Could this be Munchausens Syndrome

[Sandy1964]

We have a friend whose daughter has stuck a knife into her abdomen four times and has done various other things to get what my husband and I believe is attention.  I know that I shouldn't pay too much attention to television but an episode of House dealt with Munchausen Disese as a Mental Illness.  This daughter has acted just like the person in the episode.  How do we get help for her if she does not believe she has a problem?  And could you send me some literature about Munchausen's.  I do not know where else to go for it.  My address is: Sandy Ayers, 7778 Wellesley Drive South, Indianapolis, IN 46219

[Amyjo101]

Actually Munchausen and Munchausen by Proxy are two different things one is where they make themselves look ill or have symptoms and one is where someone inflicts harm on someone in there care for the attention.



Munchausen syndrome is a psychiatric disorder in which those affected fake disease, illness, or psychological trauma in order to draw attention or sympathy to themselves. It is in a class of disorders known as factitious disorders which involve "illnesses" whose symptoms are either self-induced or falsified by the patient. It is also sometimes known as hospital addiction syndrome.

Munchausen by Proxy - Fabricated or induced illness (FII), or factitious disorders, originally and more commonly known as Munchausen syndrome or Munchausen syndrome by proxy (MSbP), are insidious disorders in which injury is deliberately and gradually inflicted upon a person usually for gaining attention[1] or some other benefit[2].

The caregiver is usually a parent, guardian, or spouse, and the victim is usually a child or vulnerable adult. Although cases with feigned or induced physical illness receive the most attention, it is also possible for a perpetrator who emotionally abuses a victim to simulate and fabricate conditions that appear to be psychiatric or genetic problems.[clarify]

[monkeyc]

Self Harm is not munchausens and munchasusens is not like its portrayed in the TV shows.

Self harm is serious, its not something for pop diagnosis - she needs to see a pdoc and get assessed - it may be she is acting out for attention - what makes you think its that?  Is she being ignored in the home?

Either way self harm at this level is indicative of something very wrong and if she does not get help sooner or later she is going to end up either seriously injuring (IE permanent long term damage to organs) or killing herself or perhaps someone else.

As Amjo101 said take her to a doctor or ER.

Diagnosis based on TV is crazy - my god most presentations of Bipolars on TV is so extreme as to be outright dishonest and contributes to the problems those of us with mental illnesses have living with it - it stigmatises illness rather than educating.

She's sick, get her help.

[Phtartist]

Munchausens Syndrome is when a parent makes her child ill in order for the parent to be needed and feel good about themselves.  The child is the victim, the child does not hurt themselves.

This person who is stabbing herself in the stomach needs psychiatric help and emergency help now!  

Wether it is for attention or not is not important, get her what she needs, which is help!

[Amyjo101]

Your on the internet... Not trying to be smart but why don't you look it up? Most of the information out there should be relatively up to date and factual.

But people who self injure are not necessarily looking for attention. There are multiple reasons and most of them do not appear rational to the people who are on the outside looking in. Has this person's mother not sought out mental health help for her daughter or is she too old for her to intervene? Sounds like she needs a straight out Psych evaluation. She can be taken to any ER, if she is actively inflicting harm upon herself. They may not be able to keep her but they are able to get a psychiatrist or psych nurse to evaluate her.

Just my two cents.