Have you ever heard of mythomania? It is a pathological disorder whose main symptom is the tendency to fable, to transform reality or, in short, to lie compulsively.
In relationships, this disorder, suffered by one of the two members of the relationship, can have very negative consequences, which imply suffering and discomfort (especially for the partner of the mythomaniac).
In this article, in addition to explaining in more detail what this disorder consists of, We will know 6 effects of mythomania in relationships
Before delving into the effects of mythomania on relationships, let’s define what mythomania is. Mythomania (also called pathological lying or fantastic pseudology) consists of a behavior characterized by recurrent and compulsive lying
Generally, these types of lies (which are quite implausible, although they can be believed, as we will see later), provide some type of advantage or benefit to the person who tells them (for example attention, money, company, etc.) .
The term mythomania was first described in medical literature by the German psychiatrist Anton Delbrueck in 1989, and was later used by the French psychiatrist Ernest Dupré.
Although it is a controversial (and very complex) concept, the truth is that many experts in the field consider that in mythomania the invention of stories occurs unconsciously, and furthermore, these stories tend to be implausible and therefore , easy to refute. However, There are mythomaniac people who can lie intentionally
According to studies, in relation to prevalence, mythomania affects men and women equally.
Characteristics of mythomania
As we saw, in mythomania, invented events are usually events that are not very credible, that is, unlikely. This is because These are often stories that, although not true, have some real, true detail
On the other hand, they are very formulated lies, which leads one to think that the mythomaniac person thinks a lot about all the probabilities of the event when explaining it, as well as its circumstances, contextual characteristics, etc.
It must be clear that The mythomaniac’s lies are not delusions or another possible symptom of psychosis On the other hand, mythomaniacs can tell the truth if they are pressured a lot.
Why happens?
Why do mythomaniacs lie? To begin with, it must be clarified that Their tendency to tell lies is usually chronic or, at least, very long-lasting over time
Furthermore, lying is not caused by any social pressure or immediate trigger, but rather by a type of personality disturbance (for example a histrionic personality disorder), coupled with a lot of insecurity, low self-esteem and/or or need for care.
Through the lies, mythomaniacs usually tell stories that leave them in a good position or that make people around them pay much more attention to them (because they say they are seriously ill, for example).
Now, entering the field of love, we are going to see what the effects of mythomania can be on relationships.
The effects of mythomania on romantic relationships
What happens when one of the two members of the couple is a mythomaniac? The effects of mythomania on relationships can be very diverse, although what is clear is that the relationship can (and usually) be highly damaged. Here we have collected some of these effects:
The first effect of mythomania, whether or not within a relationship, is the appearance of conflicts. This occurs for several reasons; first of all, that lies are usually discovered sooner or later (as the saying goes “a liar is caught sooner than a lame person”), which ends up generating distrust in the couple.
On the other hand, stories explained that are not true can cause certain misunderstandings or confusion in the relationship, because at the end of the day they are implausible stories, which can make the person listening to them think that their partner is not really there. Well, she is confused, or may not even understand why to do that.
2. Distrust
Another effect of mythomania on relationships is, logically, the distrust already mentioned.
When we meet someone, and especially at the beginning, trust is essential; If they lie to us from the beginning and we discover it, the relationship will begin to be built from mistrust, which can be fatal, creating insecurities in one of the members of the couple, making them suffer, not believing in the relationship, etc.
3. Legal problems
If the mythomaniac’s problem is serious, legal problems may even arise that directly affect the couple. This can arise from multiple situations where lying is the protagonist.
These types of problems can arise, for example, with a lie that little by little has become bigger.
4. Dissatisfaction and discomfort
Mythomania also usually triggers a significant feeling of dissatisfaction and discomfort in the couple (that is, in both members of the couple).
This is because in the end, depending on the severity and frequency of the lies, the relationship (and the life of the mythomaniac) is being built on lies , so it is not an honest and sincere relationship. Thus, people who have relationships with a mythomaniac can suffer a lot.
5. Guilt
The next of the effects of mythomania on relationships is the guilt in the partner of the mythomaniac. As many times the mythomaniac explains stories where he appears as a victim, this can end up triggering a feeling of guilt in the partner, logically related to the type of stories he hears from his partner.
Besides, It is common for the stories to become more and more elaborate and serious so its direct effects can also be aggravated.
6. Breakup
Finally, the last of the possible effects of mythomania in couple relationships to highlight is the breakup (derived, in turn, from other points already mentioned).
The breakup can appear for various reasons: because the couple discovers their partner’s pathological lies, because they do not understand their behavior, because they feel betrayed, etc.
