Most people are familiar with Munchausen Syndrome, a person attempting to gain attention by making themselves ill. I know this woman who seems to be involved in something similar, only her attention seeking method involves law enforcement, courts, and other abuses of the legal system. I do not know her medical history, though we live in the same neighborhood. I have however witnessed many of the incidents she has reported to law enforcement.
Her main target is an elderly woman that she has made multiple outrageous claims against, I know of dozens of false police reports that have been investigated, proven to be false, and yet she states them as fact when recounting them. Much of the legal battles have centered around 2 foot of land that she claims belongs to her, but even when the elderly woman gave her the land she tried to obtain even more.
I’ve seen her scream at cops so loudly that you couldn’t understand her words just hysterical shrieking, then claim that they were verbally abusing her. She seems to understand her actions, because she can maintain herself when it suits her purpose, she only looses it when she believes there is no one else to witness it.
That’s when I realized that her husband is always away for all of her accusations of harassment, attempted murder, etc. He never seems to be present when any of these terrible things happen to her, however he is always present in the courtroom standing beside her. I have recently discovered that her husband has been unaware of much of her activity, and it sort of makes sense. I am also aware that they are having serious marital problems, and of course the drama has started again as well.
I am now to the point of hoping to find a psychological explanation for her behavior because nothing else makes sense. Is it possible that instead of using illness that she is using the legal system for the same results? Is there a name for this disorder and what can the elderly woman do about it. It has severely affected her health and I am very concerned for her. I have tried unsuccessfully to get her to move, I have tried to soothe the situation and ended up the target on an investigation myself. I am usually an excellent peace keeper but I am at a loss with this woman.