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I married a compulsive liar
I am not sure what solution I am looking for, but I feel like my husband is purposely trying to make me go "crazy." See, since the first day of our marriage three years ago, everything has gone down hill for us. He dramatically changed and did things to me, hurtful things, which almost ended in divorce. Because we had a son at the time, we decided to work things out, and it seemed lately that we were finally able to see a possible future together especially since we had child number two, to try to save our marriage (not a good idea, but still grateful for the child).

Anyway, just a couple of days ago, my husband told me that his therapist suggested for him to tell me the truth about something in his life because he is a compulsive liar. As he confessed he informs me that everything that he ever told me about his life while we were dating, engaged, married for 3yrs, was all a lie. All the wild life, girlfriends, etc that he claims to have had and his life experiences are fake. He invented everything about his past.

Now he wants me to believe him.

I have tried, I really have, but it just seems like something keeps nagging me, like no matter what something seems off. Lately, I get the feeling that he is keeping another huge secret from me, I just don’t know if the feeling is true or it is just my reacting from what I just found out.

As of now I am hurt and feel deceived, because I now know that I am completely married to a stranger, I also feel angry, and it is not fair that I made a life with a man that does not exist. I don’t know what to do. If I choose to believe him, then I will always wonder.

Otherwise, I feel like making a fool of myself and investigate, but how does one investigate someone else's past. I am confused and don’t know what to do. I feel that after all he has done to me I should just run as fast and far as I can with our children, but a part of me does truly love this man.

How will I be able to live past this? Is it possible to be able to trust him ever again? And should I trust my feelings that he may be having an affair or is keeping a deeper truth from me, or is it just my emotions/anger/pain getting the best of me?

I feel like there is no one else who can understand what I am going through. I guess I feel all alone. If you have ever known someone in this situation, what would you suggest? Should I try to investigate even if I humiliate myself in the process? What should I do?

I still wish to save our marriage, but how can I move past this?

If it helps in answering, he claims that he does not want to let me go, he wants to save our marriage, but he keeps lying to me regardless.

Response:

To begin with it may help to know that you are not alone.

Unfortunately, many people end up in the exact same position: Married to a compulsive liar - never knowing what to believe. And in some cases, it can take years before people realize who they are really married to.

But, as you know all too well, eventually, living with a compulsive liar becomes unbearable. Even in the best of circumstances, discovering deception by a loved one can be unsettlingly. Discovering that someone close to you has consistently betrayed your trust, however, leaves people feeling uncertain and full of doubt (see, consequences of discovering deception).

Finding out that a husband or wife has lied often raises very fundamental questions and concerns:
  • Who am I with?
  • How come I didn’t see this?
  • What’s wrong with me?
  • What else don’t I know?
  • Why did this happen?
If you are involved with a compulsive liar, these types of questions can preoccupy ALL of your time. Eventually, people who get involved with a compulsive liar often start to question their own identity: Who am I?

Should you investigate your husband’s past? Probably not. You already know what you need to know: Your husband is a compulsive liar (see, compulsive lying).

Your husband only feels safe and secure when he is lying to you. Or think of it this way: all of those feelings you have when your husband lies to you are similar to the feelings he has when he's telling you the truth. Will investigating his past help you resolve this underlying problem?

Your husband, if he can be believed, is doing the right thing. Compulsive lying needs to be dealt with through counseling and therapy.

Will you be able to trust your husband again? That all depends on how this therapy progresses and how much energy you are willing to invest in making things work. But, there are no guarantees that things will turn out for the best. Dealing with compulsive lying, like any other addictive behavior, is a constant struggle.

Our best advice is to seek professional help (see, emotional support).

People involved with a compulsive liar need just as much help and support as compulsive liars do. With this in mind, we have started specific message board for people who are dealing with a compulsive liar – a place to turn to for advice and support (see, dealing with a compulsive liar forum).

Hopefully, knowing that you are not alone will help you get through this difficult time.
Comments (53)add
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written by bri , September 24, 2006
I am so sorry about what happened to you. That is unfair to you, your family, and the millions of other people who are affected by compulsive liars. I wish you the best as you work through this.
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I can totally relate to these stories
written by Lina , October 05, 2006
My husband tells me I'm the reason he lies... He says I question him too much. He will lie about the dumbest things. It's to the point now that it's becoming an obsession for me to always feel he's lying, and that I have to check his stories all the time. The sad thing is we've been married for 20 years. He lied from the start, so now I feel like the idiot. I think I'm losing my mind.
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Why do we do this?
written by D. , October 06, 2006
Lina and everyone,
I can't believe I'm reading my story in your words! I have just experienced ANOTHER episode with my compulsive lying husband. Like Lina, I have been married for nearly 20 years and he also lied from the start. When we married, I knew about one ex-wife and one daughter. After a year of marriage, he confessed about another previous wife and two other children. Why didn't I leave then? I had to ask a series of questions just to be able to discern what was truth and what was a lie. So... I discovered he DIDN'T play drums in a band that traveled around the South... nor did he fill in as a drummer for Jackson Brown once in his life. I felt like a fool because I had repeated the stories to so many people.
Now, I am whirling from the second "discovered" infidelity in our marriage. What is wrong with me? How can I so quickly forgive him and work so hard to get back to "normal?" What is my normal. Yes, I must be sick too!
I did finally speak to a lawyer yesterday and I am going to just make myself follow through on a divorce. My husband is not willing to put in the hard work that it would take to manage his compulsive lying and all its consequences. I'm going to have to toughen up and manage my own pain. Most people know me as an intelligent, creative and caring woman, but with my husband I'm STUPID. It has got to stop! I can't MAKE him change and he is not willing to change. It's over (and in the background she is sobbing, hurting, weak).
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Thank God I'm not alone
written by LeAnn Woodall , October 20, 2006
It breaks my heart to hear these women talk about the pain their lying husbands have chosen to cause them. However, I am comforted to know that I am not alone. I, too am married to a compulsive liar. He lies every day, all day. From big things about his past like being a world champion in his style of martial arts, to what he ate for lunch. The man literally lies about everything. I dare not brag any longer to friends or family about his accomplishments because I've suffered the mortification when the truth comes out. If I question him about his lying, even when I have proof (receipts, phone bills, paycheck stubs, etc) he insists that he's telling the truth and that having to deal with my insecurities and general 'craziness' is causing us to drift apart. Everyone I've ever known has complimented me on my down to earth nature, my quick wit, and my intelligence...look at me now. I'm married to a lying, cheating, sociopath. We've only been married for a year and a half. I left him almost 2 months ago but I started seeing him again almost immediately. What's wrong with me?!!!! I used to look down my nose and be so judgmental when I would hear stories about women who stayed with men who beat them. Not any more. I just keep hoping that if I could just look good enough, or act in just the right way that he would be an honest, faithful husband. God, am I pathetic or what?
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married to a compulsive liar-all about money or ma
written by Nic , October 21, 2006
smilies/sad.gif Hi, thank god I am not alone, I have never felt so foolish or stupid in all my life.
My husband had confessed to having credit cards scattered all over the place in the past but I supported him and help him consolidate these with the provision it would never happen again and that he would be honest with me from now on. Twelve months later, (a few days ago) I received letters from two different banks that we don't deal with addressed to him, these were the same banks that had contacted me during the day looking for him over the past few months. I couldn't help but open them, there it was in black and white 10,000.00 owed five to each, I completely freaked, how could he do this after all the stress he created for me last time? I then asked him about the other bank that kept calling him while he was at work, he denied that we owed them anything and even showed me a letter (without company letterhead) that we had received apologizing to me for upsetting me it was only after me asking him over and over again that he admitted to writing it and passing it off as a letter from the bank I am disgusted, hurt, heart broken and have even asked him if he has had affairs he said no, how am I to believe him? We have an ill child that requires constant medical attention and he hasn't even thought of her I don't know whether to leave or to help him again and again but all I know is my trust in him is completely broken and I cant even wear my wedding ring or sleep in the same bed as him we have been married for five years yet I don't even know him the only thing keeping me gong is our daughter because without me she would have no one but sometimes I just want to give up, leave and start again on my own never to trust or love someone again.
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I have just realized that lying is a two way stree
written by John001 , December 15, 2006
I have read all the comments and realize it is mostly women talking about their husbands. I think that men don't necessarily talk about these issues but I am not typical in that regard... much to the chagrin of my wife. I share the feelings of "am I going crazy" or "how can I trust her" or "is this how it is always going to be." First my wife is fantastic in so many ways it would be hard to fit it in this little note. However, she lies when she does not want to be responsible for her actions. Credit cards, going out for work (actually friends), telling me that she feels one way when she feels another. Then the house of cards finally comes tumbling down and I get angry.

