[Gareth Monkton]

Does severe anxiety in people suffering bipolar / psychosis cause people to lie ?

I have read that according to Derek Wood at Mental-Health-Matters.com, "Bipolar Disorder can be associated with low serotonin levels, which has been implicated in impulsivity, which...makes a person more prone to lie."

I have also read that the lies that are told as a result of the bipolar condition vary on a case-by-case basis. Some lies are harmless and others can be devastating.

Is it the illness or is it the person's character that causes loss of control and to tell lies ?

[Crazy Hitch]

Hi Gareth,

I think there will be different responses here.

So please read mine as my personal opinion only.

Episodes in Bipolar can impair judgment. And we can do things we wouldn't do when stable. Could this possibly involve "lying"? Maybe, I'm not sure. Depends. Is the lie as in not necessarily disclosing EVERYTHING one has done during an episode to protect one self or others? For me, yeah probably. I'm not TRYING to lie. I just choose not to necessarily disclose absolutely everything unless people are on a need to know basis. Depends on the circumstance for me and depends on the people.

Impulsivity - sure - I'm impulsive as hell. Am I honest? Yeah, I pretty much am to be truthful. But I do do stupid things. And I don't exactly put my hand up and say "Hey, it was me Hooligan!" Classic Example: During one of my manic episodes I thought it was totally awesome to superglue coffee mugs on all the staffs desks at work. Just seemed like the right thing to do at the time. Did I ever own up afterwards and say hey it was me? No. [Footnote: I wasn't asked if it was me, no one was asked who it was actually, and I did not feel the need to go to my boss and say Hi, I'd just like to tell you I was the reason nobody could removed their coffee cups ]

Yes.

These "lies" I would assume are on a case by case basis.

My non disclosure of super gluing coffee cups - meh - my business I was never asked so I never told.

I don't think it's my "character" that makes me do impulsive silly things. It's stuffed up brain chemicals in my head when I'm manic. I don't get to choose the dosage of chemicals being pumped in my brain during an episode. But I do get to choose to work closely with my pdoc in order to work out which meds will suit me best during an episode in order to dilute the stuffed up brain chemicals.

Just my opinion.

[RedEagle]

Question doesn't make much sense. Anxiety makes people uncomfortable, fidgety and nervous, it doesn't make people lie per se.

[Gareth Monkton]

Somebody very anxious and going through a panic attack may lie to somebody to relieve the source of the panic, deflect blame perhaps ?

[cypherious]

The only time I can say My anxiety cause a "lie" is in response to the dreaded question "are you ok?" my usual reply being "yes, I'm fine" even when crumbling inside.

Mostly because people don't generally understand what is going on in my head or they just plain flap about things and it gets on my nerves.

[i dont matter]

I am offering ZERO scientific insight.... but, my understanding of anxiety as well as the fight/flight thing makes me think that lying may be one way that people with anxiety simply deal with their anxiety. IE Tell people whatever it takes to get them out of your un-comfort zone.

[mountain human]

About the only time I'm not lying is when I'm having a panic attack lol...otherwise I'm very skilled at hiding my true self from the world.

[CosmicRose]

They cannot measure serotonin levels....so...."low serotonin"...interesting, I would research more on who wrote that. Because there is currently no way to measure such chemicals in the brain. Matter of fact, the term "chemical imbalance" is a theory.
Anyway, I'm sure there are a number of factors that could cause someone to lie. If someone is frightened, for whatever reason, in the fit of panic or anxiety, then depending on their motives, one could lie...yes. But no, just having a panic attack would not cause someone to lie randomly.