Mitomania: symptoms, causes and treatment of compulsive lying

Although probably your medical or clinical name tends not to sound so much, you probably know what disorder or obsession we are referring to when we talk to you that has a special relationship with the habit of lying habitually.

It was Psychiatry that brought the name of mythomania, consisting of the habit of lying constantly. That is to say, mythomania is a tendency of the character that leads the person who suffers it to constantly lie, creating invented fables (and believing them), and simulation.

What is mythomania?

Mythomania is the art of lying, it is a psychological disorder that disfigures reality by making others see things in a totally different way from what they really are.

The word mitomania comes from the Greek and the patient in this case lies for the simple reason of making his life more bearable hiding the truth behind the lies.

This disorder or psychological problem of lying is frequent and continued in people who suffer from it, since lying can be useful for socializing and hiding behind it some more serious problem such as personality disorders.

Types of mythomania

From a type of medical view, we can differentiate two types of mythomania:

Vanity mythomania: characterized by lies that tend to exaggerate the virtues or deeds of the person in question, such as acts of worship, love and intimate successes, almost athletic prowess ...
Perverse mythomania: aggressiveness and the need to harm another person, through false accusations, defamations, denunciations ... and even anonymous letters.

What are the characteristics of the mythomaniac or mythomaniac?

Lying constantly, becoming a habit.
He lies to manipulate and trap the people around him.
The mythomaniac person stops believing his own reality constructing one based on lies.
It has a tendency to disfigure reality.
It can become an aggressive or violent person.
It is a symptom of other types of psychological problems such as personality disorders, as people need affection and those who have a hyperthymic personality disorder.
Delusions of grandeur, pride, cold, calculating.

Although many psychologists already consider it as a disease, for others it is still a psychological disorder that simply hides another type of emotional, social or personal deficiencies.

Anyway, at the beginning you may not recognize a mythomaniac, but when you maintain a constant dialogue, he will not stop lying and will be unmasked by his own lies, so if you doubt that someone may be lying to you constantly, it may be that suffer from this type of disorder.

What are your symptoms?

Evidently, one of the Main symptoms of the mythomaniac person is the tendency to lie constantly, to invent "stories" and facts that have not happened, or that have happened but tend to magnify them for their own benefit.

You can simulate even physical or mental illnesses in order to be the center of attention and make your lies bigger.

We must bear in mind that, at first, the lie or simulation begins as a totally and absolutely conscious fact on the part of the mythomaniac person. However, with the passage of time, he tends to believe his own lies.

And the causes of mythomania?

Low self-esteem: above all people who do not accept how they are, tend to create a parallel reality, much more satisfactory.
Dissatisfaction: people who need admiration, affection and a lot of love.
Ambivalent behavior: a behavior is created that is not really real, not corresponding with the life of the person. For example, people who simulate a social position they do not have.
Weakness: very related to the low or lack of self-esteem, are usually people who do not accept.

How is it treated

The psychologist or psychiatrist will evaluate the person in order to find out what kind of mitomania he suffers. Since the patient may not be aware of his condition or even cheat the specialist, family help often helps a lot, especially when creating a medical history.

However, in order for the psychiatrist or psychologist to be useful, it is essential that the mythomaniac person be aware of and be willing to resolve those internal conflicts that have led him to that state. This article is published for informational purposes only. It can not and should not replace the consultation with a Psychologist. We advise you to consult your trusted Psychologist.