Why do some people lie even when telling the truth would be easier? Most of us have been dishonest at some point, but what happens when lying becomes a repeated pattern—sometimes without an obvious reason or benefit? In this episode of Life Lived Better, Joseph and Paula explore compulsive and pathological lying, including what may drive chronic dishonesty, the roles of shame, insecurity, learned behavior, and self-protection, and the important difference between understanding a behavior and excusing it.

Our co-hosts also look at what happens on the other side of the lie. Repeated dishonesty can leave partners, friends, and family members questioning not only what they're being told now, but everything they've been told before. Joseph and Paula discuss manipulation and gaslighting, confronting someone about dishonesty, the exhausting role of becoming the “detective” in a relationship, whether compulsive lying can change, and what it really takes to rebuild trust. Most importantly, they explore a difficult truth: you can understand why someone lies, care deeply about them, and still decide that honesty is a requirement for having access to your life.

Questions? If you have questions, you would like Joseph and Paula to address during an upcoming episode of Questions for Counselors, feel free to reach out through the website at ⁠www.lifelivedbetter.net⁠ or email them directly at ⁠Info@lifelivedbetter.net⁠

You can find information about this and other episodes on the website: ⁠www.lifelivedbetter.net⁠.

Just a reminder - Anything shared during this and all other episodes is based on personal experiences and opinions. It is not to be viewed as professional counseling or advice - it is solely our opinion. Information shared does not represent our employers or profession.

Remember, Knowledge leads to a Life Lived Better.

Resources used to create the episodes on this topic:

Pathological Lying: Theoretical and Empirical Support for a Diagnostic Entity - PMC

Pseudologia Fantastica - PubMed

Pseudologia fantastica: a systematic review of sociodemographic features and psychiatric comorbidities - PMC

In this Mental Health Moment, I am discussing - Naming Emotions.

You can find information about this and other episodes on the website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.lifelivedbetter.net⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Just a reminder - anything shared in this, and all other episodes is based on personal experiences and opinions. It is not to be viewed as professional counseling or advice and is solely the opinion of the individual and does not represent their employers or profession.

If you have a topic, you would like us to address in a future Mental Health Moment, let us know. Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Info@LifeLivedBetter.net⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

We would love for you to rate our show and tell others about us. And remember, Knowledge Leads to a Life Lived Better.

In this Mental Health Moment, I am discussing - Naming Emotions.

You can find information about this and other episodes on the website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.lifelivedbetter.net⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Just a reminder - anything shared in this, and all other episodes is based on personal experiences and opinions. It is not to be viewed as professional counseling or advice and is solely the opinion of the individual and does not represent their employers or profession.

If you have a topic, you would like us to address in a future Mental Health Moment, let us know. Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠Info@LifeLivedBetter.net⁠⁠⁠⁠

We would love for you to rate our show and tell others about us. And remember, Knowledge Leads to a Life Lived Better.