Munchausen's syndrome and symptoms of the course of this pathology. This article will provide guidance on how to manage mimicking disorder in humans. Munchausen's syndrome is a mental anomaly, which consists in simulating various diseases to pseudo-patients. A person with a similar problem does not see deviations from the norm in their behavior. Over time, he becomes a regular visitor to many doctors and pharmacies, which is not an adequate existence in society.
Description and severity of Munchausen syndrome
With just the name of this phenomenon, the protagonist of the works of Rudolf Raspe is immediately remembered. The stories of the world famous liar inspired the English physician Richard Asher, who suggested his colleagues to use this formulation of the disease.
In medicine, there are many synonyms for this term, among which the most common are "operating maniac", "mimicking disorder", "occupational patient", "Munchausen neurosis" and "hospital addiction syndrome". However, the original version took root more in medical practice.
Munchausen syndrome is a condition in which a person is on the verge between manifestations of consciousness in the form of simulation and somatoform disorder. It should be noted that recently the decoding of this concept has become more specific, because such a disease is diagnosed in rather complex forms of its manifestation.
Such a disease can have varying degrees of severity of the course of changes in consciousness. In some cases, pathology takes on such monstrous forms that it is recorded in law enforcement agencies as a crime against the personality of another person.
Individual Munchausen syndrome
With this diagnosis, a person becomes a hostage to his own mania to be sick anytime, anywhere. He can pester with complaints from relatives and medical staff regarding his state of health. Systematic visits to doctors become the meaning of life for such people with obvious mental disabilities.
However, with this model of behavior, the imitator inflicts significant harm exclusively on himself. For those around him, he is not a dangerous person who must be urgently isolated in a special institution.
Delegated Munchausen syndrome
In this case, we will talk about some form of sadism, which can end very badly for the chosen victim. Delegated Munchausen syndrome is a serious pathology that is dangerous to the health and even the life of another person. It manifests itself in an uncontrollable desire to cure a relative with dubious drugs or in excess of their dosage. In some situations, such tyrants at home may not call doctors in a crisis with a loved one. They do all this with the aim of then being in a comfortable role for them as a victim.
Symptoms of delegated Munchausen syndrome in adults are manifested in bringing to a critical state one of the family members in order to then courageously rush to save him. In case of a fatal outcome, which happens quite often with such an attitude towards relatives, they begin to knock on all instances with complaints about medical killers.
Important! The second type of the described syndrome is a serious manifestation of personality deformation. Such people need to be treated by a psychiatrist in a hospital for a long time. They are especially dangerous for children and old people who cannot resist the actions of manic individuals.
Causes of Munchausen syndrome
If a person does not develop acute psychosis or schizophrenia, then the origins of this pathology should be sought in the following factors:
- Childhood psychotrauma … A change in consciousness can occur if a child grew up in a family with harsh parents. During the illness of their offspring, they did not pay due attention to him, which painfully wounded the fragile child's psyche. Once in the hospital, he could see a completely different attitude towards himself in the form of care and attention from the medical staff. The reverse side of the coin is a serious illness in childhood, during the treatment of which all the attention of the family was turned to the baby or adolescent. The child also suffers emotionally after sexual abuse, which can lead to the formation of the described pathology.
- Personality disorder … Infantilism and emotional immaturity are often the causes of Munchausen syndrome. Lack of self-esteem also triggers this mechanism when an adult loves to "cheer" and requires increased attention from loved ones.
- Hysteroid psyche … Hypochondriacs firmly believe that their body is the concentration of all existing diseases. People with Munchausen syndrome are also convincing in describing their pathologies, but in reality they are simply skillful imitators.
Manifestations of Munchausen syndrome in humans
People with such a problem can most often be identified by the following criteria:
- Artistry … It costs nothing for simulants to put on a colorful stage that will demonstrate their suffering from non-existent diseases. It is important for them that such a concert is seen by a large number of people. Very often, Munchausen's syndrome in children is accompanied by whole performances of one actor who does not want to go to kindergarten or school.
- Addiction to fantasy … Pathological liars love to inflate the problem of a universal scale from every little thing. They compose so convincingly that they are often trusted even by experienced doctors.
- Hysteria … If people do not respond to the fictitious problems of a person with Munchausen syndrome, then he begins to resent this. He brings his discontent to such a boiling point that it looks more like a frenzy.
- Intelligence … In order to come up with another diagnosis for yourself, you need to have mental abilities above average. The simulator of non-existent diseases is well versed in many diagnoses, memorizing in detail the complete information about them.
- Excellent education … The pseudo-sick often attended prestigious institutions. Psychologists even recorded the facts of the presence of Munchausen syndrome in graduates of medical schools.
- Infantilism … Unwillingness to take responsibility for their actions and plan for the future is a hallmark of people with this pathology. Psychological immaturity does not allow them to soberly assess their actions, which often lead to self-harm.
- Selfishness … Even with low self-esteem, the imitator believes that he exclusively needs universal attention to his person. Coming up with all sorts of diseases, he requires examination from the most famous doctors.
