Why is a pathological liar

What is Pathological Lying? Some common characteristics of pathological lying include: Lying without any benefit or reason — do you notice your friend lying seemingly only for the sake of lying? This is a common trait of pathological lying, and a clear sign that lying has become reflexive and habitual. Telling lies that are complicated, dramatic, and detailed — though the stories might seem far-fetched, the convincing way they are told in a pathological lie can make them seem believable.

The lies may make the person telling them seem like a hero, or a victim — pathological liars sometimes tell lies to gain sympathy or admiration. If you notice someone frequently lying about their health, wealth, or career status, this could be a sign of pathological lying. Start Your Healing Now - just click here. What Causes Pathological Lying? Obsessive Compulsive Disorder — pathological lying has been found in some people struggling with OCD as a negative coping mechanism, employed to create affiliative relationships with others or to attempt to cover their OCD symptoms.

Anxiety Disorders — people struggling with anxiety and fear of rejection may also pathologically lie as a way to try and protect a sensitive psyche. Antisocial Personality Disorder — people living with this disorder often display pathological lying as a key symptom, and may use lies to gain status or manipulate others.

How to Help a Pathological Liar For adults, pathological lying can be a difficult condition to treat, as lying has often become habitual and automatic. Be supportive, yet firm — it is easy to get frustrated and lose your temper when faced with persistent dishonesty, however this is likely to be counterproductive.

Hold your ground, but be kind. Let them know that you support them, but you will not go along with a lie. Encourage professional help — expressing concern without judgement is a critical part of letting people know you genuinely care about their wellbeing. Helping to connect your loved one with information or resources about pathological lying and its related mental health conditions may be useful in supporting their decision to seek treatment.

Finding Your Truth at The Dawn Seeking treatment for pathological lying and potentially other underlying mental health conditions can be a daunting process.

For example, the individual may make false accusations or grandiose claims about their past that are simple for others to check. Pathological lying is not a formal diagnosis, but a doctor or therapist may recognize the behavior as a sign of another underlying condition, such as a personality disorder or factitious disorder. These disorders include overlapping symptoms, including compulsive lying.

People with these conditions also display other signs. It is possible for pathological lying to be an independent symptom, as some people engage in pathological lying without having any underlying medical condition. It can be challenging for a doctor to determine whether someone is engaging in pathological lying because there are no psychological or biological tests for it.

To diagnose most mental health conditions, a doctor will use a clinical interview. If the person is not honest about their lying, it could be necessary for the doctor to talk with family members or friends to help identify patterns of pathological lying. Coping with someone who lies pathologically can be challenging. Forming and maintaining a trusting relationship with this person can take time and patience.

It is important to remember that the person may not intend to cause harm or benefit from these lies. Pathological lying can be a compulsion, and it often leads to negative consequences for the person telling the lies. Therefore, try to avoid responding angrily or blaming them for the lies. It is also helpful to be aware that pathological lying may be a sign of an underlying mental health condition. Talking to the person about whether they have any other symptoms can help them identify the problem and seek help from a doctor or therapist.

If a doctor suspects that an underlying condition is causing the lying, they may suggest treatment for that condition. As pathological lying can be harmful to others, a doctor may also suggest therapy for those close to the individual. A therapist will work with them to help them manage their responses to the problem.

Pathological lying is when a person compulsively lies without a clear motive for doing so. The lies may become elaborate and detailed, but they are often easy to verify. Pathological lies do not lead to any lasting benefit for the person who tells them, and they can be harmful to others.

It is vital to remember that the lying is a compulsion and that a person who pathologically lies does not intend to harm others or better themselves. As pathological lying is not a recognized condition, there are no formal treatments for it. However, pathological lying may be a sign of an underlying condition that a doctor can help with, such as a personality disorder. Anecdotal evidence suggests that people with bipolar disorder are more likely to tell lies. We look at some of the reasons why this might happen.

Munchausen syndrome, now known as factitious disorder imposed on self FDIS , is a psychological condition in which a person fakes illness to receive…. Antisocial personality disorder involves patterns of disregard for the rights of others. Here, learn about its symptoms, treatments, causes, and more. Admit it: From time to time, you lie — at least a little. Your best friend asks what you think of her new haircut. It's awful, but you tell her it looks great.

Feldman, who wrote The Liar in Your Life. But when lying gets out of control it can wreak havoc in your personal and professional lives — potentially destroying relationships and careers. Out-of-control lying is known as compulsive or pathological lying. Definitions are fluid, experts say. Compulsive liars have a need to embellish and exaggerate, says Paul Ekman, PhD , a professor emeritus of psychology at the University of California in San Francisco and the author of Telling Lies , among other books.

When you ask a compulsive liar for an opinion on an important issue, says Dr. Many people do. I've actually been asked by the governor of California to comment on this.

Pathological liars may be even bolder. The two lying types are pretty similar, he says, and actually, ''You could be a compulsive pathological liar. Neither compulsive nor pathological lying has been studied extensively, say Feldman and Ekman.