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Mythomania, also known as obsessive-compulsive lying, is a psychological disorder in which the person has a compulsive tendency to lie.
One of the great differences from the sporadic or traditional liar to the mythomaniac, is that in the first case, the person lies to gain or advantage in some situation, while the mythomancer lies in order to relieve some psychological pain. In this situation, the act of lying is to feel comfortable with one's life, to appear more interesting or to have matters that fit into a social group that the mythomancer does not feel capable of joining.
How to recognize a compulsive liar
To recognize this type of behavior, certain characteristics can be observed, such as:
- The healthy mythoman feels guilt or fear of the risk of being discovered;
- Stories tend to be either very happy or very sad;
- It counts large cases for no apparent reason or gain;
- Respond elaborately to quick questions;
- They make extremely detailed descriptions of the facts;
- Stories make you look like a hero or a victim;
- Different versions of the same stories.
All these reports aim to make the other believe in the social image that the mythoman seeks to achieve. Check out other tips on how to identify a liar.
What Causes Mythomania
The causes of mythomania are not fully understood, but it is known that there are numerous psychological and environmental factors involved in the issue. It is believed that low self-esteem and the desire to feel accepted and loved, in addition to trying to protect themselves from embarrassing situations, mark the beginning of mythomania.
What is the treatment for compulsive lying
The treatment of mythomania can be done through psychiatric and psychological sessions, where the professional who accompanies the case will help the person to understand what are the reasons that lead to the creation of lies. And so, by clarifying and understanding why this will arise, the patient can start changing habits.
Mythomania has a cure?
Mythomania is curable and can be achieved through proper treatment that depends on the person's commitment to the treatment and the support he receives. This is because like any disease that involves psychological factors, the environment is essential for the patient's improvement, so it is up to the person to identify which are the situations in which the will to introduce the lie is stronger, and try to move away from these scenarios.
Created by: Tua Saúde Editorial Team
Bibliography>
- NETO, Mario. Personality Disorders. Porto Alegre: Artmed, 2011. 10-353.
- BERGERET, Jean. Psychopathology. 7th ed. Porto Alegre: Artmed, 2007. 94-109.