I realize that I own a good portion of this. I recently realized I was being passive aggressive towards her. I would make her feel guilty (unknowingly) about being home late, not getting her credit card sorted out, not making enough time for me (selfishly) and our child. My actions spur her actions. I wonder if the rest of the group has thought about this in regards to their own situations. I hope this is helpful.
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When Does It End.
written by VanessaK , December 25, 2006
I always suspected that my husband made up stories to impress me. He reinvented a caring and stable family out of his horribly dysfunctional ensemble, created the mirage of a dynasty, to fortunes of which he was an heir, he even decided to tell me about his "playboy reputation" on our first date, "because," as he so solicitously expressed, "did not want me not find out from any other source and be hurt by it." After the first pile of lies went up in flames, I assured him that he never had to lie to me again because I did not need his money or his family, nor did I care about his romantic past. A year, (and thousands of lies) later we were married and he promised me again on our wedding day that he finally got his dream and he would never again feel the need to lie. It has been six short months and I am filing for divorce. It took him only six months to completely squander my life savings and put me in several thousand dollars of debt. In addition, I have lost the respect of my siblings and my widowed father who have all tried to bail us out after he has yet another "failed investment." I was always proud to be the only one among my friends with no extraneous debt (credit cards, etc). I had the reputation of being a person that budgeted well and saved money. Now, I owe so many people that I cannot bring myself to answer the phone when they call. I believed my husband and more importantly, I believed in him. He told me about childhood abuse of all kinds, sexual, verbal, emotional and physical. I love him, but, I LOVE ME TOO. I tried to help heal the wounds, but I realize that I don't have the ability. Only he can heal them when he is ready. We are both still young and I pray for his awakening and his safe journey through life. I feel that this is the best help that I can ever offer. I pray also that all of you that have been brave enough to share and those that are still struggling will also find the strength to cope and the direction to take.
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Thank God I am not alone
written by Doris O'Sullivan , January 01, 2007
I can't tell you how wonderful it is to know that I am not alone. I feel cheated from my youth and a happy life due to the intricate fabric of lies that my husband has woven. I, too, fell for a man that was reported to be one thing to find later to be another. We hang on, because we love the person that is there with us.
We were not given a fair shake. We were not given the opportunity to choose our partner. We thought that we were getting the man of our dreams to find later (and sometimes much later) that we were robbed and deceived. We must gather the strength to find it within ourselves to move on and trust again.
I do not know if I can do it. My experience is only just now coming to a head, but I am sure that I will not live with this any longer.
Have strength compatriots. We can move forward and find the happiness that we so deserve.
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Hopeless or Not
written by LeeRoy , January 13, 2007
Yes it goes both ways. In fact every cheating relationship I know of, the woman is doing the lying and cheating. My wife has been cheating on me at least 7 of the 14 years we've been together. I keep hoping someday it will change. She keeps telling me she will stop (when she is caught)and she wants to be with me. Or is it just another lie she is telling everyone. I keep catching her time and time again with the lies and the deciet. Now her boyfriend of 6 years has moved 5 blocks away and has left his wife again. She does not drive so this makes it easier for them to get together when I'm at work. She has already had 1 miscarriage with this guy. (I am fixed) She tells me its just a friend and has told me many times she has ended it. But she does not know that I know she hasn't. To make matters worse she is in treatment for drug abuse and is a pathological liar. Last week she told her consulor I had a death in the family and we had to travel out of state to a funeral. The week before she had to get her medications early because she left it at a friends out of town. The truth was she has been overdosing every week and doesn't have her daily dose. Every day it is another lie. Along with the massive daily amounts of over the counter drugs, This could kill her. She makes up stories about how bad I am and tells everyone we know. She has her parents and her friends all believing that I am the problem. She is very convincing and a very good at lying. She lies about everything. I don't believe she even knows the truth anymore. I have tried to confront her but I am always meet with very defensive denial. I have no friends or no one to turn to. I have no where to go nor do I want to leave my step children or our home. She is not willing to leave or get help so we are at a stand off. I keep hoping and praying she will get better and go back to the woman I fell in love with. I would not abandon her or leave if she had cancer or some other illness. I don't want to abandon her with this disease. But I an increasingly feeling like things will never change. We have no money and she cannot work so I feel responsible for her. How can I get out of this life and back to what I thought we had? I love her very much.
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been there, done that
written by Teresa A. Denny , January 14, 2007
I lived for 6 years with a compulsive liar, had 3 children with him. My advice--just drop him now. I mean RIGHT NOW. Compulsive liars are just not worth the trouble it takes to deal with them. I have not seen the guy in about 20 years now, and it took nearly that long to dismantle the b.s. filters I had to install in my head just to live with him. Seriously, you start to automatically disbelieve everything you hear, from absolutely everybody, even people you have no reason to distrust. Compulsive liars--who needs 'em??
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I am so lost
written by Lala G. , January 15, 2007
I am married to one of the world's most wonderful men. I have been with him 12 yrs and in May it will be 10yrs of marriage. This man has given me the world, trimmed with gold and full of life. I have done nothing but hurt him. I want to stop so bad! I don't understand why I just can't stop! I have lost his trust, put my family in financial dept, and have pushed him so far to the edge that now I am in danger of loosing him and putting my kids through a divorce where they won't get to see their father as much. I cry EVERY SINGLE DAY. In the shower so the kids don't see me, in the car when they aren't there, and in bed when he is at work. I don't know what else to do. I don't want to hurt him anymore. He doesn't deserve any of this. I sometimes think that if I were gone, he and the kids could have a better life. Maybe even find someone who will deserve him. I not only love him, I am "in love" with him. I can't imagine my life without him. So as I type this crying like a baby, WHY? WHY? WHY? I want to stop so bad. If i could take away all the pain I have caused him, I would gladly give up my life. I am so sorry. Why can't I stop? Isn't this the bottom? I can't go any lower. If there is anyone out there that reads this and can help, please! Not for my sake, but for the sake of my children and my dear dear husband.
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this is a nightmare!
written by j. , January 21, 2007
My life is such a joke and it feels like a bad dream I can't wake up from. 13 years ago I got out of one abusive marriage with a liar and a cheat to yet marry another "lieing sack of crap." Out of the frying pan into the the fire I guess. Both of the fools I have married have terrible mothers... My current monster-in-law cut off association with my spouse when we got married due to the fact she did not think I was good enough to marry! Fact of the matter is... she wanted to shift this lying, dis-trustworthy, thieving bum off on someone. My spouse lies about small things, large things... he steals from our own home... and believe it or not... no drugs are involved. He is a timid mouse who is always afraid of being yelled at... loves to be controlled but yet there is a sinister, under-currant of sneaky manipulation going on here... almost like he feels so powerless with me that he secretly wants to have the upper-hand of a deception... sort of a one-up on me... or maybe he holds me responsible for that fat... stupid mother of his turning her back on him?! Who knows... but what I do know is that I am "bitter and angry" and betrayed and scared and although I can read a hundred stories of people going through the same thing... I still feel like I am all alone! My sanity is being drained each day... and I fear what will eventually happen here!
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How do I get out of this?
written by lass , January 26, 2007
It's a relief to see I'm not alone. I have been married for 26 years - 2 sons (one from a previous relationship) and now one beautiful granddaughter. I found out about his lying one week after we got married and it has continued ever since at varying intervals. I won't go into the times I have begged him to be honest and face up to things. It is nearly always about money and jobs.

