One of the Real Housewives in Atlanta (who is not actually a wife, but a mistress with a disastrous hair weave) pretended to have cancer. When asked by Bravo TV if it was true that she had cancer, she nodded slightly and put her head down sadly. She mainly put her head down to avoid further questions since it turned out she never had cancer and finally admitted that she had never had cancer. The blogs went crazy with the revelation.
A woman in Tennessee, Keele Maynor, was recently arrested for pretending to have breast cancer for several years. The charges are theft and forgery. She accepted cash donations from co-workers, as well as a total of 194 days of paid leave (these days were donated by her colleagues at the office of the City of Chattanooga where she was employed and were worth approximately $18,000).
Once caught, she resigned in December of 2008 but the charges were not filed until recently. The woman, now 38, claims she did have cancer years ago, but is not sure why she felt the need to lie and accept money and donations from co-workers and cancer support groups. She says she is seeing a therapist in order to try to figure out why she spent five years pretending to have the disease.
We spend so much of our lives trying to proactively stay healthy. We read about preventative care, get annual physicals and heave a sigh of relief when the good results come back. So why on earth would anyone actually pretend to have a serious illness?
Some do it simply for profit. Others have a disorder called Munchausen Syndrome - a mental condition whereby people feign illness in order to gain attention, or money or profit in some other way. The payoff is usually tremendous for the people faking the illness. They get a sympathetic ear, constant attention, gifts, cards, emails, money and the time and energy of medical professionals. An area where this syndrome is growing is the Internet. Support groups for people with hundreds of different diseases and conditions are easily accessible and the payoff is often just as good – and actual - as in real life. People have been sent checks, money orders, clothing and supplies, as well as endless on line hugs, emails, letters and attention.
No dummies are they! People who fake these illnesses are actually quite smart. They are well-read in the areas of their “conditions” and know how to talk the talk. They know how they should sound, feel and look. They use medical terms and go as far as to shave their heads and eyebrows to prove that they are receiving treatment. Even more disturbing – websites abound in helping people fake their diseases. The woman in Tennessee is not alone – instances of faking illness are common. A word of caution when joining forums online and offering support to those undergoing treatment for illness: don’t assume everyone on-line is telling the truth. Guard your wallet, your emotions and your privacy.
I was a member of a very well known parenting board once. A long time member broke the news that her young niece had died and she wanted flowers for the child’s grave. She was given about $200 from concerned members and several days later it emerged that there had never been a child – dead or otherwise. The member left the site immediately (or she may have returned as someone else) but had certainly gained much sympathy, attention and money with her lies. I didn’t donate, and never would under these circumstances, but can somewhat understand how first time or new mothers could be so despicably deceived. It was a hard lesson learned by all.
According to Dr. Marc D Feldman, an expert in factitious illnesses, there are signs on the Internet when someone is faking it:
1. the posts consistently duplicate material in other posts, in books, or on health-related websites;
2. the characteristics of the supposed illness emerge as caricatures;
3. near-fatal bouts of illness alternate with miraculous recoveries;
4. claims are fantastic, contradicted by subsequent posts, or flatly disproved;
5. there are continual dramatic events in the person's life, especially when other group members have become the focus of attention;
6. there is feigned blitheness about crises (e.g., going into septic shock) that will predictably attract immediate attention;
7. others apparently posting on behalf of the individual (e.g., family members, friends) have identical patterns of writing.
http://www.selfhelpmagazine.com/articles/chronic/faking.html
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Do you know someone who has faked illness for attention or profit? Do you use online forums for certain conditions or illnesses and feel that not everyone may be truthful about their health?
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Add a Comment98 Comments
plesae help me! my step daughter is forever faking,making things bigger than they are.....pointing out a scratch, bruise, bump, lump, mole...... she is driving me UP the wall. i have done everythign from telling her to shut the He!! up, soone one wants to hear taht $hit, to listening for HOURS and DAYS, to taking her get hot chocolate, denieng her doctor visits, running her all aroun to doctors. As a fibromyalgia patient, i understand this illness I have is one being faked, I NEVER complain about my pain. WHY! WHY would you want THIS kind of attention. For instance, someone told her to drink lots of water to flush out.... so whats she do- drinks till she feels bad, the Web Md's it to try to make it life threatning. This goes on and on and on and on and on and on ..... help anybody?