- Obsession … The medical record of such people is replete with various opinions from experts. With obvious symptoms of Munchausen's syndrome, an imaginary patient can for years seek to assign him the diagnosis he likes.
- Hypochondria … In this case, we will talk about the highest degree of manifestation of suspiciousness. A person of this type reads the medical literature every day and convinces himself of even unthinkable diseases. He is in a hurry to share this discovery with his closest circle and doctors.
- Masochism or sadism … With the already voiced delegated Munchausen syndrome, parents can bring physical harm to their child or elderly relative. With a tendency to masochism, they themselves are able to engage in self-harm, which is even expressed in cutting off fingers and making deep cuts.
- Resourcefulness … The symptoms of Munchausen syndrome in adults are often manifested in the fact that they do not want to voice their doctors. The reason for this behavior is the fear of being exposed in the eyes of relatives and friends.
Classification of Munchausen syndrome
In a narrower concept, this disease can be classified into the following categories:
- Laparotomophilia … With her, the simulator complains of sharp pains in the abdomen. At the same time, all the muscles in this part of the body are really tense, which can lead to a surgeon's decision to operate on an imaginary patient.
- Abnormal bleeding … Imitators with such tendencies constantly seek medical help. To do this, they use anticoagulants or injure themselves with sharp objects.
- Neurological symptom … With such a deviation from the norm, the eternal patient experiences paralysis, loss of consciousness and problems with coordination. All this is imitated in order to obtain a referral for brain surgery.
- Dermatological symptom … Those who like to visit the leatherworker's office cannot do without artificially creating purulent rashes and non-healing wounds on their bodies, even ulcers.
- Cardiac simulation … The ECG in this case does not reveal any deviations in the health of the imaginary patient. However, such persons are not discouraged and are looking for another cardiologist.
- Pulmonary symptom … Simulators of this type do not need to fake a persistent cough. They insist on the fact that chronic bronchitis or tuberculosis prevents them from living.
- Albatross syndrome … This pathology becomes a real headache for the attending physician of such a patient. The patient literally pursues the physician so that he once again prescribes a drug that has caused addiction.
Features of the treatment of Munchausen syndrome
Getting rid of this problem is difficult, because even with the prescribed therapy, the possessed person will try to coordinate the recommendations of the doctors.
Self-help when getting rid of the problem
People who decide to start their lives anew with their own strength must adhere to the following rules:
- Choosing one doctor … With this change in consciousness, it is not recommended to create a route map for a large number of specialists. Such a daily routine will not solve the problem, but will only aggravate its consequences. You should find a doctor who is sympathetic to the patient and has experience working with “non-standard” patients.
- Finding new friends … Life experience shows that a sociable person is the least susceptible to depression and manifestation of any mania. In this case, it is best to make acquaintances with optimists who, without fanaticism, monitor their physical condition.
- Finding a new hobby … You can distract from the desire to show your pain by doing an unusual thing. At the same time, you can choose knitting, modeling, drawing and even peculiar types of spending your leisure time. Recently, making sculptures from unusual objects (nails, tires and bottles), working with metal and many other modern manifestations of art have become very popular.
- Healthy lifestyle … In a strong body, as you know, there is a cheerful spirit. If you want to get rid of the habit of talking about non-existent diseases, you can purchase a subscription to the gym. In this case, at first, it is recommended to seek help from a trainer who professionally organizes joint classes.
- Volunteering … Passion for charitable and social activities will help the imitator to distract himself from the desire to once again feel sorry for himself. It is not necessary to devote the rest of your life to the voiced pastime, but throughout the year it is recommended to take care of those who need it.
- New pet … One lover of abdominal surgeries, which she performed 42 times, almost paid for her feigning life. She was taken from the edge of the abyss by a cat, the affection for which helped the woman get rid of Munchausen's syndrome.
Specialist advice in dealing with Munchausen syndrome
It should be remembered that this pathology cannot be dealt with solely on its own. It is necessary to organize joint work with a doctor as follows:
- Regular consultations … One conversation with Munchausen's syndrome is indispensable. At first, you should visit a doctor 2-3 times a week, reducing these visits over time to one session within 7 days.
- Family therapy by a specialist … People with this pathology very often do not have close contact with their relatives, because they are one hundred percent egoists. It's time to mend a relationship with them by offering to attend a doctor's consultation together.
- Psychological trainings … Initially, it is recommended to take part in those events where a large number of people are involved. A month after attending such trainings, you can look after yourself a small group, where people who are interesting in communication have gathered.
- Non-confrontational approach … The reverse method very often works effectively even in critical situations. One should respond to the patient's complaints with full readiness to help him. At the same time, it is necessary to stipulate that physiotherapy and massage will help with his ailment.
Attention! With a particularly severe form of this disease, hospitalization in a special institution may be required. In case of a threat to family members, the inadequate person must be isolated from the chosen victim. How to treat Munchausen syndrome - watch the video:
Treatment of Munchausen syndrome is not a momentary process. The main thing is to convey to the consciousness of the simulator that there is a serious problem in his life. This must be done with the utmost correctness, because imitators are often prone to outbursts of aggression towards themselves and their immediate surroundings.
