What is mythomania, the disease Frank Cuesta claims to suffer from: causes and symptoms

"I don't have cancer nor do I have professional knowledge of animals. I have a serious problem with mythomania, and little by little, it's been getting out of hand." The drastic turn Frank Cuesta 's life has taken recently could make for a great pay-TV series. The Spanish herpetologist—who studies amphibians and reptiles—YouTube star and naturalist, known as Frank de la Jungla, has been the center of controversy throughout 2025.

In February, he was arrested in Thailand - where he has lived for decades - for alleged illegal possession of protected wild animals at his Santuario Libertad, a 16-hectare estate he acquired years ago and where he gives refuge to his animals. He has also seen audio recordings leaked - by an alleged friend - in which he explains how he poisoned a cat, how to cut the antlers of a deer, and a series of Taser purchases, something that called into question all his work over the last few years.

If this weren't enough, we must also add the accusations against his ex-wife Yuyee, who spent six years in a Thai prison for an alleged corruption scheme, and the health problems he reported earlier this year. The Leon native said he had to resume treatment for leukemia, a cancer he said he had been suffering from more or less since his ex-partner went to prison more than 10 years ago.

Broken by everything happening around him, the television personality wanted to explain himself on his YouTube channel—he has 4.1 million subscribers—with a video in which he publicly apologizes. "The only thing I had in this life was my connection with animals, and now all of that is destroyed," he told his followers in a recording.

Cuesta has confessed that his character is a lie. "As part of the agreement, I publicly apologize and clearly express many of the doubts people had. It's better to make it clear here and move on," he adds. "I must say that I was a character, and little by little it got out of hand due to a problem of mythomania and ego. I'm neither a veterinarian nor a herpetologist. I have knowledge of animals that isn't basic, but it's not professional either," he explains in the video, in which he explains that it's also not true that he has cancer .

"I've been undergoing treatment for myelodysplasia for years, but I don't have cancer." Myelodysplasia is a group of disorders related to the body's inability to produce normal blood cells. Sources from the Spanish Society of Hematology and Hemotherapy (SEHH) explain that myelodysplasia or myelodysplastic syndrome is a blood cancer that also carries the risk of developing into leukemia in 10-20% of cases and affects people with an average age of 76.

"All the animals in the sanctuary were purchased, so we could say it's more of an animal farm than a sanctuary. I've never rescued animals, and it was all part of a show that gradually got out of hand," he continued.

"I take responsibility for having deceived everyone and I publicly apologize for having taken advantage of so many people," the popular television personality said.

According to the Cláritas Psychological Institute's website, mythomania is a psychological behavioral disorder that leads a person to lie compulsively. A mythomaniac lies and repeatedly invents fantastical anecdotes in order to unconsciously obtain a benefit, usually attention, admiration, avoiding punishment, etc. Due to these benefits, the behavior is reinforced, and mythomania becomes an addictive behavior.

According to the DSM-5, the reference manual for psychiatry , there is no mental disorder categorized as 'mythomania'; it is a term that has been used colloquially to encompass disorders where the use of lies and fantasy appears pathological.

"These lies are told to achieve something; they believe their own delusions," explains Sergio García, spokesperson for the Official College of Psychology of Madrid. The psychologist points out that, in many cases, mythomania can be a response to compulsive lying, but it can also be a response to a personal gain.

"Psychological literature links compulsive liars to low self-esteem. They need to tell lies to attract attention and admiration," the psychologist points out. And this low self-esteem is not incompatible with a strong ego: "The two sides of the coin have to do with having a strong ego and at the same time believing oneself to be inferior. I don't believe I'm important, and from there I create a great persona to attract attention."

Mythomaniacs, in general, "are people who are delusional and who make us see an egotistical character, who wants to be the center of attention." And there's also an element of narcissism in wanting to be the center of attention, and "I make up a life I don't have."