September 1, 2010 - 2:13pmThis Comment
Anon - Have you sought any help for yourself? It sounds like you are extremely frustrated and angry about this situation. There really is nothing we can do to change other people's behavior, the only one we can directly impact is our self. If your step daughter is old enough to drink legally then she is responsible for her own behavior, just as you are responsible for yours. Instead of making yourself sick trying to change her, have you tried finding ways to not let this get to you? Pat
September 1, 2010 - 5:45pmThis Comment
thanks pat. i actually have not in a professional manner. after looking through your other blogs it seems rather that it may be munchousen. i have taken her to doctors for everything including hypochondria. the solution, just what you said, counseling for me. I want to best for her, it seems like this syndrome is actually getting in the way of her exceeding and getting on with day to day activities. The excuse part of it anyway. She gets stuck on something for days. I try to distract the mood and do activities with only her to give her that "extra". It sometimes works for a little while. I am the closest to her and would NEVER let her know I am this frustrated with her, so thanks for letting me vent. She is my girl, but she makes me nuts too! :)
September 2, 2010 - 7:56amThis Comment
Anon, I'm so glad to hear you say that. I could tell you really, really needed to vent, and that the situation is getting to you, which isn't good for YOUR health and well-being. It has to be extra hard because, as you say, she's your girl...well, your baby still in many ways...and this isn't what you dreamed her life would be. Helping yourself will help you help her too in the long run...It's like when you're on a airplane and they ask those with children to fight their instincts and put the oxygen masks on themselves first so they can then help their kids. I hope that you find a great counselor and please feel free to come back anytime you need to talk about this, or you want to give us a progress report. Having an outlet to go to really can help. I wish all the best for both of you. Pat
September 2, 2010 - 5:07pmThis Comment
I have a co-worker who is constantly pretending to break bones or sprain things so she can get other people to do things for her. And then she'll come back to work 10 days later "miraculously healed". Yeah, whatever.
August 17, 2010 - 10:24amThis Comment
Hi idislikesean - It sounds like you've been bothered by this for quite some time and have given the situation a lot of thought.
The only person who can truly know why a person behaves a certain way is that individual - the rest of us can only guess and educate ourselves on what may be going on. If members of the family feel that the problems have escalated to the point that outside help is needed then it would be advisable to first get some professional help from a mental health counselor to learn how to best approach the problem with him in a supportive manner that could lead to behavioral change.
Only a medical professional who has the ability to do a proper diagnostic workup could tell you if he has an illness. To answer your question though, yes, there are disorders related to faking illness. These are called factitious disorders.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, factitious disorders are mental disorders in which a person acts as if he or she has a physical or mental illness when, in fact, he or she has consciously created his or her symptoms. (The name factitious comes from the Latin word for "artificial.")
People with factitious disorders deliberately create or exaggerate symptoms of an illness in several ways. They may lie about or mimic symptoms, hurt themselves to bring on symptoms, or alter diagnostic tests (such as contaminating a urine sample). People with factitious disorders have an inner need to be seen as ill or injured, but not to achieve a concrete benefit, such as a financial gain. People with factitious disorders are even willing to undergo painful or risky tests and operations in order to obtain the sympathy and special attention given to people who are truly ill.
Factitious disorders are considered mental illnesses because they are associated with severe emotional difficulties. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV), which is the standard reference book for recognized mental illnesses in the United States, organizes factitious disorders into four main types:
Factitious disorder with mostly psychological symptoms — As the description implies, people with this disorder mimic behavior that is typical of a mental illness, such as schizophrenia. They may appear confused, make absurd statements, and report hallucinations (the experience of sensing things that are not there; for example, hearing voices). Ganser syndrome, sometimes called prison psychosis, is a factitious disorder that was first observed in prisoners. People with Ganser syndrome have short-term episodes of bizarre behavior that appear similar to serious mental illnesses.
