What defines a compulsive liar? I know there's a difference between a "pathological" liar and a compulsive liar, but i'm not quite sure. One of my friends told me that he thought he was a compulsive liar. I told him to tell his doctor or something, but he's serious about this. It makes sense. He lies about everything, big or small, and most of the time, he does it without thinking. He says telling the truth feels rather awkward, and lying feels natural.
Actually, it isn't the lying that worries me. It's more that he has this habit of actually making people up. Not just experiences or whatever, but actual people. For instance, for TWO YEARS, his girlfriend (now ex) thought he had a brother who lived in Boston. I recently spoke to her, and she still thinks that!
He'd be the first to say he wished he could stop, but he can't. Even when he promises himself to be honest, he can't help telling people stories. They sound so real.
Can anyone could tell me anything helpful?
2007-01-04 05:06:03 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health ➔ Mental Health
If he really CAN'T stop lying, maybe he should go to the doctor to have councelling or see a psychiatrist...
But it's possible he knows exactly what he's doing...
2007-01-04 05:14:19 · answer #1 · answered by pinkfudge27 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It sounds like he is lacking something in his life so, to try and alleviate the "pain" of his "hollow feeling" he fills in the blanks of his life with stories. This gives him purpose, meaning, and he creates a world he is comfortable living in evn though it does not exist, in his mind it does. It is very strange that he was able to maintain a long term relationship with someone he lied to. Often the relationship ends within a year due to the lies catching up with one another and starting to not make sense (as lies always do). The truth is easy to keep track of it actually happen and has a place in your brain, long term memory. Lies are Short term memories, meaning we tell them and they are gone thus, leaving no recollection for them in the future. A good therapist will help him get on track. He knows what he is doing and has admitted it, that is the first step!! Good Luck to him!!!
2007-01-04 13:21:39 · answer #2 · answered by Ang 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like my ex-husband, I could understand the lies he told that would have gotten him in trouble, but he would lie about stuff that didn't even matter....I couldn't take it.
Maybe he is just very insecure and is trying to make himself more interesting or he had a very acute trauma when he was younger and the lying is the only way he can feel safe and remain in denial...that ended up to be the case with my ex but I still couldn't deal with it, it just had gone too far.
I think for your friend it is shrink time...he needs help. good luck.
2007-01-04 13:15:04 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like yer buddy needs help. Folks with ADHD are missing neurotransmitters in the brain that inhibit behavior. Your friend may have something similar happening in his brain- not firing on all cyllinders! It could be a combo of psychological and neurological factors working against him. Get him to a doc!
2007-01-04 13:19:24 · answer #4 · answered by AMEWzing 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
this sounds like a spiritual problem! If he really wants to stop help him find the truth! If it weren't a spiritual issue he would not care if he lied and would not have the turmoil he has because his conscience would not cause conflict!
2007-01-04 13:24:34 · answer #5 · answered by peace2all 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
This guy is a sociopath in training. Look it up.
2007-01-04 22:24:28 · answer #6 · answered by ? 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