He complains about everyone else always being wrong (never him) nothing is ever his fault.

3 years ago we went to counseling and stopped because as soon as we started to get somewhere he wouldn't go anymore. Now I have started to see the same counselor on my own. She believes that he needs drug therapy to calm him down and counseling to sort him out.

After another major bout of lying and him being phoned daily by about 2 banks and three or four debt agencies I realized that he will never change and that I might lose my belongings (which I have paid for) if the goods are repossessed. I told him I wanted a divorce. That was five months ago. Two weeks later he had a massive heart attack (at the age of 55) and he hasn't been well ever since. He has no family to go to - none of them will talk to him and no friends. I can't throw him out because he will be on the street with no money and no job. I feel completely trapped and now my counselor is trying to help me see sense and regain my life.
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Bed of lies?
written by EmmaJ , January 29, 2007
I met my husband 14yrs ago. We were a really good match, I was only 17yrs old and he was 19. We dated, had lots of fun and moved in together 10 yrs ago. Lived happily ever after eh!

Well, 1 week ago I was blown out of the water, the last 2 yrs or so were a sham (probably more, he won't quantify) and had numerous affairs with work colleagues. He has now moved in with the latest woman, I'm still reeling from the shock that the guy who adore me a few years ago could do this to me.

He is a compulsive liar given the stories/lies he used to cover his tracks and financial transactions (hotels, restaurants, drinks, etc). He involved friends/colleagues unknowingly in his deceit. Its not good to find out that he used your joint account at 3am to bail out his mistress from the bailiffs, 6 months after the event believing it to be an expense for a management course!

Well I'm going to re-build my life and find someone I deserve, as I'm a thoroughly decent person and he can live in his swamp of lies. He's lost the best thing that ever happened to him.
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Good Advise!
written by Sorrowful , February 03, 2007
I was in the same situation as you and upon discovery of the condition found out that in addition to being a pathological sociopath she was being directed by yet another sociopath in the background, her mother. They worked as a team of very sick people as if one wasn't enough. The mother a sociopath was not very strong, but her daughter, my wife was very strong but not very smart and together they were a sociopath that defies description. She is a pathological liar and has the commitment of a rodent, cannot get past her own feelings and need for attention that she draws from her mom under the facade of unconditional love. There is one for you. Saddest part of all, I could have helped keep it together and helped her, but I did not find out until I had been tortured for almost three years until I severed all contact from my wife and saw the aftermath. There is not enough room here to tell you of the disaster of life left for me in its wake so I will give you the lesson of experience, "Get out now and protect yourself, go where you have to and do everything in your power to get out from the influence. I am an ex Marine, para-military training and good old school philosophy training and I almost died. Death is serious, go now and do not think you can make a difference because truth is you cannot. Your life will be exactly what it is now and worse now that you know. Do not torture yourself and leave yourself open to the evil in this kind of person because life is better than that. God bless and I wish you well. With love and understanding.

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Living with a compulsive liar is not easy
written by Becky Rock , February 08, 2007
I experience your pain everyday. It's heart breaking I know. I am with a man I love very much, and he is also a compulsive liar. I guess for me I have to weigh the good in him and overlook the bad because deep down he is truly a great guy. They say you learn from example, well in my case it is true, his mother is a compulsive liar, when that is instilled in the brain from day one it becomes habit, a way of life, its really sad but it happens to a lot of people.. and because I understand that this has been a way of life for him growing up, because I love him dearly I have come to the realization this is a way of life for him, he is not going to change I chose to except him this way. For some people they might see things different and leave, its all what your willing to except.

Becky
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What do I do?
written by Val , February 16, 2007
I have only been married for 6 months and already think about leaving on a regular basis. I discovered that my husband was lying to me a couple of weeks after being married. I don't know how I didn't see it sooner. I have only just now come to the realization that he is a compulsive liar and this may never change. I have no one to talk to about this because I don't want to hurt or embarrass him. But I feel foolish and stupid to allow myself to keep being lied to. He continually spends all our money and lies to me about not having done so or having returned what he bought or deposited money, but it never shows up. He has lied to me so many times and fabricated documents, that I don't know if I can ever trust him. SO I guess I am wondering if anyone has any advice for me. What do I do? Should I leave him or give him a chance to redeem himself? How do I get past this and work through my doubt because I can't keep living the way I am.
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Will my children turn out like him?
written by Louisa , February 22, 2007
I have been married for almost 10 years to a man who is a compulsive liar. He is a good man when it comes to so many things, but he lies in response to any suspected conflicts as second nature. Because of that we can rarely deal with real issues genuinely, and the biggest issue keeping up from having a meaningful relationship is his compulsive lying. It is very lonely being married to him. We can never be close because his lying constantly breaks my trust. How can you be close, even have a friendship, when the foundation is not based in truth? How can he care about me if he won't be committed to being real with me? It has been so heartbreaking to realize because growing up I always hoped I'd have a good marriage and family one day - my parents separated when I was 3, and neither of my parents were close to me because of that. I just want to have a genuine relationship. I'm sad too because I know that children learn by example. I feel like I've lost out on having a real relationship with a spouse - it would break my heart if my children learned his behavior as well. It would hurt their lives and their future families. And it would rob me and them from being close to each other, if they choose/learn this pattern of behavior. I don't think divorce is the answer, but I don't know what is. I want my husband to go to counseling. Last week he intimidated my 7 year old daughter into lying for him for the first time. I knew it and took her into another room where she hesitantly told me the truth - she didn't want him to be upset with her. He has tried in the past to get me to agree to his reality, and now for the sake of my sanity I refuse to do this. But to start doing this with our oldest child? Something has got to change.
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How it affects Children???
written by MichelleB , February 28, 2007
Louisa, I'm very concerned for my own son as well as I cannot bear the thought that he will grow up thinking that lying is OK/Normal - it's NOT. Like most of the stories above, my husband is a compulsive liar - he has lied about his past conquests, he has lied throughout our marriage from big to minor issues. To top it all he constantly tries to turn it round onto me claiming that i 'Scare' him and he has to lie as he is scared how I will react!!! I have realized today that it is not ME that scares him but TRUTH thats scares him (whether that be telling the truth or hearing the truth). Lying and deception go hand in hand, I cannot live with this anymore as I am constantly worried on a day to day basis of what i will find out next. I stayed with him because yes, I love him and yes he is a good man - his heart is in the right place - I can say this as I truly believe his compulsive lying is a 'condition' and needs treatment like any other ailment. However, unfortunately I am not the one who can help him anymore. It hurts when I am being blamed for breaking up the family, he really cannot see that his condition is the root of the problem. I am biting the bullet and today I have requested divorce papers. Six years is long enough and even with counseling I cannot see how he will ever change. I hope he does and it hurts like hell to think that someone else may benefit from all my hard work but I just cannot let myself be put through the daily anguish and mental cruelty that he bestows (unwittingly) on me.

