Compulsive Lying Disorder

The Definition of Compulsive Liar

A compulsive liar is someone who lies with ease and finds comfort in it. The person will fib about everything and anything with no conscience whatsoever. Lying has become an addiction, and the person doesn't even think about the lies he or she tells. The person will even continue to lie if you present the truth in cold hard facts. Getting a person to admit he or she lied is almost impossible.

Understanding Compulsive Lying Disorder

Surprisingly, Compulsive Lying Disorder is not actually a psychiatric disorder. Instead, it may be a symptom of another psychiatric disorder such as Borderline Personality or Bipolar Disorder. Not all people who are compulsive liars suffer from a psychiatric illness, but there is usually an underlying reason for the behavior.

• Addicted to the thrill: The person loves the excitement of being able to deceive others and enjoys the reactions received from people. The lying continues because the person craves the attention and thrill of getting away with it.
• Fear of repercussions: Sometimes people will fib when they know the truth will get them into trouble. Usually in this case, one false story turns into many others.
• Seeking rewards: People will sometimes lie because they want something they wouldn't be able to get otherwise.
• Low self-esteem: People who feel down on themselves and want to look better in the eyes of the people around them will often make up stories about themselves.

The Difference Between Pathological and Compulsive Liar

Many people get these two confused because they are similar. However, pathological liars usually only fib when they want to make themselves look better in front of other people. They create an entirely different role for themselves that they must continue to portray over time, and this means they have to keep lying.

The main difference between pathological and compulsive liars is that pathological liars will believe they are telling the truth, while compulsive liars know they are not, but will never admit it. With a pathological liar, you never really know if what they say is true or not, and you may never find out.

How to Deal with Someone Who Lies

Dealing with someone who lies is annoying and can make you angry. You never know whether you should believe the person or just ignore what he or she says. Even though you may not be able to stop the person from lying, you may be able to make it easier on yourself to deal with this individual.

• Proceed with caution: Be cautious of what the person says and do not place much worth on it.
• Do not react: Try not to give the person the reaction he or she is looking for, it will only fuel it. Over time, the person may move on to other people because the person is not receiving the response he or she craves.
• Always double check: If the person tells you something and you are just not quite sure he or she is accurate, always check with someone else who is more trustworthy.
• Avoid if necessary: Sometimes you just have to avoid the people who cause you too much stress in your life. This may be a hard step if you are romantically involved with the person, but trust is one of the most important factors in a relationship, and you cannot have that if the person is not genuine.

How NOT to Deal with a Liar

You may feel compelled to prove to the person what he or she says is not right, but save yourself the time and effort. The compulsive liar will most likely not listen to you. All it will do is cause more grief for you because you will become easily aggravated at the person because of the persistence he or she shows for the untruth.

The Choice is Yours

Compulsive lying is a habit, so it is likely the person doing the lying will never stop. You can either deal with the lies or move on with your life and enjoy it with genuine people. If you can't let this person go, just remember to not place much faith in what he or she says..