Sometimes we exaggerate our illness a little to gain attention. But doing this regularly and frequently going to the hospital claiming to feel unreal symptoms is a psychological disorder called Munchausen syndrome. Let’s take a closer look at what Munchausen syndrome is.
You may have a slight cold or the flu, but you exaggerate the situation a little so that the people around you pay a little more attention to you or the boss will allow it more easily. Maybe, almost everyone has done it. Well, when there is no real disease, and even better than normal produce false symptoms, causing frequent rushes to the hospital Or how about getting people’s attention?
Munchausen syndrome, a psychological disorder that you can define as a kind of attention-seeking disease, points exactly to this situation. People with Munchausen syndrome exaggerate this condition so much that they end up tiring hospitals and paramedics. What is Munchausen syndrome, how did it get its name Let’s take a closer look at it.
What is Munchausen syndrome?
A person’s making himself sick first in order to get attention from his environment and then from official institutions such as hospitals, or even when he is not sick. claiming to have symptoms of illness The condition is called Munchausen syndrome. Munchausen syndrome is defined by experts as a psychological disorder.
More than just a patient coy or sweethearted for attention People with Munchausen syndrome They create this situation over and over again when they don’t get enough attention, and some even inflict physical harm on themselves to be credible.
The name Munchausen syndrome was first used in 1951 by Richard Alan John Asher. In this way, the evaluation of a group of patients who wandered from hospital to hospital and tried to gain attention by telling imaginary symptoms was made in this way. Munchausen syndrome, defined as a pathological form of lying, It can also be called a challenge to medicine by some experts.
Example of Munchausen syndrome:
A case of Munchausen syndrome recorded at Alberta Children’s Hospital illustrates how serious this condition is. A 12-year-old girl comes to the hospital. He’s had a stomachache, vomiting, and blood coming out of his mouth for two months, he said. Analyzes are made on the subject immediately.
According to the results of the analysis, no problem can be detected in the patient and it is decided to be observed. A nurse looking after this room during the service the patient bleeds by putting his finger in his nose, he realizes that he has accumulated this blood and makes it appear as if it has come from his mouth.
When this is explained to the patient The little girl completely denies this. Talking to her family reveals that she is an outcast at school, does not have many friends, and often fights with her mother. So he’s even willing to inflict physical pain on himself to get some attention.
Even more dangerous is Munchausen By Proxy Syndrome:
Munchausen syndrome is somewhat acceptable. After all, it is self-harm and requires psychological intervention. But Munchausen By Proxy Syndrome is much more than that and even much more scary. Because this is the disease of parents trying to attract attention through their children.
We’re not talking about pimply parents. We are talking about parents who go from hospital to hospital pretending their child is sick, or who claim to be sick by physically harming their child, even though there are no symptoms. such that Some of the parents with this syndrome have even been known to kill their children.
Munchausen By Proxy Syndrome, first reported in 1977, It is definitely considered as child abuse. Health workers have a great responsibility in this regard. Even when such a case is suspected, it should be reported immediately because if left untreated, it can lead to the death of the child.
Where does the name Munchausen syndrome come from?
Munchausen syndrome is named after an imaginary braggart character. Written by the German author Rudolf Erich Raspe and published in 1785 The German nobleman Baron Munchausen in Baron Münchausen’s Great Travels and Struggles in Russia gave his name to this syndrome.
Baron Munchausen, who participated in the 1735 – 1739 Ottoman – Russian – Austrian War, told these stories so well that the people doubted this situation after a while. In the end, all of these stories turned out to be pure lies. and Munchausen name has started to be used in many lying cases, especially in this syndrome.
Defined as a kind of attention-seeking disease What is Munchausen syndrome, where did the name come from? We answered frequently asked questions and talked about what you need to know about the subject. You can share your thoughts about Munchausen syndrome in the comments.