Point to note on compulsive liars in my opinion - they have no close friends! I can see why now because over the years their friends have found them out and cut contact. I used to think it was lovely to have my man at home all the time but I was wrong! They find other ways to deceive and cheat on you. They pull you into a false sense of security, then blame you when you find out they have been lying, then deny everything when you provide rock solid evidence, then they charm you with words of false promises (because you love them you WANT to believe so give it another chance) then they do it all over again. Like another reader above said and she hit the nail on the head for me - it's like he feels inadequate with me and wants to put one over me without me even knowing. I'm beginning to think he is getting a quick out of me discovering things just to get some sort of control????
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Ending it
written by SharV , March 13, 2007
I am just ending a 6 year marriage with a man who has lied to me from the start. All the same sort lies most of you have heard. My husband had told me time and time again that he had never been married. Purely by accident, I have found out that he had been married at least twice... possibly more.
This was the straw... the reason I would put up with the lies in the past was because he treated me so well. He was kind and thoughtful in every other aspect of our relationship. But the lies had begun to eat at me. I got so I couldn't even carry on a conversation with him, because I didn't know truth from fiction.
I consider myself an intelligent woman. I am educated, and have watched a Lifetime movie or two. I just can't understand what possessed me.
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Your Life Is Not Meant To Be Unhappy - Change It!
written by hh , March 14, 2007
All this discussion about whether he is a compulsive liar, pathological liar, habitual liar - WHO CARES? If he is lying, the effect is the same, no matter the label.
I have just initiated a divorce after a 20 year marriage. I loved this man since I was 17, I am now 50. He has never been honest about anything. He lies about finances, where he is, who he is with, events that happen at work, things that his doctors and psychiatrists tell him. I am completely financially responsible, but through lies, deception, and forgery, he has completely financially ruined me - us; the final insult is that he is a closet homosexual. He has a "secret" porn addiction that I stumbled upon, much to my disgust and shock. He denies his homosexuality with all his being. He is either lying to me, or himself. Doesn't really matter at this point. The divorce attorneys, his therapists, and I are the only ones who know about it. I would happily tell his family and friends the truth, but I don't want it to get back to my daughters.

The lies just never stop; his friends and family laugh at how outrageous his stories are, how charming and funny and entertaining he is. They are not invested in his lies; as his wife, I am. I have lost all respect for him. I have lost all trust for him. When he talks to me, all I know is that his mouth is moving. I went from believing in every word he uttered, every thing he did, to believing nothing. He says he truly loved me; if he did, he threw happiness away with both hands.

I have to look at my part in all of this; I am the classic co-dependent spouse, protecting his lies, not confronting him, in order to maintain the life we had. The fear of change, of losing him, kept me in his grip. I just could not understand how I could love someone so much, have so much to give, and it could not work out.

Now that I am several months into the divorce, I can tell you this; I feel like the weight of the world has been lifted from my shoulders. I am no longer a victim. I am no longer terrorized in my own home. My dreams are no longer undermined by a partner at home that drains my energy. I am proud that I took the step to make my life better. I am getting back the self respect that I have lost. Financially, it will take a long time to get back on my feet. The job market is frightening, I have no job. But I have hope. Something I could not afford when I was in the midst of this debilitating marriage.

Get yourselves a therapist, gather your friends and family for lots of support, find a divorce attorney, and move on.

LIFE IS NOT SUPPOSED TO BE LIKE THIS. YOU ARE ENTITLED TO BE HAPPY!

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written by stefj , March 23, 2007
I think I am married to a compulsive liar. It's frustrating, because that seems like a nice way to put it. To me he just seems selfish and uncaring about how his lies make me feel.


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I realized my husband was a compulsive liar when I returned from a deployment last year. It has been a long year and I am now just regaining control of my sanity. He has done things in the past, but after reading many responses above, am now realizing that I have been living a lie for the duration of my marriage, this year being the worst. When I first found out what he did while I was gone, financially draining our savings, I was in total shock, I went numb. I began to wonder who was this person I am married to. Then a domino effect happened, month after month, lie after lie... fabricated stories that never happened, porn addiction, and just totally living two separate lives. I had to see a psychiatrist to determine the level of sanity I had left. Believe it or not, the psychiatrist told me, at our first session, I was recommended to leave my husband. A person that thrives on lying is immature, immoral, and a toxin to the person that has to endure that life. I was totally shocked in hopes to save our marriage. But, it has only continued. I don't think my saga will ever end - as one individual noted above - will it ever end? I don't know - do I want to live like this for the rest of my life. I am just now regaining my sanity and have given my husband an ultimatum. We are seeing therapy and if it doesn't work out or improve, it's over. Life is to short to live in pain and misery. I have to much to live for, my children. ~Maria-Lani~
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written by shar , April 13, 2007
I'm glad to have broken the ties. My husband continued to lie to me until I refused to talk to him anymore. He told me he was never married and had no children. I have since found out about 3 marriages (plus ours) and two children.
About two years ago he went through treatment for cancer. He was telling me that the cancer had come back and he needed surgery. Two days ago the doctors office called and left a message telling him everything looked good, and not to come back for three months. I really beat myself up about leaving him while he's sick...and he used that to his advantage.
I'm glad to be without him... and I like being alone. I'm in a good place.
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written by Ms Tammy , May 23, 2007
I was engaged to a pathological liar - not my word for him, but the woman we started seeing for premarital counseling. We only had one session before I found out that he was dating many other women, telling old girlfriends that he still loved them, etc. He swore that he loved me and would do anything to change. He gave me access to his email so 'I could see that he's not up to anything.' That's when things got really weird - I realized that it wasn't just cheating. He would send emails even to guy friends about things that never happened, such as his phone being stolen by a pickpocket. I was with him the whole day it supposedly happened and I know it didn't happen. We wanted to buy a house together and I don't know if he had as much in savings as he said, I know that he had more debt than he had told me about.

