I Do Not Exaggerate Any Illnesses!

Quite frankly, I’m fed up with doctors and nurses thinking I’m exaggerating my symptoms because of my mental illnesses. I passed out in the morning on February 3, but I didn’t go to the ER until ten o’clock at night because I was still feeling so dizzy. They thought it might have been a stroke. Did all kinds of tests, no stroke.

They gave me a room because I was still so dizzy. So, I see the neurologist the next morning. He was insinuating that I was making up the tremor in my right arm, because at the time it wasn’t shaking as bad. I wanted to give him a few choice words, but I bit my tongue.

That type of response was the reason why I didn’t go to the ER right after I passed out. I knew there would be insinuations that I was making it up. People with mental illnesses (especially schizophrenia) are real people with real physical symptoms.

Exaggerate Definition

The term “exaggerate” means to represent something larger, better, worse, or more intense than it actually is. It involves overstating or amplifying the truth, often for dramatic effect, emphasis, or to make a point. For example, saying “I have a million things to do today” is an exaggeration to emphasize being busy.

Mental define

The word “mental” is all about the mind—our thoughts, emotions, and how we think. It covers things like mental health, mental effort, and mental abilities. For instance, “mental clarity” means clear thinking, and “mental health” focuses on our emotional and psychological well-being. It’s all about what’s going on in our heads!

Signs of a Mentally Unstable Person

Signs of mental instability can vary widely depending on the individual and the specific mental health condition. However, some common indicators might include:

Extreme Mood Swings: Sudden and intense changes in mood, such as going from very happy to very sad or angry without clear reason.
Withdrawal from Social Activities: Avoiding friends, family, or activities they once enjoyed.
Erratic Behavior: Acting impulsively, unpredictably, or in ways that seem out of character.
Difficulty Concentrating: Struggling to focus, make decisions, or complete tasks.
Excessive Anxiety or Worry: Constantly feeling nervous, fearful, or overwhelmed.
Changes in Sleep Patterns: Sleeping too much, too little, or experiencing frequent insomnia.
Delusions or Hallucinations: Believing things that aren’t true or seeing/hearing things that aren’t there.
Substance Abuse: Using drugs or alcohol as a way to cope with emotions or stress.
Self-Harm or Suicidal Thoughts: Engaging in self-injury or expressing thoughts of wanting to harm themselves.
Neglecting Personal Care: Ignoring hygiene, appearance, or basic self-care routines.

Blow Up

I am not mentally unstable. My meds are working just fine. I do not exaggerate my symptoms, so I can get sympathy. Or make sh*t up because I want attention. That’s what’s wrong with the world today, insinuating things that aren’t true.

Physical Disorder

My physical disorders are separate from my mental disorders. I may have a physical disorder caused by a med I take for one of my mental disorders, but that’s it. The two are not the same. Doctors nowadays mix the two of them up. No, I should say, when one mental person fakes an illness, not everyone with a mental illness does.

Fabricate Symptoms

I don’t fabricate symptoms because I’m bored. I have plenty of things to be grateful for, including my health. I’m on a good run of mental health, so why would I want to screw that up by pretending I have a physical illness?

I’ve been judged most of my life because of mental illness, and it’s got to stop. Just because there is one bad apple in the bunch doesn’t mean all of them are bad. Stop judging me! I don’t judge you if you have a physical illness. Why is mental illness any different?

Misrepresent

For those who exaggerate illnesses, stop it! I’m tired of being categorized in the same boat as you. The only thing we have in common is mental illness. I don’t fake illness to get attention. You misrepresent most of the people with mental illnesses.

Take your illnesses and drop off the face of the earth. You’re giving everyone with mental illness a bad rap. It’s like a disease within itself. Those in the medical profession deal with us on a daily basis. Too many claim to be “ill” and are found to be healthy, making the rest of us look like liars when we have physical ailments.

If you want attention, go cry to your psychiatrist or therapist. Don’t go to the hospital thinking you will get attention that way. Don’t waste their time. They have patients who are really sick and need their attention.

Wanting Attention Disorder

Distort The Symptoms

I don’t understand the need to distort the symptoms. It’s a waste of time and money. And you wonder why health costs are so high nowadays. Fake people pretending to be sick. I’m sorry, it makes my blood boil. The rest of us (mentally disabled) have to deal with the backlash.

So, I ask those who work in healthcare not to be judgemental in the beginning. There are those of us who are truly hurting or in need of medical attention. Then there are people like me who need medical care, but are weary of going because of the stigma of mental illness.

Stretch the Truth

Sometimes, people may exaggerate by making it appear they are sicker than they really are. No, you’re not stretching the truth, you’re flat out lying. There is a disorder called factitious disorder, where the person falsifies their symptoms to get attention from healthcare professionals.

