Depression Support Group

my father in law would get this hands down it pisses me off just thinking about it

oh and i forgot my uncle Ed

I honestly don't think they can stop, mostly because they never have a motive to stop. It happens automatically and it gives them satisfaction, so why would they stop. The one in my life I have known since birth. The lying has been apparent since around age four. He just never grew out of it. His lies are never malicious. He just wants to seem knowledgeable and ahead of everyone else. I feel so sorry for him. No one really calls him on anymore because it is just sad.

Yes, I have a sister who does it. It's also, I believe, an extension of a narcissistic personality, and she fits the symptomology through and through. She has spent so much time trying to question my character and demoralize me (and her two ex-husbands), you'd think she was getting paid a hefty sum to do it.

I have no idea what drives her. We did not have an abusive childhood, although there was alot of neglect due to constant alcohol consumption on my parent's part; and a kind of blatant favoritism, that basically granted her every wish. I believe my parents simply spoiled her into behaving like a monster. She also has a delusion of grand superiority, and can be breath-takingly cruel.

And I have given up all hope she will ever become enlightened or acknowledge the damage she's done over the years. Her lies pile up like wreckage on a beach, and she only grows harder and colder.

Dixie my ex husband is one and I tried to get him the help he needed and he was so good at manipulating people that I was the one that ended up screwed up ...... Lord good luck to you ...... I know having had one in my life ... I could not take another ... its horrible

my adult son is, i have now learnt not to feed it, not to go along with his tall tales and to cut him short and tell him i heard enough, so for eg: when he starts a spiel why he couldn't come, i don't let him tell the lie, i say, 'don't want to hear why, too bad you couldn't come, maybe next time'..........he tries to keep the 'thrill' going, but i cut him off everytime.............doesn't do my head in any more and doesn't feed it either.

I had a tenant a few years ago, who seemed a perfectly ok person at first, BUT I started to realise that he just simply did not know what the truth was. This first occurred when he took some peanut butter from the jar of another tenant (!), and when the other tenant approached him to say please could he buy his own, he swore blind that it was not him, it must have been me! He was so convincing it was thought it was me for a while. Over 8 months, he lied about everything, about his work as a lawyer (it turned out he had never been a lawyer), his stealing, what he had done/was doing, tall stories indeed! .... it took a while to realise he was soo convincing because he did actually believe was he said. I eventually was driven crazy as he also lived in a massive mess and I couldnt tolerate the thieving any longer. I had to evict him by threatening him with the police (I realised by now he worked in illegal areas)....I googled conman after googling Personality Disorders (didnt have that!)...and came across the Psychopathic personality, which he ticked ALL the boxes for, except violence. I never felt threatened by him. This apparently means something actually is missing, the conscience area - obviously not often as bad as the typical psychopath, there are many ways along this path that someway may fall into. He was like a child with something missing in many ways as he was so naive and so honestly believed his own lies. I just am so glad he has gone, but what to do with this type of person if he is in your family? *sigh*....the best of luck to all of you...Cathrynn...x

I have often wondered this question myself.
I know a three people who do this. It is very irritating to me and I don't understand it. Those people not only lie , but have caused problems for themselves and others around them with their manipulive ways. Unfortuanatly one of them is my own daughter and I can't stay away from her.

Thanks to all for your replies. My son is the problem. It breaks my heart. I've know he lied 'alot' for a long time, but it wasn't until he moved out here with us for a while that I realized it was so bad and is really affecting every inch of his life. I wish I could help him, but I know I can't.
Anyway, thanks again.
~dixie

That's so difficult to say. On one hand I don't want to believe that there's nothing I could do if I had a friend or family member that lied like that. But, on the other hand, if it was myself with the problem I think I'd at least like someone to try. I really hope that you're ablt to help him out. *hugs*