I can't believe it took me so long to realize that he lied non-stop. If faced with telling the truth-even when I had proof, he would still lie. Even when there is nothing at stake, he still lies. The weird thing is that I still find myself drawn to him. I am still seeing the same counselor that he and I had started seeing together, she tells me that the lies have become normal to me and I'm as addicted to listening to them as he is to telling them. I try to stay away and ignore his attempts at contact. I agreed to have lunch with him last weekend. He seemed nervous for a while and we had a nice enough conversation. Towards the end I started to feel upset and get a little teary. I looked over at him, and the look on his face startled me - he looked happy and excited. He's the vulture and I'm the carcass. Don't think I'm feeling completely sorry for myself. I know that there are things I overlooked or ignored about him, and I want to make sure that I won't allow myself to do that in the future. I completely agree with the earlier post about the liar's feelings of inadequacy and desire to control or feel equal through deception.
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written by Darren Lapton , June 10, 2007
I feel your pain. My WIFE is a liar. She has lied to me since we were dating in 1990. Married two years later, I later find out she had lied about being abused as a child. I forgave her for that lie,it was pure pain. I then am told that I am like the abuser and that she does not love me the same. A few days later she meet with her boyfriend, spent 4 hours in his truck at a park, (talking and one kiss she says). She promised to break it off, found out she did not. He would not call her (as I told him it would be ugly if he did) so she started calling him. Went through marriage counseling. She kept on. Yesterday she got a text message from him, lied about it, I finally got the truth out of her, she admits to riding by his house yesterday too. How much more can I take, I forgive, she lies, I trust, she lies. She has a problem, I want to leave after 15 years of marriage w/ two kids, I just want it to stop! Will she ever tell the truth!
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written by Confused in AZ , June 29, 2007
It is so nice to hear that other people have similar problems. My husband and I separated about 7 months ago because he said I wasn't giving him what he needed. At the time he was also emailing another woman. To this day he denies an affair even though I found anniversary cards from her, photos, etc. He tells me it was a set-up to see if I was snooping. The problem is he has been lying to me since the day we met. He told me he had a degree, but when I tried to order transcripts they have no record of him. He swears up and down that he does, but decides to do another degree. He lies about money, he lies about everything. It makes me sick to my stomach. In the end he told me that he doesn't think I like him or respect him. I think that he is right as I don't believe anything that comes out of his mouth. He was just fired for lying, but he doesn't see it as that. He says she had it in for him and now I just found out something else he did at work. Right now we are in talks of getting back together, but when these lies pop up on top of everything else I just don't know if I want to get back into that. I am so afraid that my kids are going to grow up to be lairs. I am so honest so this lying drives me crazy, yet I always forgive and forget. I just wish I could trust him.
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written by MISERABLE AND DEPRESSED IS MY , July 24, 2007
My husband, of one month, is the biggest liar that I have ever met in my whole life. We have been together for eight years. I've been with him since I was 17 years old. My life is a nightmare 75% of the time and wonderful 25%. I have the worst monster-in-law so he has learned from the best. She has dedicated her every breath to ruining my life and he lets her. They work together. They are both manipulative and part evil. She has always hated me, but in front of others I'm her best friend. He plays games with my head and I feel like I'm going crazy. On the other hand he treats me like a queen, I fell in love with him because he is sweet, charming, always knows what to say, definitely a handsome man, he opens doors for me - makes breakfast in bed and not just on special occasions, and he works hard to support our daughter. Then he screws all that up when he lies about everything. I mean everything, all the time, every single day. Every day since the day we met he has lied about something no matter how small or big, or how stupid or important. It never fails. I do not believe anything he says at all. But I love him. Its so bad that I almost see him as a child most of the time anymore its almost as if he can't be held responsible for his own actions. I don't ask for much all I want is a normal life. Our daughter has even picked up on these "games". She has figured out how to manipulate situations to get what she wants. She sees Nana and Daddy doing this. Basically my "spirit" is broken. I am sad a lot. He is always feeding me a bunch of crap and the times when I'm dumb enough to believe it I get my hopes up, only to be shattered shortly after. Therefore its very difficult to get out of this depression when all of my own hopes and dreams seem so far away. I am physically, emotionally, and mentally drained. I'm torn between my heart and my head. Even though my heart is broken daily. He has changed a little. I know he is trying, and I also know that his mother has done this very same thing to him his whole life (his whole family too some are like her and the rest are also victims themselves). I know he doesn't want to be like that, not a lot of people do. In general people want to be liked. He has never lived or been shown any other way -- until me. I just want to be happy. I want that to include him but I don't think that it is going to be possible, which sucks after all the years that I have been fighting to have that very thing. Should I give up? OR Should I keep fighting? Any suggestions would be appreciated. I will write back with thanks.
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written by BB , July 28, 2007
Oh my god. I am reading this and can't believe there is an actual website and forum for what is tearing my family apart. I married a man six years ago that I thought that I thought was the person I was meant to be with. He had this way of making me feel that was incredible. I don't know when it went downhill, it wasn't long after we married that I started catching him in lies. I noticed when we were dating that he would exaggerate stories, and tell little white lies, but isn't that normal. I know a ton of men that exaggerate their stories, the fish I caught was this big, or I told the cop blah blah blah when he pulled me over, and I know a ton of men that tell little white lies, I can't come over because my son isn't feeling good, etc. But it has gotten so out of control. He has cheated on me three times that I know of, I forgave every time and we went to therapy. I finally started thinking that things were getting better and then bam another huge lie. The sad part is that there was a part of me that thought thank god he wasn't with another woman. This time I left though. Hotel last night and hotel again tonight. My two boys, yeah did I mention that my precious young boys think I am staying with my sister who is sick. Does this ever end? Do these liars hit rock bottom ever? Do they ever look into their children's eyes and realize they have got to get some help, they have to salvage their lives? Have I lost, Have I failed...
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written by SR - Trinidad , August 01, 2007
I am so glad that I have found this site because I thought that I was losing my mind trying to deal with my lying husband... I though that I was in this alone and reading all these stories its like reading different chapters of my life... I've been with my husband since I was 14... I'm 27 now and we've been married for 3 years... but from the beginning while we were in school to up to last night he has been lying to me and I've reached a point where I don't know what to do... I don't believe in divorce... I believe that what God has joined together no man can divide... but I can't take it anymore I feel as though I'm losing my sanity.......
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written by I can't believe this is my lif , August 16, 2007
I feel so relieved to know I'm not alone. I am reading my life story over and over in your comments. About 5 months ago, I found out that everything my husband of 7 years had told me about his life was made up--a complete lie. I filed for divorce within two weeks--there had been so many lies before about things big and small that this was the final straw for me. We separated about 3 months ago and I feel that a huge load has been lifted off my shoulders. I am devastated, angry, lonely, and depressed, but I am determined to come out of this stronger and happier. I have two young children, ages 2 and 4 and they are by far my biggest concern. He wants joint custody and I can't say he's been a bad dad because he hasn't. But I am so concerned about my kids being exposed to him and his ways. I have no proof that he's nuts and he sure doesn't think he has any problems. I would love to talk with anyone who's open to it--I feel so alone.
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written by frustrated! , September 03, 2007
Oh my gosh...what a relief. Even if no one talks back I can vent with others who feel my frustration. I've been married to my husband for
2 1/2 years. I catch him ALL the FREAKIN time lying about EVERYTHING... big or small. when we first started dating I believed it, the I caught on, started doing a little research on what he was telling me, and today I confront EVERY STATEMENT that I think MIGHT be a lie. I mean everything. If he tells me he did 3 loads of dishes I question him on it... cause it's probably 1 or 2. Seriously I question everything, and always tell him to "quit exaggerating" even if we're with other people! I go out of my way to point out his lies and exaggerations even if it embarrasses him. If he wants to play... I can play back!! Hang in there girls!!
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written by maaike , September 17, 2007
This forum has given me real strength and I keep coming back to it in order to re-affirm that I have not got it all wrong, that I was not going crazy, that it is not all my fault... you and I are all doing the same thing and ruining our lives by questioning ourselves and hoping and trying and then trying some more. There is NO point! I was with my partner for 12 years and became an incredibly anxious, nervous, desperate and depressed person. Even if I KNEW the truth, he lied so convincingly that I thought I must have got it all wrong (despite evidence to the contrary) or I must be going completely crazy! He would of course tell me I was quite mad and paranoid.... We got married 5 years ago and as soon as we did he went into overdrive lying. I had, before we got married, found out he had an affair. We split up for 10 months - but in the end he convinced me that it was over and that we should marry. 5 Years later he told a marriage guidance counselor that he never had an affair. When I pointed out that he had been on holiday with her he denied that. When I put to him that he went to Indonesia with her the counselor asked if he went to Indonesia. He admitted that but stated 'she just happened to go there as well'. When the counselor asked if they had spent the time together he did admit this. She laughed! And eventually told me to get out as he was a compulsive liar and a control freak and would never change! It took me another year, losing more confidence, feeling very panicky, depressed and forever questioning myself - before I decided I could take no more. We are now divorced - but he still writes me emails and even now he tells me gigantic lies in those mails. He very obviously has got some other woman - as I bumped into him with her - and lots of things have become clear since we split up. He never stopped lie-ing and probably had more than just the 2 affairs I am aware of........

I have finally decided not to have any contact with him at all - and am not responding to his mails anymore. What's the point?

I still feel anxious and have a notion that I am in some way 'addicted to this liar... it will take time - but things ARE starting to feel better and there are days that I manage to feel quite peaceful with myself.

I have wasted a lot of my life and energy and above all, my love and trust on this person. He will do it again and again. He has done the same with the wife he had before me and he will do it again with someone new.

I am 53 and have a good job - my kids left home years ago and are settled. I only wish I had stopped it all years ago! But there is still a lot of life left!