Same as what I’m talking about here. This is such a hard subject to talk about, because I’m pissed that I keep having to deal with it every time I go to the hospital. Actually, it’s not only healthcare professionals, I’ve had to deal with cops who were prejudiced. One actually asked me why I still had my driver’s license after I was in an accident (wasn’t my fault). Just because I have a mental illness doesn’t mean I don’t know how to drive.

Person Who Likes Pain

I’m a person with a high tolerance for pain, so it doesn’t bother me too much. But to seek out pain, I don’t get it. Everyone likes some sort of attention, but to aggressively seek it is beyond me. You have a self-inflicted illness. Get help for it!

For those of us who have mental illness and are truly physically sick, don’t appreciate the assumption by certain doctors and nurses that we’re faking it. I’m sure it happens all over the world. They should teach this problem in med school. It is a problem because sometimes we mentally ill people don’t get the treatment we should get.

I will say when I went into the ER, the nurses treated me with respect and did every test to find out what was wrong with me. So to them, I say thank you. I appreciate your professionalism. It’s just certain doctors I have a beef with.

Diagnostic Challenges

I know there can be diagnostic challenges when trying to figure out the cause of an ailment. Especially to those that make it difficult when there is nothing wrong with them. It’s sad that health professionals have to figure out if you’re lying or not. That shouldn’t have to be part of their job.

So, how do they tell if you’re exaggerating or not? By asking lots of questions. Maybe the patient will trip up on one of them. I’ve even read that some mental patients years ago used to change information in their charts when they were alone. Pathetic!

I’ve been in and out of hospitals, both mental and medical, since I was a teenager. I’ve had mostly good doctors and nurses, but there have been a few over the years that really get under my skin. Thinking they know everything about everything, and you know nothing. That has to stop. Sometimes the patient is more insightful than the doctor.

Pathological Deception

Pathological deception, also called compulsive lying or pseudologia fantastica, is when someone lies frequently and compulsively. Unlike the occasional lies most of us tell (like avoiding trouble or sparing someone’s feelings), pathological lying is a habit that can become a deeply ingrained part of someone’s personality.

Key characteristics of pathological deception include:

Frequent and Persistent Lying: The individual lies regularly, even when the truth would suffice or when there’s no apparent reason to lie.
Elaborate and Convincing Lies: The lies are often detailed and may involve intricate stories or fabrications that seem believable.
Lack of Clear Motive: Unlike lies told for personal gain, pathological lies may not serve any obvious purpose, making them puzzling to others.
Difficulty Admitting the Truth: Pathological liars often struggle to admit their lies, even when confronted with evidence.
Impact on Relationships: This behavior can strain personal and professional relationships, as trust is repeatedly broken.

Pathological deception isn’t a standalone mental health diagnosis, but is often linked to psychological conditions like personality disorders (such as a person with narcissistic personality disorder or borderline personality disorder), low self-esteem, or past trauma. Treatment usually includes therapy to uncover the root causes and help the person build healthier ways to communicate, instead of exaggerating.

Medical Attention-Seeking

What drives people to seek medical attention? Are they missing something in their life that they absolutely want? Did their parents not nurture or give them attention when they were young? That would be the strongest reason why I would think why they’re seeking attention.

I have a secret to tell you. Well, it’s not necessary a secret, because I wrote about it in another post. Years back, I had fictitious disorder. Over the years, I grew up mentally into not seeking medical attention. This started when I was diagnosed with depression at the age of 16. I was immature and lonely, even at that age. I had no friends. Everyone had deserted me (literally).

So, I sought attention from the medical field and got it. For several years, it went on like that. When I was in my mid twenties, I learned to overcome it through therapy. So I know what it’s like to be on both sides of the coin. I wish I could take back all the wrong things I created, but now I abide by my rules of not seeking medical attention just because.

Behavioral Disorder

It’s a behavioral disorder that needs lots of therapy to overcome. I did it, I know others can do it too. I am more satisfied with my life today, knowing that I’m not lying to a doctor about my symptoms. That is a great feet for me. So for those of you who are still seeking medical attention through false symtoms, go seek help. Admit that you have a problem.

Life is so beautiful when you’re not wasting people’s time and money to satisfy your needs. There are many people out there who truly need medical help. Not only are you hurting them, but you’re also hurting yourself. Nobody will trust you anymore. Others stopped trusting me, and it took me a while to earn their trust back.

Sum It All Up

My subsequent trip to the ER led me to a hospital stay for two days. I went in because I thought I had a stroke, but the tests came back as negative. But still, the dizziness persisted. I woke up this morning to one of the worst panic attacks I’ve ever had. I was shaking and walking sideways.

This is not made up (like before), and my doctor can’t figure out where the dizziness is coming from. My difference in attitude is much stronger than years ago. It is stronger than ever thanks to therapy. I believe what I am feeling is truly happening to me. I just want to get to the bottom of it.

Yes, I was mad in the beginning of this post at people making up symptoms to make them appear they are sick. I understand it because of going through it, but I reiterate, you’re wasting time and money. So, STOP! Peace and always love. Until next time…