Factitious disorder with mostly physical symptoms — People with this disorder claim to have symptoms related to a physical illness--symptoms such as chest pain, stomach problems, or fever. This disorder is sometimes referred to as Munchausen syndrome, named for Baron von Munchausen, an 18th century German officer who was known for embellishing the stories of his life and experiences. NOTE: Although Munchausen syndrome most properly refers to a factitious disorder with physical symptoms, the term is sometimes used to refer to factitious disorders in general.
Factitious disorder with both psychological and physical symptoms — People with this disorder report symptoms of both physical and mental illness.
Factitious disorder not otherwise specified — This type includes a disorder called factitious disorder by proxy (also called Munchausen syndrome by proxy). People with this disorder produce or fabricate symptoms of illness in another person under their care. It most often occurs in mothers (although it can occur in fathers) who intentionally harm their children in order to receive attention. (The term "by proxy" means "through a substitute.")
You can find more information here: http://my.clevelandclinic.org/disorders/Factitious_Disorders/hic_An_Overview_of_Factitious_Disorders.aspx
Will you let us know what you decide to do? We wish you all the best. Pat
April 28, 2010 - 5:58pmThis Comment
Hi Pat.
April 29, 2010 - 11:04amThankyou for your information that you gave me.
He doesnt go to the extreme of doinjg urine tests, its just like he pretends to be ill when other people are getting more attention than himself.
Its been going on for over a year now & it really irritates me, because this is what stops me from liking him as he is meant to be my brother-in-law.
I don't know whether to get him to see a consultant or not, because I am feeling he will just use this for even more attention & play on it more often.
Thankyou.
This Comment
Hiii.
April 28, 2010 - 7:23amMy sister has had this boyfriend for some years now.
At first he seemed like an okay kinda person.
But now me & my mom have seen it all.
Her boyfriend loves faking illnesses/injuries. He said before that he had cancer & it got cured by paracetomal. How can paracetomal clear cancer? Im sure he would of been a millionaire if he had found the cure for cancer, right?
What we think triggered all this off was my moms friend had serious breast cancer so he obviously thought because she got attention, he could to?
He claimed to be a builder, which he did a job for his mate & his mate said basically he was crap at it. Sean was alone whilst doing the job, & apparently fell down 2 flights of stairs & got concussed, but yet still managed to ring the ambulance for himself. Whilst being taken to the hospital & been put in a head brace (still supposingly concussed) he managed to take a photo of himself in a head brace & braodcasted it all over facebook. Like im sure people that have been real concussed, arent all happy & jolly.
My nephews christening came on the 31st may last year & because my nephew was getting attention, sean thought he should have some sort of attention by saying he had a hole in his heart. This was never checked out by a doctor or anything.
One night sean had stayed at my sisters when I was there & went in the bathroom, then all we heard was a big bang, so my sister went in & there was sean lying on the floor. He got checked out by a paramedic & the paramedic said he was 100% fine. But when they had gone sean was determined that he had collapsed & fainted.
The other week, my sisters mates mom was getting married. The night before the big day & yet again sean needed more attention. So yet again he went into the bathroom where nobody could see him & then after 20minutes he came out & said he has just had a panic attack, whats there to panic about? Its not like he was the one getting married. An ambulance was called yet again, & once again the paramedic's said he was fine. After the paramedic had gone, Sean decided to tell the family about the supposing hole in the heart he had once said he had got. But why didn't he mention this to the paramedic's?
Is he just doing this for attention? Or has this got an illness name? Like a disorder for making up that your ill has a name?
Do you think he should see a specialist for this?
Thankyou.
This Comment
Sometimes, I feel the need to fake minor illnesses. I'm not sure why I do it, but it gets to the point where i sometimes believe I actually have it. And I have to remind myself I'm faking it. Its usually only headaches and bad colds and stuff, nothing big. Does that mean I have a disorder, or is it just an attention thing?
April 16, 2010 - 4:50pmThis Comment
Anon - What do you think it is? You clearly recognize that you're doing this. Have you done this your entire life, or is this something new? Have there been any serious problems in your life, perhaps a major loss, that triggered this behavior? When does it occur - every week or only after you haven't been around people for a while?
You're most likely the best person to answer your own question, just from thinking about some of the questions above. Does that make sense ? What are your thoughts now?
Hope this helps, Pat
April 16, 2010 - 5:19pmThis Comment