So to anyone in the same situation. Get out, get out, get out!! All you achieve is having you head f...ed up, being sad and depressed and anxious and wasting your lief! Surely no other person (however charming or nice they are in other aspects) is worth throwing your life away for???
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written by lodi girl , September 19, 2007
Wow. My stomach aches from reading stories I could have written almost word for word. Finally free from a compulsive liar since 2004, after seven years and two daughters, I am still haunted by the destruction that man caused from his compulsive lying. I TRULY thought I was one in a million experiencing this insanity. Sure it occurred in psychology text books, but to be married to a compulsive liar, what were the chances. He is still the same. But now without a family to love and be loved by, he is homeless, jobless and on drugs, but in his words he makes great money, works as a independent contractor and chooses to live with his mother because it is convenient, and not having a car is due to high gas prices, not because he lost his license due to drug convictions. He doesn't pay child support because he needs to save his money to start a wood carving business. smilies/wink.gif. And of course the 75 pound weight loss is from a healthy lifestyle not the meth you have been busted with 3 times.
I still break out in hives after talking to him and my self esteem is only slowly coming back. But I will survive....
Last word ladies. RUN and never look back.
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written by Married in Florida , October 09, 2007
Wow. My heart goes out to everyone here. I am going through the same thing. Lies Lies Lies, and for no apparent reasons. My wife and I have four children together. They love their mommy and she loves them... But she is sick... What the hell is the "right thing" to do. Nobody seems to have a practical, guaranteed solution. I hope and pray the everyone on this forum comes to peace in their family. God Bless.
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written by ames , October 14, 2007
I'm so sorry that all of you are going through that same thing as I am.
I too married a compulsive liar. I didn't know it of course. I've know for many many years that he had a lying problem. It wasn't until doing some research recently, that he indeed was a compulsive liar.
So many things said here are the same. One being is that he lied from day one. Yes, mine did too. But again, we didn't know what we were getting ourselves into. I've been a trusting wife, and he took advantage of that, stole 12 years of my life, and has nearly taken my sanity away. I have never felt like "I" needed to be put away and locked up for craziness. This is what they do. Make us question ourselves.
My husband is also physically abusive.
The lies are so ridiculous that no other human being would believe them except him. I truly believe that he doesn't see his lies as lies, but as the truth. I fear he is deeply mentally ill. We are separated right now.
I've told him we are going to marital counseling and then family counseling because my daughter deserves to have her feelings heard.
He has cheated on me, how many times? I don't know. One of the affairs is with my sister. The lies about that are the most crazy. The only thing he has ever admitted regarding her, is that he drives by her house, but contends that the reason is because "it's an alternate route home" or "it's on the way". It's about as OUT OF THE WAY as possible. I asked him again yesterday about it, he gave the same answer in the same tone with the same words. I knew then, he was insane. He angrily yelled on the phone that "IT'S ON THE WAY". If you all could see how out of the way it is.

Compulsive liars, I believe are serious addicts, and I've found him to be absolutely without remorse. Stone cold. Sure, he's apologized for f-ing things up. But I don't believe he is truly sorry.
My daughter grieves for the daddy she wishes she had had. She's 11. When confronted with hard copy evidence of his lies, he still denies. This I will never understand.

Over the 12 years I wasted on this man, he has spun so many lies he couldn't keep up with them. I question every single thing he has ever told me. Now, in retrospect, I look at the things he's told me, and I find them completely absurd and highly unlikely or possible to have ever occurred.

They care only about themselves. If you think they ever loved you, you are dead wrong. They do not love their children. They only care about themselves and how they look to other people. My husband has stolen my family. They all hate me, and I never did anything to them. I have not one person to call to talk to. No one but him. And I think he wants it that way. I believe he has told my family lies so they will hate me. My own mother even.
Worst of all, he is perfect in her eyes, and she gets angry and will not hear of anything negative about him.
I have no mother. She believes him. She hasn't even called me once over the last several months to see how I am.
The pain he's caused me is unbearable. I've had very dark thoughts b/c of this. I have started individual counseling. May it bring some sense to this whole thing. May I be validated as the decent, caring, trusting person that I've always been. One that despises liars and seeks only truth.

I hope I someday heal from the hell that has been my life. The man I married never existed. This hurts worst. He NEVER EXISTED. I gave him my all, he took everything.

I pray for us all
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written by sscott , October 22, 2007
Okay... on the one hand, it is comforting to know that I'm not the only person going through all of this right now (even though I have no one I can talk to about it, so it certainly FEELS that way). But, on the other hand, I feel that it's HORRIBLE that ANY of us are going through this!

I am REALLY unsure of what to do because I'm still demented enough to really love this man I married, despite the fact that he consistently lies about things - big and small - on a VERY regular basis. He lied for months about being addicted to online pornography. Of course he insists that he has never or would never cheat on me, but how am I supposed to believe ANYTHING that comes out of his mouth? He lies about the smallest thing too - such as when I asked him if he had a chance to order something we had discussed buying, he said he had not gotten around to it yet, but he would try to do it today and I had already gotten a phone call from the company confirming the order! It doesn't make sense! Why would anyone lie about something like that? I have tried confronting him about things and that does absolutely no good. He will look me right in the eyes and lie about it - not once or twice, but MANY times. Like others have written before me, I will provide documentation and he STILL lies! I just don't understand it. And, the unfortunate thing is that everyone outside of our relationship thinks he walks on water. They would NEVER understand - or even believe - what I'm going through. It makes me sick.
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written by Leanne , October 30, 2007
3 yrs for me. Is he mentally ill, or just a pathological LIAR?? Really doesn't matter I guess. He ripped my world apart, deceived me, betrayed me, and crushed any trust I ever had in him. My heart bleeds... But like Ames says... the man I thought loved me so dearly... HE NEVER DID EXIST... Can't help but pity the poor guy. What a way to live your life. Preying on and hurting others. Shattering hearts and lives... Crying shame.
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written by Lisa G , January 01, 2008
Comment to Lala G. I have been through what you're going through. You are insecure and afraid of losing this person. You also have a low self esteem. You mess up because you see yourself as a mess up. Stop being afraid to tell the truth. Do something for yourself and realize that you are somebody. Stop depending on acceptance from anyone other than yourself. You are special. Love yourself and stop lying to yourself and others everyday. You are valuable. you don't have to lie or be something that you are not to be special. You already are.
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written by truthseeker45 , January 15, 2008
Hi everyone,
{hugs ) for everyone who is in pain due to the CL in their life. I have been observing for a month now.
I am seeing a pattern in all of the posts. Btw, I too was dating a CL for approx 1 1/2 yrs. Bucket overflowed.
The pain of STAYING with a CL is WORSE than the pain of LEAVING.(in my case) I threw him out 6 months ago, tried dating, lies didn't stop.
I went for counseling for a year to deal with the CL in my life, didn't help. . .WHEN I found this board, it was the validation that I needed. I wasn't crazy. It wasn't ME. I have many things to say I think would be helpful to the majority of you all because I'm am one of those people (former psych major) I have to analyze everything. My counselor told me "doesn't matter why" he lies . . . PERIOD. . . (not good enough for me)
I have to know WHY? . .I did research, research and found this board and I found something on this board that I didn't get in counseling or anywhere else.
In my humble opinion, I think we ALL just need/ needed to know 4 things (FACTS) (all I can think of at the moment)
1) WE"RE not crazy, we're NOT going insane,
2) It's NOT our fault (case in point, it's not EVEN about "us")
3. We ALL need/needed to be "VALIDATED"
4. We Indeed are NOT ALONE in this diabolical dysfunctional relationship w/ the CL

I see a pattern. We all have the same "doubtful" thoughts and we ALL appear to have the same "doubtful" feelings.
I just want to say this. . . . FEELINGS are REAL, they're not right or wrong, their ours, we OWN them, if something does NOT (((( feel ))))
right, THAT is our body/mind telling us "WOW, something isn't right here? Am I right? It's our bodies way of telling us WOOOOOW!. . .STOP! . . .this is NOT Right!
okay, I want to share this. . .Last relationship I was w/ a heroin addict. . .Lucky ME, 2 Mr wonderful's in a row.(not proud of admitting this)
but trying to share hope, knowledge and experience
w/ all of you loving, heartwarming people on here.
Lying associated w/ the H addict was a tad bit different than someone who lies compulsive (without drugs or alcohol)
But what's ironic is that the heroin addict (who also is big hearted) but if I told you what he told me everything he did way before he met me (I'm very forgiving and BIG hearted) you wouldn't pick him up off the side of the street if he was homeless and freezing to death . . He actually TAUGHT me how the mind of an addict thinks, he educated me (don't care about the addiction part) as much as the manipulating, conning part of playing on people's weakness', how he lied, why he lied . . .
okay so I learned my lesson/lessons from him. . . I moved on . . . then I met my wonderful CL #2 . ..
Yeah . .I'm thinking HOW THE H*LL (the intelligent person that I am), end up with another sick person)
Is SH*T magnet written on my forehead??????/
I learned this: I went to Naranon on the internet. . .I learned THIS.
ADDICTS, ALCOHOLICS, SOCIOPATHS, or CL, etc
Call it whatever the DSMR book calls it. . . .in the real world, it comes down to this and I hope this gives some or all of you comfort . . . . .. When someone has a disorder or disease. . . .it's a FAMILY disease. . . .someone does drugs . . ..their NOT the only one that suffers the DISEASE or DISORDER, EVERYONE around them, family, friends
we SUFFER the AFFECTS of the disease or disorder. WE suffer the illness ALSO. .
Case in point, If someone has a mental problem, mental disorder, addiction, or multiple diagnosis. the ones that love the sick person, related to them, associate with them, SUFFER THE DISEASE OR DISORDER also.
I hope this helps somebody. I did not get this from a book.

