Interesting to note that the 2 positive comments left under that article - both from the US.

Hmm ... interesting.

Once or twice I've seen her almost smirking, as if she's doing it all for a dare from someone back home.

Anyway, she's perplexing.

I would think it's far more likely that her family isn't worried because they are in on the 'tactics.'

I am afraid I am not at all sure about the claimed severity of her scoliosis, to lose 8 inches you would have to have a really large curve in both the thoracic and lumbar spine which would normally result in possibly breathing problems but most defiantly a very pronounced assymetry of the body. I have noticed that she does sometimes seem to be a little lopsided but no where near enough to cause as much height loss as she claims.

I suspect that she has a tendency to "exaggerate" things, possibly because she has learnt subconsciously that if "bad" things happened then she got the attention she craves, the bullying the health problems etc. I think she does have a genuine fear of things but its not a phobia it is just a fear and the hysterics are just her way of getting attention. I am petrified of spiders but its not a phobia and I dont have to get hysterical every time I see one maybe as a child I did but now i am an adult and whilst I still wouldn't go out of my way to find a spider I dont faint when I see one.
If it was a genuine phobia there is no way she would have even considered going into a place where there were going to be so many of the things she has a fear of

People who suffer with chronic pain have to live every minute of every day in pain. They have to learn how to eat, sleep and generally live a life through it....which is very difficult. They need to learn distraction techniques and how to cope with it or they could go mad with the pain. Therefore the last thing many want to do is talk about it. This does not mean she is not suffering.

Yes, I've noticed how she loves recounting the tale of the faint. Even when telling the others about feeling ill and weak and crying, she looks like she's really enjoying herself. I wonder if it's to make them think how brave she is.

If you talk about it it get worse imo. I'd say the spinal pain is probably the only genuine thing about her various ailments, the rest is gravy for a round on the circuit discusiing "my jungle hell".

That's the one

I'm reluctant to believe anything that comes out of her mouth. She comes across as a compulsive, over exaggerating liar

....and every one designed to exaggerate pity for her...which is what she tries to do in the jungle!

I've known people like that before. Horrors. You end up pandering and mollycoddling them until you're emotionally drained and can't walk away. Exit their lives immediately!

Not yet ...

She is a horrible woman, however there is obviously something very wrong with her spine, but it is odd how her movements don't tie in with a fused back and her breathing is not affected.

I'm glad I'm not alone in considering munchausens syndrome as a possible reason for the lunacy of this woman.

I found this old article quite interesting:-

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandsty...drink.features

bit long and tedious, but insightful in parts.

"I went to the producer and said: 'Whenever Anne is ill, I want to host the show.' They said "no". I don't know what was wrong with me that day, but I wouldn't take no for an answer. She walked away from me, and I ran after her. 'Why not? Why can't I host the show? I know I'm the health person, but there's more to me than that. Don't you run away from me. You stop.' She was never asked back."

Hahahahahhahaha

I don't think Gillian has Munchhausen's Syndrome. People with Munchhausen's want attention because of their 'illnesses' even going to extremes such as self harming to get it. If Gillian had this she would never have got on the program as she would have exaggerated her conditions beforehand. She uses her illnesses as an excuse to get her own way and then wants people to marvel how much she achieves in spite of her 'illnesses'.

I've said it on another thread and I'll say it again. She appears to me to be a textbook narcissist.

Oh yes! Good call Vidalia, now that you've pointed it out that is exactly what it's like.

she's manipulative enough not to have done that ^^ she wanted to get on the show at all costs.

I do agree with you about the narcism, but she seems beyond that

Having dealt with her personally, and I wish I could elaborate; I do believe that the primary reason she went on there is for the money, she is trying to use this 'act' to get out on medical grounds and still pick up the paycheck, which she needs to fund her inability to live within her means

I'd agree with this.

Just read the link kindly provided and throughout it screams NPD.

[quote=di60;45951854].

I do agree with you about the narcism, but she seems beyond that

QUOTE]

It's a matter of degrees. Murderers are often considered narcissists and there's a quote I heard once something like a narcissist could murder their parents and want leniency in court because they are an orphan...

I'm not suggesting Gillian is capable of murder but she does, again in my opinion, fit the criteria for a narcissist perfectly.

I agree, she is showing fear but not Phobia, i laugh every time she says if you understood phobias , you understand me, when in reality she is the one who doesn't understand phobias, because if she did she would not of gone to the jungle, i do feel for people who do have phobias watching her make a mockery of them.

Not all home educated children have limited contact with their peers. Most parents, having taken the responsibility for their children's education will also ensure suitable socialising, usually with mixed ages rather than thirty other people exactly the same age as in schools.
There is no evidence at all that home educated children are any less gregarious than those who are schooled, and are usually considerably ahead of their peers.
Assuming that Gillian McKeith does not live in a jungle, her phobias probably do not have much impact on her family life, and i have seen nothing to suggest she is an inadequate parent.

more interesting for me is what kind of childhood produces people who feel the need to make such negative personal verbal attacks against one person on a game show?

"The boy who cried wolf " the traditional story to highlight to children the need to tell the truth and how lies can catch you out, is now to be officially replaced by the woman who said "I'm feeling faint........again"

Not sure whether any particular type of childhood produces someone like that. One of my sisters is a bit like Gillian, but the rest of us are nothing like that. She will make up all kinds of illnesses/ailments or big dramatic things that she claims have happened. It's all for attention and very upsetting for the rest of us. It also means that when genuine things happen to her, people feel less sympathetic towards her. Interestingly, she is the least kind towards the rest of us if anything happens to any of us.

I used to have a colleague like that. No matter what had happened to you, she could always top it. If you told her you'd sprained your ankle, she'd come back with "yes, but wait 'til I tell you about the time I broke my leg in three places".

I'm sure memories of this woman (and others I've known like her) are part of my perverse enjoyment in watching Gillian suffer through the trials.