. Such a ‘suicide contagion’ is most likely to occur in vulnerable population groups such as disaffected teenagers and people with a mental disorder.

Myth Seven – Someone who has been admitted to hospital is no longer at risk of committing suicide. False. Psychiatric in-patients are at an especially high risk of committing suicide despite the sometimes continuous care and supervision that they receive: every year in England, about 150 psychiatric in-patients commit suicide. The risk of suicide is also increased in medical and surgical in-patients in general hospitals. Medical and surgical in-patients suffering from illnesses that are terminal, that involve chronic (long-term) pain or disability, or that directly affect the brain are at an especially high risk of suicide. Examples of such illnesses include cancer, early-onset diabetes, stroke, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, and AIDS.

Psychology Today