What about the women who feign mental illness in order to get?

Question

welfare and cheap apartments? I know a woman who is
paying $150 a month (through aid.) for an apt. She is totally
not mentally ill, maybe a little "slow" probably from alcoholic
parents.

Answer 1

If she were putting this on, why would you care with what little income and crumby apartment she gets? It is not worth the time and effort you are giving it.

Answer 2

Unless she told you straight out she was faking, there is no way you can know if she has a mental illness or not, unless she is holding down full time work for months on end or something. Even if she is partying a lot, that can be the mania part of bipolar disorder. People with mental illnesses HIDE THEIR ILLNESSES BECAUSE THEY FEAR WHAT OTHERS WILL THINK. A person can be very good at hiding symptoms, and only have breakdowns at home, especially if they are not working so they have long periods of time at home. People with a lower IQ are less able to cope with mental illnesses, so they are more likely to be declared disabled, as well. They are less able to benefit from counseling, and less able to work with the psychiatrist to find meds that will help, etc. etc.

I have very severe mental illness (bipolar, and it doesn't respond to meds after 15 years of trying), and if I didn't tell anyone, they would think I was fine. Maybe they think I'm a faker when I show up at the doctor's office with a Medicare card. I'm on the public dole, too, and desperately ashamed of it, but I honestly can't work. The stress (maybe the boss says you didn't do something right, or maybe a coworker is ajerk one day, or there are too many customers, or you break an expensive tool etc) is unbearable for people with certain mental disorders, and they can do better at home. In my case, I dwell on suicide for many hours of every day because I am in such despair, and likely will die by suicide eventually. But nobody knows about it unless I say, and I'm pretty sure no one can tell that I am depressed. If you put a smile on your face, people think that it is real. Most psych patients can fake their way right out of a mental hospital if they are desperate enough (I did, when I was in a very abusive institution due to suicidal type behavior).

It is awful when people fake disabilites, and some do. This just makes it harder for those who are truly sick. But in any particular case, there is no way to know if someone is faking or not. So try not to judge. I know that in my case, there are people judging me in this way because I'm so obviously competent mentally, but they just have no idea how bad mental illnesses can be, and how easily they are hidden by a person who is ashamed.

Answer 3

this is what keeps you up nights?
you admitted your self she is "slow"
so i guess her being a rocket scientist is not in her future
so what do i think about it ..i think she is not feigning a mental disorder from your own info