Does anyone lie when they ask questions?

Yesterday, when I went to my pcp, the nurse ran down a couple of questions for depression. I thought, "why is she asking me this stuff? Does she think I'm about to let this doctor know what's going on in my head?" I lied. I feltbad about it, but I didn't want anyone flipping out over my thoughts. I don't know where the line is, and I don't want to cross it and find myself in the hospital. Especially when they are just thoughts that stay with me all of the time. Besides, if they I not my pdoc or my T, they have no rights to ask me questions about what is going on in my head.

Does anyone else lie about how they are feeling or what thoughts they are ha ing when questioned?

I do to casual acquaintances. But my pcp? I am not likely to tell anybody that im suicidal- except when i ODd. I called the after-hours line and they told me to call 911.

I’m honest with my tdoc and my pdoc. Like you, I feel that it is not anybody else’s business (like my pcp and other providers) so I’m vague with my answers or don’t answer. I even had my physical therapy place try to ask me ridiculous questions and I wasn’t having it. That’s just me.

I’ve learned to be careful how I answer things outside of my pdoc and tdoc. I once told one of my doctor’s nurses how I was feeling and they were going to call the cops on me. My pdoc has to get involved and say I was ok and I have these thoughts frequently. Never again.

Medical professionals, sometimes. Like I will lie to the pdoc about my weight if he asks me (though that only worsens things should he decide to have me stand on the scale). I lied about taking all my medication to pdocs , especially when I was on Remeron (just wanted to eat & sleep on that stuff, never full, hated it). I try to be honest with my T (so far I have been, but I've only just started seeing her) and with my pdoc as well as my PCP. Definitely lied a lot to H about overspending. If I'm unsure if I'll cross a line by telling the truth (i.e., be hospitalized), I will lie around that.

Other times, I have strong impulses to lie about something of little or no consequence. I don't have the faintest idea why. The truth would have worked and wouldn't have resulted in anything changing. Stupid stuff, just random, often even just to strangers (other parents, grocery checkers, etc.). I won't even tell a story that will generate more attention or sympathy. It's as little as saying yeah, I saw the lightning too when I hadn't, really dumb inconsequential things like that. I really don't understand this compulsion at all. It comes and goes, isn't always there; in fact, most of the time, it is not there,

I trust my psychiatrist very very much. I've known him for over 13 years. Though I'm an honest person, I have withheld information from others, including my husband, or worded things in a way that did so. I won't say that I've never told white lies, but usually don't. If I don't trust a person, they'll likely not know several things.

I never lie, but I fail to mention symptoms that I find too embarrassing to talk about. This ranges from physical problems to certain psychosis symptoms. I am more afraid now to be honest though since honesty got me hospitalized involuntarily. It's harder for me to trust mental health professionals.

I cant lie to any of my Drs. They're all in the same medical group/insurer and their systems are fully integrated.
Now everyone else, yes. Even my wife doesn't even know i'm B2. She just thinks i'm crazy...i assume

I don't lie but I give 1 word answers. My PcP is understanding. she asks thing like "how bad is your depression today" "When do you see Pdoc again?"

duh .... you have to ask ...

Yes. I have lied to my pdoc a lot which I know I shouldnt. But when I know the answers that will get me the meds I want or let me keep something I like that I know will get taken away I will lie about everything.

Same with any other Dr I see. If I see any benefit to lying I will.

I havent lied to my therapist. She has never given me any reason to and only tells my pdoc things if she can convince me to allow her to.

I dont lie to my husband often, only about taking pills and self harm but I am starting to tell him the truth more now. I definitely lie to him when Im at the ready to attempt stage but Im completely messed up then.

My SI goes from fairly bad to attempts so fast that I never see anyone when it is bad enough for involuntary hospitalization.

