Mythomania involves an uncontrollable urge to lie and fabricate stories, often to portray oneself in a more flattering light. This challenging disorder is tough to treat, as individuals rarely acknowledge it.
Think about your last lie—was it yesterday or the day before? Maybe to explain a delay, skip lunch, or dodge discomfort? "Everyone lies," notes Michel Lejoyeux, professor of psychiatry and addictology at the University of Paris VII and head of departments in major Parisian hospitals. "These are social or utilitarian lies that serve a purpose."
But that doesn't make you a mythomaniac. First identified in the early 20th century by psychiatrist Ernest Dupré, mythomania reflects "a compulsive storytelling impulse—a repeated tendency to lie beyond mere utility," explains Prof. Lejoyeux. The mythomaniac lies for pleasure, consciously or not, to seem important. It's irresistible.
Picture an enviable career, exotic adventures, or star-studded encounters—the mythomaniac's stories are always larger-than-life, casting themselves as the hero. "Alcohol or drug issues often arise to self-soothe, alongside impulsive behaviors like theft," adds Prof. Lejoyeux.
Are they aware of fabricating? It varies—sometimes dimly so. This has led some to describe multiple personalities in mythomaniacs. It's fundamentally a personality trait, akin to being hysterical, seductive, or obsessive. "By definition, mythomaniacs aren't psychotic," clarifies Prof. Lejoyeux. "Reality isn't distorted; they don't hallucinate."
Experts propose various causes: emotional or sexual trauma prompting escape from reality; addiction to lying itself; or an insatiable need for attention.
Treatment is notoriously difficult since sufferers don't see themselves as ill and bristle at confrontation. "No one has ever consulted me saying, 'I'm a mythomaniac,'" shares Prof. Lejoyeux. "Directly addressing it is too confrontational." Instead, guide them to therapy via fallout like financial woes, legal troubles from theft, depression, or addictions—paving the way for psychiatric or psychological support.
