Mythomania, uncovering the compulsive liar.

By Juan Moisés De La Serna

Sometimes we find ourselves with people who tell us something that then turns out to be not true, that may not stop being an anecdote, but when lies are constant, we may be before a mythomaniac, that is, a person who lies almost compulsively, also known as a pathological liar.
With this text you will learn what it is, how to differentiate it from other cases that show similar symptoms of lies and how to deal with this problem.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BadPress
• Release date: Aug 19, 2017
• ISBN: 9781507186923

Book preview

Preface

Sometimes we find ourselves in life with people who tell us something that then turns out to be not true, that may not stop it from being an anecdote, but when lies are constant, we may be before a mythomaniac, that is, a person who lies almost compulsively, also known as a pathological liar.

With this text you will learn what it is, how to differentiate it from other cases that show similar symptoms of lies and how to deal with this problem.

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Objective:

The objective of the book is to make known the problem of addiction to lies and its consequences both in the person who suffers and in those around him.

For this, the lie is analyzed, how it emerges and how to differentiate it from the pathology, recommendations are also given on how to treat such persons.

Everything is explained with a clear and simple language, away from the technicalities, explaining each concept, so that it can serve as a true guide.

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Recipients:

- Health professionals who have to face the attention of a pathology of this type, where the person usually does not want and can not stop lying.

- To couples and families who suffer the consequences of the constant lies of the mythomaniac, so that they know how to face this situation.

- Anyone interested in knowing how lying can affect life and what to do when it becomes a pathology.

The following are the main themes of this work:

- The origin of the lie:

There are different types of lies, depending on the goal or intention of the speaker, learn to distinguish them.

- The lie among the little ones:

Children learn to lie from a very young age, but for this they have to develop Mind Theory, find out what this theory is and when it arises.

- The lie in the third age:

Old people sometimes lie, knowing or unknowingly, discover how to differentiate it.

- The diagnosis of pathological lies, mythomania:

Learning to detect lies, and knowing when they have passed from the normal to the pathological is fundamental to be able to establish the timely diagnosis.

- Treatment of mythomania:

This section addresses one of the most controversial aspects of clinical intervention with mythomaniacs, since not all professionals share the idea that they can really help them to stop lying.

Things always in life, we have to hide

But never a lie, we should pronounce.

It's not one thing for another, the thing to say

Nor deceive anyone, if we intend to leave.

Pay attention, when we are talking

Because lying unintentionally, will add to the weighting.

What is lying? I wonder, is not telling the truth

Is to deceive others, telling them falsehoods.

And what do we get out of it?

But it is bad to do it, although we never think about it.

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A M O R

Index

Preface

Index

Acknowledgements

Chapter 1. What is mythomania?

Chapter 2. Symptoms of Mythomania

Chapter 3. Diagnosis of Myomania

Chapter 4. Treatment of Mythomania

Chapter 5. Tips for Preventing Mythomania

Chapter 6. University Foundation Behavior & Law

Chapter 7. Conclusions

Acknowledgements

I want to take advantage and thank all the people who have helped with their contributions in the realization of this text, especially to Dr. Bernardo Ruiz Victoria, director of the Victoria program on addiction treatment and Dr. Rafael López, Director of the University Foundation Behavior & Law.

Chapter 1. What is mythomania?

Mythomania, also called fantastic pseudology, refers to a psychological disorder, in which the affected person, called the mythomaniac or pathological liar, has a repetitive act of lying, which provides a series of immediate benefits, such as admiration or attention. It should be clarified that the term mythomania also has another meaning and refers to a tendency to admire exaggeratedly a person or thing, but here we will focus on the pathological aspect of its meaning.

From the clinical scope it has been treated as a special type of addiction, called conduct or behavioral addiction, where symptoms similar to addiction to substances, such as alcohol or tobacco, are felt, but in this case, it is an addiction to a determined behavior lying.

Unlike other addictions such as kleptomania, where compulsive theft occurs without seeking personal enrichment, in mythomania there may or may not exist to deceive or cheat, although the real purpose is to deform reality to tell a more striking personal story.

At first these narratives achieve their effect, captivating the listener, obtaining attention, respect and even admiration, which is what ultimately maintains this behavior, in addition to the fear of being discovered.

Even though the mythomaniac does everything possible not to be unmasked, when this happens and the false nature of their stories is verified, the mythomaniac obtains the opposite effect to the desired one, that is to say, his acquaintances and friends tend to reject him and isolate him by feeling cheated. Relatives who already know their tendency to lie, don’t take him into account when making decisions and do not pay much attention to what he tells.

Any of us can approach a stranger and tell aspects of his life