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Addictionleads to many changes in behavior, including in how people interact with others.
This often includes lying to others, including their loved ones.
A person with an addiction may lie about how often they use a substance or engage in a behavior.
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Learning more about why people who have an addiction may lie can provide insight.
When tackling a difficult topic, venture to stay matter-of-fact about it.
Use language to reflect your own perspective, rather than blaming your friend or loved one.
Avoiding Forced Change
In some ways, someone with an addiction may be stubborn.
When they feel constantly criticized by loved ones, they may lie to cover up their behavior.
But for some reason, you might allow them to lie without letting them know that you know.
This is an example of enabling an addiction.
What Is Enabling?
Enabling refers to doing things for a person that they can do for themselves.
These behaviors allow the person to continue their addiction without experiencing the consequences of their own behaviors.
Such damage has been shown to increase the potential for deviant behavior such as increased risk-taking or lying.
Although they plan to quit one day, for today, life without their addiction seems frighteningly empty.
When you point this out, they may lie to avoid feeling ashamed.
However, they may be aware that other people might not feel the same waywhich then results in lying.
By not being forthcoming, people are able to then stay in denial about the problem.
To Avoid Being Caught
Lying often serves another important purpose, which is to avoid getting caught.
Addictive substances and behaviors create intense highs that serve to reinforce the experience.
This fuels the need to use the substance to get to continue experiencing the same pleasant feelings.
Lying might occur because people are no longer making rational decisions about their lives and their behavior.
People with addiction may lie about whether they use certain substances or engage in certain behaviors.
Drugs, Brains, and Behavior: The Science of Addiction.
Bradshaw J,Healing the Shame That Binds You.
Boca Raton, FL: Health Communications, Inc.; 2010.
