Angelina Villalva, NAMI Intern
When I was in fourth grade, I had a fight with someone in my class. It was pajama day, and I remember that the boy had made a comment about my polar bear shirt. Looking back now, it was barely something to get worked up over, but at the time I was absolutely crushed. Overcome with emotion, there was only one goal in my mind: go back home. So, like any little kid would, I lied. I told my teacher that I was feeling sick and needed to go to the nurse. Granted permission, I went in, feigned a severe stomach ache, and waited for my mom to be called to pick me up and get me out of there.
Iâm sure that many people have been in a similar situation to this, even as adults. Something upsets you, or gets in your way of something in your day, and suddenly youâre faced with two optionsâ you could either power through, or alternatively, find an escape. As a kid, maybe it was to get out of going to school (or in my case, staying in school). As a teenager, maybe it was a missed homework assignment or incomplete project. Now as an adult, I can tell you Iâve seen many cases of classmates whoâve clearly had a busy night, now left to deal with the consequences in the following morning (which also results in a poorly crafted email).
While most people can relate to experiencing moments of poor decision-making and needing to feign an illness or two, Iâm sure most of us would never imagine taking these lies and turning it into reality. For very few, it isnât enough to only state that theyâre ill. These individuals may lie, but also hurt themselves or others to garner special attention for problems that donât actually exist.
This is what is known as factitious disorders. There are two types of factitious disorders, factitious disorder imposed on self (formerly known as Munchausen syndrome) and factitious disorder imposed on another (formerly known as Munchausen syndrome by proxy).
Individuals with factitious disorder purposefully create symptoms of a condition to receive care, lying and faking whatever they need to in order to receive support and care. One of the most famous cases of a factitious disorder is the story of Gypsy-Rose Blanchard and her mother, Dee Dee.
For those unfamiliar, Gypsy-Rose grew up with her Mother, Dee Dee, who made severe false claims about Gypsy-Roseâs health for her whole life. These lies resulted in Gypsy-Rose not just being robbed of a normal life, but any control at all. She was forced to undergo surgical procedures and take medications for illnesses and issues that she didnât actually have.
Although never formally diagnosed in her lifetime, researchers have strong reason to suspect that Dee Dee had factitious disorder imposed on another. When compared to typical symptoms of those with factitious disorder, it becomes evident that Dee Dee exhibited numerous of these signs.
Typical Signs May Include:
- Hurt yourself or someone else in order to create symptoms of illness or injury
- Symptoms that occur only when youâre alone (or with a caregiver)Â
- New or additional symptoms after a healthcare provider tells you thereâs nothing wrong
- Conditions that get worse for no clear reason
- Visiting hospitals, clinics, and providersâ offices, even in different cities from your residency
- Inconsistent or missing medical historyÂ
- Extensive knowledge of medical terminology, illnesses, or hospital procedures
- Refusing to receive a psychological evaluation
- Refusing to have a healthcare professional meet or speak with previous providers
Factitious disorders are so dangerous in part because of how, at its core, it is pure deception. Individuals who have this disorder may not even acknowledge or realize that they have this issue, and will not acknowledge their lies despite clear evidence. It is extremely rare that anyone with this disorder properly acknowledges or understands the detriment of this disorder.
It is unclear what sparks the beginning of a factitious disorder. However, there are a few risk factors that may play a role in developing this condition:
- Abuse
- Neglect
- Trauma
- Frequent illnesses that affected you or a loved one
- Family dysfunction
- A lot of time spent in healthcare facilities
Because it is so hard to diagnose and furthermore for individuals to want to receive help, treatment is very unique and changes per case. The main focus of treatment, however, is to decrease harm (whether that be to self or victim). There may be a whole team of healthcare professionals assigned to help manage, in order to be very careful in taking care to not do unnecessary medical testing or treatment. Since factitious disorders are mostly related to psychological factors, it is very common that a psychologist or psychiatrist are assigned to help treat these individuals as well.
This disorder is an incredibly tricky one. In the case of Gypsy-Rose, her mother appeared to be the perfect caretaker. She loved her, and wanted her to be supported, and yet was the one who was in charge of all of her pain all along. Individuals who inflict this pain onto themselves are also those who crave something missing in their lives, whether that be physical and emotional needs or even something as simple as attention.
Regardless of anything, harming yourself or others is dangerous. It is absolutely important to be aware of these signs, as they can lead to only worse and worse outcomes for the recipient of the unnecessary treatments. Look out for yourself and others, and remember that despite what youâve gone through, it is never too late to begin anew and seek help.
Resources:
- Website intended to offer resources and support for families and others dealing with Factitious Disorders: https://www.munchausensupport.com/
- Munchausen Syndrome By Proxy: The Complete Guide â https://www.sandstonecare.com/blog/munchausen-syndrome-by-proxy/
- NAMI Mercer Helpline Phone Number: 609-799-8994 x17
- Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Text or call 988
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: Call 1-800-273-8255
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