As he was looking for a reason to join Ioannes Xiphilinos on Mt Olympos, God increased his desire and gave him stomach pains, which he magnified into life-threatening disease. Following Ioannes' example he feigned liver problems and serious heartburn, pretended to be demented, his soul conversing with things that stood over him. He checked his voice and pretended to cut his hair with his fingers. Konstantinos IX heard that he had been at death's door and totally depressed, but that when he got better he desired the better and higher life. Konstantinos was downcast at this news. At first he wailed and groaned deeply that Psellos' life was at risk, overwhelmed by the prospect of losing one whose talk he enjoyed. Later he did everything possible to keep Psellos in the capital