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written by truthseeker45 , January 15, 2008
I couldn't fit everything in one post
HERE"S THE CONTINUATION OF THE LAST POST!
I learned it from experience and others' experience. . It's NOT about US. . . I have more to say but can't remember everything at once. I have memory problems due to a medical problem . (boring) so my heart goes out to ALL of you.
If anyone EVER feels crazy and needs a friend, my
email is This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .
One more thing before I come back and post,
KNOW THIS . . . .As long as you are AWARE that something is NOT Right (the lying and all) the fact that you ARE AWARE of it means that you're NO where NEAR to being crazy or insane. . .It's NORMAL to doubt yourself after being with someone "untrustworthy." You might FEEL insane but you're not. If you DIDN'T feel crazy or insane after being w/ a CL, then I think you SHOULD
worry. . .then you would probably be in DENIAL . .
All of the posts I've read on here, I want to tell you all this : . .I'm hearing your pain and I am NO expert and don't care about being right or wrong but I want to say that you're ALL PERFECTLY COGNITIVELY INTACT.
You might be confused, torn , devastated, in a rage, in a state of despondency, but "this too shall pass" It's NOT YOUR FAULT, you're not weak, you're not stupid, you're not crazy and you're powerless over the CL.
You can't help someone that doesn't WANT help, furthermore if they don't EVEN realize they HAVE a problem, their in DENIAL . . ..THEY CANNOT BE HELPED!
(just remembered, this is the 3rd liar I've been with)
If you can't define or admit the problem, how can you come up with a solution? (this is just MY thinking)
My heart goes out to all of you and PLEASE try not
to do that "why me" thing . . . think this instead
"okay NOW I know, I hurt, ask God to tell you what the right
next move is? . .It worked for me.
Sorry, ignore that last thing if you're not spiritual.
I'm not on here to bible-thump.
hugs to everyone!
Oh, did I mention (details don't matter) former CL broke my spirit SO bad last nite that I hurt so bad, I broke down and did the ONLY thing I have left. I Prayed for the sicko!
ps
there's knowledge and wisdom AFTER the pain and w/ pain.
You end up WISER, STRONGER and SMARTER
been there done that, seems like my life story
hugs to everyone

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written by Frankly , January 31, 2008
I read a lot of the posts here and I know what most of you are feeling. My wife of seventeen years has been lying to me right from the beginning. I didn't know it right away, if fact, I sort of rationalized her lies away for several years. Quick background, we were both married before and had custody of our individual children and received child support form our respective ex-spouses. About eight years into our marriage my ex-wife apparently stopped paying support ($62.50 twice a month). This went on for over a year with me asking about whether the checks were arriving . When I received a check, I noticed the statement that my ex was not in arrears. I asked my wife if she had seen any checks, she said no. It turns out that she had been forging my name and cashing and spending the checks. When confronted she justified it by saying she was buying groceries with the money. I told her her actions were despicable and that she needed to be honest from then on. She said "I'm sorry." and that was it.

About a year later I was doing an online credit check and found four maxed out credit cards. One to our home address, two to her business and one to her mother's address. I asked her about them and she admitted to all but the one to her mothers address. I asked if her mother was committing fraud and she said, 'she must be, because it isn't my card.'

A year later her business failed and in order to pay all the bills including all of the credit cards, she talked me into using my retirement to pay it off. I agreed to do it on the promise that she would at least make additional cash payments on the mortgage so we would be free of it by the time I retired. Once she found a job, I had to remind her of her promise. She made two payments and never payed again. A few months later I noticed a cell phone charger in her car. Knowing I would say that if she could pay for a cell phone, she could at least try to keep her promise, she denied that it was her cell phone and that the chargers were for phones she used to have (it was still plugged into the power outlet in the car). She continued denying that she had a cell phone until I opened the bill (I had thought it was some offer from out land line phone which was the same company Verizon). I called her number and mentioned how strange it was to hear her voice on a phone she didn't have. That was pretty much the last time I believed her about anything. Now that I am no longer in denial about her honesty, I can see that she lies about just about everything.

A few weeks ago she asked me if I still loved her and I told her no. She wants to stay together and promises to change. I can't believe her. The only reason I didn't leave with the check fraud and other things was I really didn't want to put either daughter through a second divorce. They are both out of the house now so there is no reason to stay. My religious beliefs have also been something that have kept me from divorcing her. I can't trust her words or motives and I don't love her, yet I am reluctant to throw away 17 years of marriage. I don't know if I can or even want to save the marriage from divorce. I am 57 and she is 51 and I am a little afraid of being old and alone. I don't think we can stay together much longer.
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written by From NZ , February 09, 2008
smilies/sad.gif

Yeah, well I've been married for nearly 18 years and boy, can I relate to what's already been said! I have suggested counseling, to no avail. We have two young boys, which makes things all that harder!
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written by Elizabeth1 , February 17, 2008
I've only been married for a year and a half to a compulsive liar. We had been together for 8 years prior, on and off. He cheated on me in the years before we got married - once that I know about. But I was still stupid enough to marry him. I suffer from being unable to believe that someone who says "I love you" could lie to my face. That's why I have pretended not to know that he's lying to me about almost everything. At least he hasn't spent all our/my money. He seems to get his parents to bail him out of any situations like that.
We just went through IVF after not being able to have a baby naturally. He walked out on me at 10 weeks, apparently "confused and unsure" about being a father. He said he needed time to figure out how he was going to support us. What he was really doing was renting another place, lying about where he was staying, and buying flowers & dinner for I don't know who. I know this because I opened his bank statement. I have finally told people close to me about what's going on. I've been protecting him for years. Now I have to protect myself and our baby, so I am leaving our home and my job to physically remove myself from any more of his screwing with my head. I hope that being out of this environment will let me break the cycle of discovering the lies, then believing the lies that cover it up. It's amazing how we can doubt what we know to be 100% right, isn't it?
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written by Jill S. , April 10, 2008
My husband is a Compulsive Liar. He has lied so much that he believes everything he says. He has destroyed all trust in his only son, his family, friends,and most of all Me. He had an affair with another woman and is now living with her and lying to her to. We would have been married for 16 years this year and our marriage is now moving toward divorce. My son who is 13 is at the point where he wants nothing to do with or have no contact with his father because of all the lies and deceit. He has said some very hurtful things to us and the relationships are at the point of no repair. I feel for everyone in this situation.
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written by Mikey , April 13, 2008
Its not just men, women too. My wife cannot tell the truth, period. You ask a question and get several different answers that do not correspond with one another. Then the admission of the lie and you are made to be the bad person because you "caught" the lie. Seriously seek professional help!
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written by lb , April 15, 2008
I too am married to a liar. He was a broke ass hoosier when I met him and he has spent us into the poor house over and over. The only reason I am still here is because I have been told that the state we live in (Missouri) would make me pay 50% of all debt and I simply cannot afford to do that on my current salary and be able to pay my own bills too. He refuses to file bankruptcy, never mind that he berated me until I filed 8 years ago. He said that me filing BK would make his life easier.

