Pathological liar?

Question

What is that really.

I know this woman who keeps on inventing those characters and could fit them all. She says it's bad for her but can't stop creating them and talking with them (like imaginary friend)

I wish I could help her but I have no clue what this is all about

Answer 1

.....A pathological liar knowingly misrepresents the truth...about anything and everything. The truth just isn't good enough. Embellishing the truth is a persistent behavior pattern, even though they are almost always discovered in their lies.

This seems different from your friend's situation, in which she invents characters, imaginary friends. She sounds like she needs psychological help, though.

Answer 2

Jennifer in an earlier post makes an interesting point, I think - what you describe may not be pathological lying, but something else. My experience with pathological liars is that they reconfigure what the truth is, what they actually did, based on what will keep them out of "trouble" or what looks better for their audience. Reinventing who you are or coming up with imaginary friends may be more a sign of psychotic thinking, but it can also be a response to having suffered a traumatic event, sometimes repeated traumatic events, as in Multiple Personality Disorder. However, I don't know how old your friend is and I don't know anything else, so she may be trying to decide who she really is. If this behavior does not cause her problems in everyday life, don't add stress by suggesting a problem. If she has any of these problems and they are causing major problems with her life, she should see a professional counselor.

Answer 3

I believe the others are right, this person does not sound like a pathological liar. Multiple characters suggest schizophrenia, but it could be more complicated than that. While you are a good friend by wanting to help, without proper medical training, don't try on your own. Urge her to seek professional help, that is how you can help her. Do research in your geological location to find someone that can help her in a professional capacity. Good luck to you and to her.

Answer 4

Not Pathological liar for sure...I lived with one. They don't create characters...they just lie about everything to the point they don't know what is true and what is not.

Sounds a bit like schizophrenia to me, but then I'm no expert.

Answer 5

No. your friend is not a pathological liar. If she is creating mulitple "characters", she could be scheztofrenic. Or have multiple personality disorder.

Answer 6

I think she probably needs professional help!