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Topic : 10/11 Munchausen Mom

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Created on : Friday, October 05, 2007, 11:28:17 am

Author : DrPhilBoard1

Dr. Phil takes a look at the unthinkable: making your own child sick to fulfill a disturbing need to get medicine, sympathy and attention. The idea might sound unimaginable, but for people with a psychological disorder called Munchausen by Proxy, it’s irresistible. First, see disturbing footage of parents caught on tape actually causing harm to their children. Then, Dr. Phil looks into the mind of one woman, Tracy, convicted of trying to harm her youngest daughter by constantly keeping her sick. Hear from Tracy's oldest daughter, Heather, who survived years of her mother’s abuse. She says her mom forced her into a wheelchair unnecessarily, took her to almost 400 medical visits, and caused her to spend over 100 days of her life in hospital beds -- needlessly. Most disturbing of all is the secret Heather revealed to police about what her mother buried in their back yard. When Dr. Phil makes a phone call to Tracy in prison, will she acknowledge the problem with her parenting? And could she be preparing to have another child? Hear Dr. Phil’s strong words for this Munchausen mom. Plus, how are Tracy’s children doing now that she is out of their lives? Note: Viewer discretion is advised. Join the discussion.

Find out what happened on the show.

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momxpress

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October 12, 2007, 5:43 pm PDT

I agree

Quote From: frankiemn

The Munchausen syndrome show was truly shocking. I wonder how many
thousands of viewers called Children's Protective Services to rat out their
friends and neighbors. The "warning signs" for MSBP are pretty broad
and almost any concerned parent with a sick child could be suspect.
While the MSBP is horrific Dr. Phil almost makes it sound like there's
Munchausen mom on every block. And just like the postings on this
message board are proving, now people are second-guessing their
mothers, daughters and even themselves. Its one thing to be informed
& aware but making false accusations based on the hunch could be
almost as damaging. Leave the diagnostics to the experts, who by the
way aren't in complete agreement either. By their criteria the mom
profiled on the show was atypical. She wouldn't have had secret
pregnancies or buried an infant. She would have milked every medical
condition and even the infant death for every bit of attention and
sympathy she could.

I have to say the definitions by the expert Dr. Librow were incredibly broad and encompassed most parents of children with special needs.

“Some 85 to 95 percent of the people engaged in this are mothers, unfortunately,” says Dr. Libow. "They tend to be very good imposters at looking like the ideal parent. They impress people often in healthcare centers in terms of being devoted to their children.

Really? it's 85 to 95% of the time the mother's who provide the primary care to the children so it's not surprising they're they ones taking children for care. I don't know of any mother's who's children have a prolonged disability who don't know the terminology or develop a relationship or show gratitude to care providers.

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lovedrphil10

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October 12, 2007, 5:47 pm PDT

UNBELIEVABLE!

Quote From: anon_slc

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is a psychological disorder characterized by pervasive instability in moods, interpersonal relationships, self-image, and behavior. This instability often disrupts family and work life, long-term planning, and the individual's sense of self-identity.

While less known than schizophrenia or bipolar disorder (manic-depressive illness), BPD is more common, affecting 2% of adults (1-33), mostly females. Some of my favorite books that provide a great introduction and insight are:

Emotional Blackmail: When the People in Your Life Use Fear, Obligation and Guilt to Manipulate You by Susan Forward OR Why is it Always About You? The Seven Deadly Sins of Narcissism by Sandy Hotchkiss

Sickened: The Memoir of a Munchausen by Proxy Childhood by Julie Gregory OR The Psychology of Female Violence: Crimes Against the Body by Anna Motz MAYBE Whatever Mother Says by Wensley Clarkson

Understanding the Borderline (Parent) Mother: Helping Her Children Transcend the Intense, Unpredictable and Volatile Relationship by Christine Ann Lawson

Stop Walking on Eggshells: Taking Your Life Back...by Paul Mason and Randi Kreger OR Surviving a Borderline Parent: How to Heal Your Childhood Wounds & Build Trust, Boundaries and Self-Esteem by Kimberlee Roth and Freda Friedman

How to Journal for Therapy:

http://arar.essortment.com/therapyjournali_repu.htm

Some of the story is typical: early family conflicts, abusive relationships, feelings of insecurity contributing to destructive behaviors such as cruelty, manipulations, rage attacks, revenge, promiscuity, addictions, self-abuse, and eating disorders. The extreme behaviors of BPD constitute the high drama in the stories of those who endure its ravages.

There are relationships, marriages and families that are so destructive the only option is for a person to get out. Get out with the little bit of sanity you may have remaining. As painful as it may be, make a promise to yourself to leave. Leave so you can begin a life of healing and recovery. Leave so you can learn how to live a joyful, peaceful, supportive and fulfilling life.

