Saying you are physically unwell when really you are mentally or emotionally unwell?

[WhatInTheWorld76]

Is there a name for this? Is it a symptom of a disorder?

I'm not sure what you mean. Are you saying someone you knows is claiming they don't have a mental illness that they have been diagnosed with.
Or someone who doesn't want the world to know about their MH issues so lies and says they have a physical illness.

Munchausen's syndrome?

They could have physical symptoms and mental health problems.

I mean if as a result of anxiety, depression etc you dont say you have those things you just say how it affects you physically. So you would not say "I'm anxious about the dog" you would say "I've got tummy ache and butterflies in my stomach and I don't know why" for example.

So you dont say I'm worried or I'm paranoid or whatever you simply state the physical impact it has on you but claim to not know why. Is there a name for this?

Sometimes it is hard to know why you've got those symptoms.

Could be somatising, or alexithymia. Or fear of stigma.

Sometimes it's hard to tell the difference. I have chronic fatigue and insomnia, I have physical problems which can cause these symptoms, but also mental health problems.

How do I know which causes what? I can't tell. My GP can't tell either.

I know which has the greatest stigma attached though. I am far more open about my physical health issues.

It's not Munchausen's syndrome surely!!! Isn't that when you poison yourself or hurt yourself to get attention? Or other people? I'm not talking about hurting myself or other people here. I'll let that sink in.

I'm talking about not being honest that its mental health that's causing you to be unwell and blaming it on the physical symptoms when asked. Is there a name for that or is it part of of different diagnosis/ condition? Just to be clear - I'm not harming myself or others.

I think it's just called lying. I don't see an issue with it if it's not hurting anyone else to lie about it. Why do you do it? Worry about being sacked, or about people thinking you're weak? Just a preference that people don't know too much intimate detail about you? Unwillingness to admit to yourself that your mental health problems are a big deal?

Is this you? If the person is saying they don't know what is causing the feelings then why have you suggested they do? I don't understand your posts.

I'm sure it's very common for people to ring in sick to work and say they can't come in due to diarrhoea or a headache when really it's a mental health issue.
I know I've done it myself to avoid awkward questions.

I think a lot of people who suffer from anxiety and depression do this, I certainly did, because I didn't want to rehash over why I had anxiety or whatever so it is quicker and easier to just say, I feel a bit sick or lightheaded to remove yourself from the situation. I think people do it subconsciously because the person they are talking to doesn't believe in mental illness and only physical tangible symptoms will get you any sympathy or understanding from those people.

If I have physical symptoms I am open about, and an underlying MH condition causing them which I keep private, then I think that is fine. I don't think it is a problem in itself.

If I am bipolar and describe myself as twitchy or hyped up one day, and low the next, but don't tell anyone I have BPD that's ok. I suppose it would be different if I was in denial to myself... Didn't admit or recognise that my symptoms were the result of the disorder.

I'd call that straightforward lying - or obfuscation if I wanted to phrase it kindly. I think most people do that, don't they?

Me: (rubs head - got headache 'cos of all the worries)
Friend: What's up?
Me: Errrr.....headache.
Friend: Aww. Want some paracetamol?
Me: Ta :)

It's ok not to say what the actual worries are - it's not dishonest, I think.

Maybe they don't realise how their mental wellbeing impacts on their physical wellbeing and vice versa. It is her own choice if she doesn't want to tell people about her mental health, it's no one else's business.

She could be in denial. My nn is an alcoholic but doesn't link his physical symptoms being caused by alcohol abuse.

I don't think this is unusual or wrong. Anxiety and depression symptoms can and often do flare up for no apparent reason. It's not always immediately obvious that you're experiencing symptoms when they appear out of nowhere.

Thanks for the replies everyone. I think its part lying, part truth in a way.

Do you mean with other people?

In the past I have lied about the reason for time off sick, said am physically unwell with a tummy bug or whatever when actually am anxious or low, because I fear stigma discussing my MH with my line managers.

I might do the "headache" thing with friends and acquaintances too.

It's lying IMO, but lying can be OK sometimes.

I think it's called psychosomatic whatever (symptom?)

I think it's discretion.
I truthfully said I was late into work because I was sick in the night. But crippling anxiety and a panic attack made me throw up.

It doesn't help in the long term as it reinforces stigma I guess. But sometimes a 'cover story' helps you keep things private.

There are a lot of syndromes and disorders the medical profession have created with very little evidence behind them in order to diagnose what is more likely to be a mental health concern.

In your example I don't think you can guarantee the person is anxious about the dog if it's another person and not yourself. They may not know they are anxious about the dog or they may not actually be mentally anxious at all. How do you know they are lying?