Question

Hello. I am new here. I have a question. I have just recently heard of this disorder. I am taking a Mental Health and Illness class in college and we discussed this disorder yesterday. While discussing it I began to think of my aunt and her son who seem to have a lot of the symptoms. But after reading the posts on this board I've realized that maybe they don't.

I'll tell you a little bit about both. I'll start with my aunt Patty. My aunt Patty has this probelm with telling lies..at least that is what I call it. Patty will go to my great aunts house and tell her how poor she is, how no one will help her out and she's all alone. Of course she isn't. She isn't poor she has money ( a lot of it) she isn't alone she is constantly getting help from myself and mom. Her great aunt knows this and knows that what she is saying isn't true but Patty keeps telling her these things. Patty lost her husband in a car accident 6years ago this June now everytime a man no matter how old or if he is single, or married questions her about how she is doing, or if she is seeing someone she takes it as they are asking her out and hitting on her.

Now Adam. I actually believe that Adam believes the lies he tells. It started when he was about 15 years. I live beside Patty and Adam. When he was 15 he start telling me these stories about how his buddies came over to his house and they went paint balling, dirt biking, cow tipping. I knew that wasn't true... I live beside him and know that no one was over there. I thought maybe he was just trying to cope with the death of his dad. However things didn't and hasn't changed. He is only getting worse. To the point that last weekend came over to the house and told me that he just heard on TV that there was a huge airplane crash and that Dale Earnheart Jr, Jeff Gordon, and several other big NASCAR drivers were killed. He tells me that he rides bulls and stay on for 8 mins at a time and that PBR is going to sign him on. I was just wondering if I could get some input on this.

Glad to hear someone is studying this. A full description of DD can be found at
http://www.psychologynet.org/delusion.html

As you will see, your relatives don't sound like they have DD. DD is very specific as to the subjects involved. They do sound like they have problems though, perhaps complusive lying? It is one of the disorders listed on this site.