We explain what a mythomaniac is, the differences with a liar and their characteristics. Also, how to help a mythomaniac.
What is a mythomaniac?
Those who suffer from mythomania, pathological lying or fantastic pseudology are called mythomaniacs, that is, those those who suffer from a psychological condition that leads them to compulsively tell lies and uncontrollable, even when they receive no benefit from doing so.
The mythomania It was first described in 1898 by Anton Delbrück and comes from the Greek words mythos“story”, and mania“fury” or “madness”. Currently it is considered one of the possible symptoms of much more complex psychiatric or psychological problems, such as personality disorders or psychopathies.
A “normal” propensity to lie, that is, a lying person who is ethically questionable but sane, should not be confused with a mythomaniac. People suffering from this disease simply cannot not lie, and they do not do so sporadically, but constantly.
A mythomaniac does not lie for material gain, as in the case of people who lie for their benefit, but rather to satisfy impulsive behaviors motivated by alterations in brain chemistry, or as a defensive mechanism for people with a difficult mentality and problematic.
Characteristics of a mythomaniac
Mythomania, like people, can present itself in many different ways, but in general it is possible to recognize a mythomaniac because:
- The essentials: lie and exaggerate what they say very often even in situations where telling the truth would be more beneficial to them. The latter is very distinctive of the mythomaniac, since the liar simply seeks to benefit through a lie.
- adopt stories told by third parties and tell them as if they were their own or they distort them to adapt them to their life story.
- are addicted to the attention of others and in particular the possibility of surprising others with amazing, fantastic stories or unpredictable twists on what has been said, even when it borders on the incredible.
- Forget the lies told and they are incapable of sustaining the same version, so they alter it with each repetition or memory.
- may have insecure personalities and low self-esteem, which are hidden behind the created fantasy.
How to help a mythomaniac?
Mythomania is a complex problem that can have multiple roots and that requires professional psychological or even psychiatric assistance since it may just be a symptom of a deeper problem. So the ideal is that the mythomaniac can find a space of psychological trust in which he can begin the slow process of lowering his defenses and accepting reality.
To do this, exercises and techniques for confronting the truth are often used, through which the mythomaniac is convinced that he does not require lying to be accepted or loved by others, but quite the opposite. It rarely makes sense to confront them with their lies and confront them with reality in a hostile way because they will resort to new and new lies to shield themselves in a moment of vulnerability and exposure.
Continue with: Depression
References
- “Mythomania” on Wikipedia.
- “Mythomania: lying as a way of life” in El Prado Psiccologías (Spain).
- “Mythomania, a disorder based on lies” (video) on Noticieros Televisa (Mexico).
- “What is a mythomaniac and how to identify it?” (video) in Azteca Noticias (Mexico).
- “6 signs to discover a mythomaniac” in BioChile.cl.