Hope it helps!

I am the parent of two wonderful children. I think this woman should have the same thing done to her. Forget getting her some help! She should be forced to have a feeding tube inserted through her nose and after she endures all the same torture, she should be buried alive. I think scum like her should be removed from this earth. Thank god the children has people who care about them and they are now ok. Except the precious darling who is now without a chance at life because of a deranged psychopath!

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ninaritchi

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October 12, 2007, 6:38 pm PDT

October 11, 2007 program

Where on earth was the father of these children? There was no mention of him, or them, at all!!

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lyndajinut

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October 12, 2007, 6:45 pm PDT

Question about this syndrome

Does anyone know if there are other symptoms of this disease, such as lying, but not necessarily hurting a child physically...but maybe emotionally because of the things she says? I have read a few things about this syndrome, and some of it reminds me of my husbands ex-wife who has lied about him being the father of 2 of his kids. She contacts her Police officer friends to harass us, makes up huge stories about us...which everyone believes. We are kept away from the kids, we can't call out there, and the sad part...is we are forced to lie about this situation.

Does anyone know anyone who I could contact about this...or speak to someone about the possibility this might be something she has? Any help is GREATLY appreciated. We have no family support whatsoever, can't contact 2 girls...and get lied about all the time. We have tried to contact the Office of Recovery Services place in the state we live in...but because of a law in the State of Utah...if a man is married to a woman, and she has multiple affairs...gets pregnant with someone else's child...the man that she is married to is the man who will pay financially, emotionally, physically and all other ways because of this law. So, bend over men in Utah, cause if your woman goes out and has an affair, gets pregnant...YOU get to pay the price for HER affairs.

Lynda in Utah

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luveyes

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October 12, 2007, 7:30 pm PDT

munchausen

i need to know how to handle a case of this sort. my godson is 7 and his mother takes him from doctor to therapist to try and find something wrong with him. at this time he is on 7 kinds of meds. add, sleep disorder, possible seizure meds, etc. he sleeps very well when he is here everyother weekend and at his fathers. he is so wired with all the pills he is having problems in school. what do i do? she keeps his doctors names a secret and tells no one what is going on. help, please.

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truth2behold

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October 12, 2007, 8:51 pm PDT

me too

Quote From: rphillips

What about the mom's that are wrongly accused of this so-called disorder? My best friend has been very wrongfully accused of this. She was wrongfully accused last summer (2006) and is still fighting in court today to get her family back. How do we help those families? What do we do about the doctor's that have gone munchausen crazy accusing loving mothers of this?

There are doctors who will stand behind a "mom" Keep trying. I did and I came out ok. It is a nightmare and I wish there was a support group where people could get support and resouces

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truth2behold

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October 12, 2007, 8:55 pm PDT

what state are you in

There are good docs. I found them in my state of CT

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evansmom1203

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October 12, 2007, 9:15 pm PDT

10/11 Munchausen Mom

I have never felt compelled to post about a show before but I just has to say this:

Jessie...if you are reading this I wanted to tell you.....God bless you....you are a true hero. You saved those children!

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jomeara

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October 12, 2007, 9:36 pm PDT

omg!,

I actually tape Dr. Phil everyday b/c im not usually home when hes on and when i went to play it i hesitated for a couple of days b/c i have a 14 month old myself who is my life!! when i finally got the guts to watch it, i couldnt believe this was possible. I guess to someone who doesnt have this disease, disorder, whatever u wanna call it, its abstolutely RIDICULOUS!!! what upset me even more was the beginning of the show when they showed all of the survelliance footage that they had in the homes to see the mothers do what they did, let me tell you, i was hysterically crying, i am flabbergassted that a person can do this to something so beautiful and helpless. that woman should have her uterus cut out and never b allowed to reproduce.

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texasmother

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October 12, 2007, 9:37 pm PDT

Munchausen Mom

This disease is a horrible one! The saddest part is that it is so hard to diagnose. There needs to be further investigations into these cases and a clearer, easier way to diagnose the women and/or men that do have munchausen by proxy syndrome. We now have custody of my stepson who was the vicitm of munchausen by proxy syndrome for over 5 years. He also endured years of emotional and physical abuse and neglect. The problem was CPS never thought the abuse was bad enough and did little to nothing to stop it until he had been deeply emotionally hurt and devastated by his mother and stepdad. Finally, her symptoms of munchausen were obvious enough and he was able to get away from her. It has taken a long time to help him to recover. We have gotten him counseling and are trying to restore his self confidence and catch him up in school and make up for all he's lost or been deprived of. This disease is one that is hard to believe..."How could a mother do that to her child?" But, believe me, these mom's are good at lying and decieving and evoking sympathy. They play the good, loving, concerned parent. Deep inside however, they are very dangerous and these children's only help is to get out!

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