Addiction is a chronic, progressive disease and the addict is often in a state of denial. Admitting to an addiction problem is not a part of an addict’s mental repertoire and they become quite adept at manipulation and lies. Addiction can cause some people to become dishonest and fabricate all kinds of stories to cover-up their whereabouts and behavior. Addicts tend to segregate them self from family and friends in an effort to use their drug of choice without any repercussions from outsiders.

Top Five Lies an Addict Tells

Lying becomes a defense mechanism and survival tactic that they begin to use to keep from admitting that they have an addiction problem and need help. Long-term addiction adds to an addict’s loneliness, and bitter regret of the past may begin to set in. Other problems caused by addiction such as health issues, financial problems, estrangement from family and friends, homelessness, etc. just compound an addict’s dilemma, and this is turn can add to the manipulation and lying in an effort to justify himself.

Addiction to drugs and alcohol affects the normal functions of the brain. Lying, deception, spinning, manipulation, propaganda, evasion and other tactics may become commonplace. Unbalanced thinking and destructive behavior patterns are oftentimes caused by the drugs and alcohol and are a separate issue from the addict’s choice of free-will selection of expression. Together they can cause a hornet’s nest of destructive behaviors, and anyone who is interacting with an addict should learn to identify the tactics of manipulation and lying that an addict uses.

Compartmentalization is a psychological self-defense mechanism that separates opposing ideas and values. An addict will use people and situations from specific compartments to defend his behaviors and thoughts, but he will never use his addiction as the cause of anything. The addiction compartment is shut tightly and may be difficult to open. One of the goals of interventions is to pry open the addiction compartment so that the addict faces his problem head-on, negating denial in the process.

People who confront an addict’s behavior are viewed as the enemy and the addict may use every trick in the book to deceive them, because if the accuser is wrong then there is no problem to defend.

Some lies that an addict might use include:

• The addict will tell you that he does not have an addiction problem and he can stop using at anytime. He may say that the use of drugs or alcohol helps him reduce the effects of a stressful job, and that is the only reason he uses. Denial plays a major role in addiction and may be difficult to overcome without professional help.
• The addict may claim that his situation is not a normal one and he will stop using when his situation returns to normal. He may also make promises to stop using to family members who he personally has hurt by his addiction; but most often the promises are not kept.
• The addict may say that he is different from other people and that he is “special.” His personally “exceptional” state is a delusion, but he will use it to preserve his addiction and justify his behavior.
• The addict may say that now is not a good time for him to stop using drugs or alcohol, because it helps him deal with problems such as stress, pain, etc. He will use rationalization as a defense mechanism to justify why he can’t or does not want to stop using at this time.
• The addict will try to blame his addiction on someone else by claiming that it was not his fault and he shouldn’t be held responsible. Excuses can range from the boss who fired him, the wife who left him, the father who abused him, etc.

An addict may be struggling with fear, shame, guilt, and other psychological and biological issues. It can be overwhelming at times to confront these issues and that is another reason why addicts will resist exposure to their addiction. Learning the cover-ups and lies that an addict uses will help you improve dialog with him and reveal the truth. Once the addict recognizes your support, and he believes he can trust you, he may stop lying to himself and others and agree to get the help he needs. Drug Detox Centers Toledo can help. Just give our recovery advocates a call today at (419) 299-4060.