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INSIDE MUNCHAUSEN SYNDROME AND THE NEED TO BE SICK
SOME PEOPLE LET A SURGEON OPEN THEM UP
FOR A DISEASE THAT WAS NEVER THERE
WE CALL IT LYING AND ATTENTION SEEKING
THE TRUTH IS STRANGER THAN THAT
FAR SADDER TOO
WHAT LOOKS LIKE MANIPULATION
IS OFTEN A COMPULSION THEY CANNOT SWITCH OFF
THE SICK ROLE BECOMES THE ONLY PLACE THEY EVER FELT SAFE
WHAT THEY WANTED WAS NEVER SYMPATHY
IT WAS THE ONLY CARE THAT EVER FELT REAL
THIS IS THE SICKNESS THAT WAS NEVER THERE
THIS NEWSLETTER IS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. NOTHING IN THIS CONTENT CONSTITUTES MEDICAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL, OR PROFESSIONAL ADVICE. ALWAYS CONSULT A QUALIFIED HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONAL BEFORE MAKING ANY HEALTH RELATED DECISIONS
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OKAY LET US TALK ABOUT THE SICKNESS THAT WAS NEVER THERE 🩹
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WHY WE CALL IT LYING 🎭
THERE IS A NAME WE REACH FOR
WHEN SOMEONE FAKES AN ILLNESS
IT IS ALMOST ALWAYS AN INSULT
FAKER, MANIPULATOR, ATTENTION SEEKER, DRAMA QUEEN
WE TREAT IT AS A MORAL FAILING INSTEAD OF A MEDICAL ONE
MUNCHAUSEN SYNDROME IS THE SEVERE FORM
OF WHAT DOCTORS NOW CALL FACTITIOUS DISORDER
THE DSM 5 DEFINES IT AS FALSIFYING ILLNESS OR INJURING YOURSELF
WITH NO OBVIOUS REWARD WAITING
THERE IS NO PAYCHECK
NO ESCAPE FROM WORK
NOTHING THAT EXPLAINS IT
WHEN THE PAYOFF IS INVISIBLE WE ASSUME THE PERSON IS LYING
YET THE PAYOFF IS REAL
JUST NOT THE ONE WE EXPECT
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THE ONLY CARE THAT EVER FELT REAL 🩺
IN 1951 A SOCIOLOGIST NAMED TALCOTT PARSONS
DESCRIBED THE SICK ROLE
WHEN YOU ARE SICK SOCIETY QUIETLY CHANGES THE RULES
EXEMPTION ☁︎ YOU ARE RELEASED FROM WORK AND CHORES
INNOCENCE ☁︎ NO ONE BLAMES YOU FOR BEING WEAK
ATTENTION ☁︎ PEOPLE MOVE TOWARD YOU NOT AWAY
FOR MOST OF US THAT CARE IS A SHORT DETOUR
ON THE WAY BACK TO HEALTH
TO SOMEONE WHO GREW UP WITHOUT SAFETY
IT CAN FEEL LIKE THE FIRST WARM ROOM THEY EVER ENTERED
THAT SICK ROLE BECOMES THE ONE PLACE THEY ARE HELD
WITHOUT HAVING TO EARN IT
GIVING IT UP DOES NOT FEEL INCONVENIENT
IT FEELS LIKE LOSING THE ONLY LOVE THEY EVER KNEW
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A COMPULSION, NOT A CON 🧠
A CON ARTIST STOPS
THE MOMENT THE PRIZE IS GONE
FACTITIOUS DISORDER KEEPS GOING
EVEN AS THE PERSON LOSES EVERYTHING
THE SEVERE FORM GOES FURTHER
SOME INJECT THEMSELVES WITH BACTERIA
OTHERS SWALLOW OBJECTS
OR REOPEN WOUNDS SO NOTHING HEALS
SOME SIT THROUGH OPERATION AFTER OPERATION
FOR PROBLEMS THAT DO NOT EXIST
THIS IS NOT SOMEONE CHASING A SMALL ADVANTAGE
IT IS SOMEONE WHO CANNOT LET GO
OF THE ONE IDENTITY THAT EVER FELT SAFE
CALLING IT LYING DESCRIBES WHAT THEY DID
NAMING THE COMPULSION BEGINS TO EXPLAIN WHY
WHAT THEY PERFORM IS A FAKE SICKNESS
THE PAIN UNDERNEATH IT IS REAL
