Apparent disorder is a very serious mental illness in which a person deliberately makes himself sick by physically harming himself or by making himself sick
The most common type of man-made disorder involves people who try to pass themselves off as injured or dying in order to receive medical attention. Signs of the perceived disorder can range from subtle (slight exaggeration of symptoms) to very severe (often called Munchausen syndrome).
Although it is possible for this disorder to develop without even knowing it, many people know what signs to look for in order to identify artificial conditions and avoid their development. Here are the five most important signs you need to be aware of.
- How people react to you. If your child or spouse has this condition, they may have the ability to change how others react to them. Their ability to alter the reactions of others is a sign that they are suffering from this disorder to some extent. People who try to mimic illness often use this skill to pretend they are okay. If the condition is severe, it is often accompanied by physical symptoms such as dizziness and loss of balance.
- Feelings of guilt – This is an extremely unpleasant feeling that people often associate with an artificial state. In fact, people with the condition often feel guilty and often try to convince others that they are really sick when in fact they are not.
- Feeling that they are not as healthy as they feel. Many people with artificial disease feel that they are not as healthy as they should be. It's possible that their symptoms could be caused by a number of different underlying problems, including dehydration, lack of sleep, low energy levels, and even poor nutrition.
- Signs of physical ailment – often people who develop this condition also suffer from pain and discomfort. Sometimes this pain or discomfort is so intense that people feel like they are having a heart attack or an asthma attack.
- Psychological signs – Some people may have difficulty concentrating, they may become depressed and may even become suicidal. These signs may be related to the factitious condition and they could be related to other mental disorders as well. However, if you suspect that your loved one is suffering from a factitious condition you should speak with a professional to determine if they are suffering from any other mental disorders and, if there is a reason that you think your loved one is acting out in an inappropriate way, take steps to get them help.
While these are the most common signs that you should be aware of, there are many more. However, you will want to remember that everyone suffers from some of these symptoms at one point or another.
As previously stated, the disorder may go untreated for many years before it gets treated. If this is the case, the symptoms may improve but will then return. It is very important to remember that while factitious disorders can be treated, the only way to ensure that your loved one is able to successfully treat their condition is by finding the underlying causes.
Once your loved one has been diagnosed with this disorder, you will want to find ways to change their behavior to make them less likely to engage in the behavior that causes the condition. One way to do this is by using positive reinforcement techniques such as praise and rewards when they behave appropriately.
Your loved one will also need to undergo treatment for their factitious disorder. This means that they will need to work closely with their medical doctor to develop a treatment plan that addresses all of their symptoms.
By doing this you can ensure that your loved one is well and that they will always be able to live a normal life. Remember, no matter how they seem to be feeling, they are still alive and are just suffering from a factitious disorder.