I have a friend who is constantly complaining about irrational things, she always thinks that she's sick and the only thing she will talk about (besides the complaining) are her doctors. Is it possible that she has Munchausen Syndrome?
2007-02-05 07:13:13 · 8 answers · asked by Artemiseos 4 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Other - Diseases
I forgot to add that she deliberately causes harm to herself and tries to makes people think it's from some sort of physical ailment. She's always diagnosing herself with random diseases or conditions.
2007-02-05 07:14:38 · update #1
Munchausens isn't necessarily making someone else ill - if you make someone else ill, it's actually munchausens by proxy. I did a bit of research a while back because I'm convinced this girl displays symptoms of it - she's always in and out of hospital for something, but oddly enough seems fine the rest of the time. Plus she's a renowned liar anyway.
Your friend needs help, but are you positive that she doesn't have any of things she says she does? I wouldn't say abandon her - she's obviously troubled and needs your support. It could be Munchausens, but it could be something less complex like depression or an anxiety disorder. Obviously only a doctor would be able to assess her properly.
2007-02-05 21:45:34 · answer #1 · answered by tilly 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Sounds like some combination of hypochondriac and Munchhausen type symptoms. Suggest to her that she add a psychologist to her list of doctors. Offer to go with her if she does not want to go alone and/or really would like the attention of you going with her. The therapist may have some questions about her behavior that you are equipped to answer, being that you have a friendly relationship with her.
Munchhausen is a mental disorder in which you do yourself damage (generally make yourself ill) to attract attention and sympathy. Munchhausen by proxy is a similar mental disorder in which you do harm to a loved one (again, generally causing a lingering illness) to gain attention and sympathy. Hypochondria is a mental disorder in which you believe yourself to be ill when you are actually physically healthy.
2007-02-05 07:23:36 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
It's called your friend wants some attention, I would be honest with her and tell her straight up that everyone knows what she is doing and that she needs help.
2007-02-05 08:22:35 · answer #3 · answered by echc 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
"no name" is thinking of hypochondria. It DOES sound like she has that. But Munchhausen syndrome is where a parent deliberately makes their child ill to gain attention. Sick stuff. For more info I would go to Webmd.com
2007-02-05 07:25:05 · answer #4 · answered by ? 3 · 1⤊ 5⤋
http://search.yahoo.com/bin/search?fr=ybr_sbc&p=Munchausen%20syndrome
I had never heard of Munchausen syndrome, until you asked this question. I hope this link takes you to the information that you need.
Very interesting. Thanks!
2007-02-05 07:25:02 · answer #5 · answered by kayboff 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Yes, she has it. I hope she gets some help before she starts to hurt someone else for even more attention.
2007-02-05 07:21:41 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 4⤋
No - Munchausen is when you make someone else sick, like your kids, so you can take care of them. She is a hypochondriac.
2007-02-05 07:23:23 · answer #7 · answered by Go Bears! 6 · 1⤊ 7⤋
She's got it.
For your sanity, walk away. Find some other friends.
If you hang with her, she'll just get you down. Everytime you listen to her, she takes it as sympathy, so she'll just keep it up.
There are lots of people who are emotionally healthy. Find them,
2007-02-05 07:17:41 · answer #8 · answered by diannegoodwin@sbcglobal.net 7 · 1⤊ 4⤋