He lies about pretty much everything. He is the greatest, the best, etc. Does not have any close friends at all, has chased away all of my friends with his paranoia and jealousy. Says that he runs the entire operation at work but you wouldn't know it by his paychecks. He is without a doubt the biggest loser in the world. He's a fat lazy drunk too. I swear if I have to listen to him bitch one more time about being fat. Lies when you ask if he stayed true to his diet, if he drank 12 beers, etc. Spends money like no tomorrow. I actually had my own home, money in the bank and it's all gone. Shame on me for falling for all of this. I have been to the edge of the abyss one time too many with this turd. I feel like my time has run out. I hate even going home.
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written by mom , April 22, 2008
I cannot believe there are so many of us! I have 3 kids with a man who is a compulsive liar. They adore him and he is a great dad so I do not know what to do. His lies have put us in HUGE debt and he will not stop. I do not want a divorce but I know I cannot trust him. What should I do? My kids are so young. A divorce would destroy them and they are my first priority.
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written by RonS , April 22, 2008
I guess I am fortunate to have found out before things got too deep in my relationship. I dated this woman for two years and still love her, but had to end it this past week. Everything she says is a lie and she lies about obvious things when there is no reason for it. I only discovered what was going on after realizing she was being unfaithful. I'd like for her to get help, but based on my conversations with her, I don't think she realizes she has a problem.
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written by ShiMe , June 18, 2008
THANK GOD, THANK GOD, THANK GOD FOR THIS WEBSITE!!! I am really grateful that this website was divinely sent to me (along with other inspirations to get the hell out now!) because it came at the time when I was again feeling lonely and doubting my decision to leave a compulsive/pathological liar. After 2 months and 3 wks of meeting the man with that I thought dreams were made of, last week it this all blew up in my face because of me finding out how much of a human chameleon this man is. After having empty and pedestrian dating experiences for almost 3 years, I was so elated to finally be in the company of a man who made me feel those pubescent butterflies in my stomach that one gets when they have met someone that they feel they want to spend forever with. Our togetherness felt so natural, so right, and so wonderful that I experienced a natural high whenever I thought of him. THEN, all hell broke loss and I discovered that this man was making several other women feel the same way. I had began to suspect it because my I have a very strong intuitive spirit, but my logic sometimes gets the best of me. On several occasions when I knew that his story wasn't adding up, I would literally have vivid, I mean very lucid dreams of him being with other women and I would wake up in tears and in emotional/physical pain. I had become that connected to the man in such a short time. When I told him about these dreams and my premonitions, he said that I was insecure, that I was letting old baggage taint our relationship. That I was crazy for thinking that he would ever do anything to hurt me. As I look back, this man had told me exactly who he was from the beginning, but I wanted to believe otherwise. The elaborate stories about other women, about his businesses, about his material gains were mostly lies. Funny things is that these people have mastered the art of game playing so well that it is a bona fide sport for them that they refuse to lose. He was able to make a blind man think that he could see and a fat woman believe that she as a svelte as Karen Carpenter. Found out about the other women and tried to warn them and they all turned on me. He has been begging me back, and I admit, that there is this part of me that misses what I thought I had. Since I am a licensed counselor, I find myself wanting to help him, but i know it's a conflict of interest because I shouldn't be taking on my lover (whose in denial about who he is) as a client. No Way! After reading this site, I am so done with him that you can stick a fork in it! Thank you all so much for sharing and giving me the thought provoking forewarning and the courage to get the HELL Away from this man quick fast and a hurry! My life means to much for me to let it fall by the waste side of someone that chooses to deal with people's heart haphazardly.
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written by Caramelcharn , July 12, 2008
Hi everyone, thank you all so much for sharing your stories, I too felt alone and as though I was going crazy but now I know that I am not.

I an 26 and have been with my C/L for seven years. He also lied to me from day one. So many lies I don't know where to start. For instance when I first met him he had a daughter of 2 months old, he told me the mother was crazy, like his mother and now like me according to him, now I know why because we all have him in common lol, anyway I found text messages to hear saying how about it for old times sake! I took him back, he cheated on me denied it and finally admitted to it a year later, I took him back, cheated on me again with a colleague and put her name under a mans name, took him back, found numerous voicemails and texts to and from women he made lies and I did what!! Yes took him back, he went on holiday without telling me, then he said he went to Spain, I found pictures of him on a Ayia Napa website with no top on stage! We had broken up and I was devastated and he was in Ayia Napa, he has lied about jobs, cars, women, money and the latest I have found out is that he left his job or got sacked and has been getting up each morning pretending to go to work, id call him and it would be silent and he'd say that he is having a fag, I finally plucked up the courage to call his work phone and was told he no longer works there, he finally admitted it and is still telling me lies, I've had enough, last year I got an injunction on him and we were separated for 6 months and then I took him back, due to being lonely and scared and hoping he had changed after 6 months and that he really loved me what a fool, but sometimes I truly believe he does love me but cant help it - his family, my family and friends all tell me to get out but I love him, we have been separated for two weeks now and I try to keep strong, one day I'm angry the next tearful its so hard and the worst thing is I really want a baby and cant imagine a life without children and really wanted to start planning this year how could I have children with a liar who will break their tiny hearts too like he has his daughter? Please help, love and messages of support

God bless smilies/smiley.gif
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written by maaike , July 17, 2008
He won't change. Please, don't waste any more time on him. I know it is hard to stop - it took me almost 13 years and I still struggle some of the time - almost 2 years after we split up for good. It is almost an addiction, but if you want to, you can beat it! These guys are really controlling and for some idiotic reason we do things that are really very much out of character. I also put up with affairs and tried and tried and tried again. Very demeaning! Become your own woman again! You are young - plenty of time to find a nice new bloke and have kids.....

It is actually better being lonely on your own than being lonely in a relationship. And bit by bit you will find peace and won't be so ridiculously nervous, tense, upset, tearful, emotionally dependent.

I thought I would never get over him, but although it is taking time, I can feel myself taking more and more control of my life and have started laughing, singing along with the radio and being 'me' again. And you know what? I like myself better this way - without him. MUCH better. And so will you!

And we all think we love them - so make a list of the things you love/like about him and another one of the things you hate/dislike about him. And be really honest! What's the bet that the second list is a lot longer? It will help you to make that break! Yes, I miss the nice bits, but now know that I will never ever go back - you can do it too! You know this is not going anywhere and do you really want to end up on your own in 10 years time? Having wasted yet more time having your heart stamped on over and over again? If he loved you, he would NOT do this!

Do you want to throw your love at someone who is incapable of loving you? He no doubt tells you that he 'loves you to bits' 'you are the love of his life'.... we have all heard the words (a CL's blueprint!), but his actions show you that's all they are ..... words. If you love someone you do not hurt them - over and over again. And if this is an illness, do you want to be his Florence Nightingale and give up your life to it?

Again..... start enjoying life! Have kids with a nice bloke some day. for God's sake do not have kids with this guy. Kids deserve better - as do you! Good luck!
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written by joattawa , July 27, 2008
I was with one for almost six years. I found out he was lying about being raised in Thailand,dating models,and winning the lottery. I found this out after 4 months of dating. I should have gotten out then. My friends were telling me "RUN!" I stayed in and thought we could work it through. I didn't realize then how deep this problem is. He was a nice guy and that got me really distracted from this illness of compulsive lying. I lived with him in two apartments and then moved to a really large house over the course of 5 years. When we got to the house, we got engaged. He broke the engagement off after a few months of wedding planning. It hurt like hell, but now that I look back, I am so glad that I didn't marry him. I wouldn't want my life to be filled with such dishonesty. I was losing respect for him as a person. He lied about the places that he's traveled (he didn't even have a passport!), he lied about jobs that he never had, he lied about anything that would make him feel important. When I caught him, I would confront him. I eventually noticed that he would go out with his friends when I was at work. I figured that he could keep lying to them this way without me calling him out. At the end of the relationship he told me that his self-esteem had never been lower than it had been with me. Wow! If anything, I was trying to build him up as a person and get him to like himself without the "fluff". Ladies, if you're willing to live like this, then go ahead.....but it's miserable. If something does happen, you won't know whether to stand behind you man or wonder if he's telling the truth. This illness is hard to cure. I know if I was married to him, we would be divorced by now. I want an honest man and I was lucky to meet one once the liar dumped me. We are married now and I don't have to worry about deception anymore. There is hope, but only if you get out!