I recently had an employment physical and I lied about not having Bipolar. I didn't see the reason this doctor needed to know, not to mention I was afraid it would hurt my chances of getting this job. I told him I had MDD that was treatment resistant to anything but Seroquel. I was honest about the anxiety but it's not like anxiety is something that was going to cause me not to get this job. I would usually never lie to someone in the medical field, but this was a special case.

I am honest with my primary doc after all he's kind of my pdoc as well; I can't really hide much from him.

I don't know what I am going to tell my Cardiologist when I see him, I want him to help me and not write the issue of as something psychiatric; so I might need to use the same lie; granted with my anxiety he could easily call it anxiety and drop the case.

I have realized later that I lied, because I was downplaying something in my head then realized it was a bigger deal than I thought. Or I have said "I don't know", when asked if what was bothering me if it was jumbled in my head or something I am not comfortable talking about. Overall I have been very upfront with my psychiatrist, though. I have been trying to say I am not comfortable discussing something if I am not, because it isn't like you should feel forced to give them information, but I also want to keep that honesty between us.

I did lie to my old doctor my current doctor hasn’t really asked much but I do trust him.

I don’t know if this is related but I have refused to sign over my records from my previous clinic to my current one. My previous clinic has my records from when I was a minor and when I was in residential treatment and when I had multiple hospitalizations. Basically they have all the records and all the paperwork from when I was at my worst. I do not want this new place knowing my past history. So I refuse to sign over those papers. I just want to start new.

So I guess I am not totally honest with my doctor since he does not know everything or even much of anything that has happened these 12 years. But why should he? Shouldn’t he just be focusing on how I am now?

I've had a friend who has lied over and over for inconsequential things. This caused me to not trust her. Our friendship fizzled out due to my lack of trust in her. Please be careful about this. Try to stop if you can. Some people do notice.


WC

I keep some info just for my pdoc. My pcp does not get as much info. He does not have ny current diagnosis. He does not need it!

I just saw a sleep doctor and told him I have severe depression, which is what Bipolar Depression is! My pdoc and my pcp want the records and I am not about to tell my pcp about bipolar.

My pcp doc had said, "If you are having increased depression, please call us to keep us in the loop!'" "Why?" I had asked. "So we can support you, he'd answered. "Oh really? how so?" I had asked. He'd stammered a bit, then had no answer!
Just what I had thought. No good reason to let him know. I'd kept telling him I have a pdoc for assessments and for psych care.

I know several people who code for the local medical center and tell me about how they read charts and problem lists, etc. They see my chart while doing coding for billing. I am not about to put my full info into those charts. They promise confidentiality, but too many eyes are upon/into personal charts on the bogus promise of any confidentiality. I live in an area where everyone knows everyone else and his/her brother and grandparents, etc.

I do not lie as a rule. I will keep medical info to myself if it benefits me and my overall well-being.


WC

Sweetheart, This story is going to sound really hopeless in the beginning, but I promise that if you read it all the way through, you'll get something positive from it, so don't let it scare you. Okay?? I spent a good 15 years lying every time I opened my mouth. I didn't want anyone "with authority" to know what was going on inside my head. What would my family and employers think if I had to go to a hospital?? So I started using drugs and participating in other self-destructive behaviors to try to numb the pain and cope. My Bi-Polar progressed. I found myself in hospital after hospital because I did stupid things that hurt me badly. Needless to say, people found out, I tried "geographical cures" - running away, without telling my family or anyone lse where I was going. I like to joke tht I'm certifiable in 3 states. I was institutionalized in all of them. Still, I wasn't completely honest about what was going on in my head. In July 2000, I woke up in intensive care, restrained to the bed, on a ventilator - I had attempted suicide and I was really pissed off that the friend that found me didn't let me die. That was my bottom. It's been over 18 years now, and even though I have gone through hell in the last several months, heart surgery, tow amputation, perepheral artery disease... I almost died, and for the first time in my life, I was glad that god gave me a second chance. I could look in the mirror, love what i saw and say, without doubt that I WANT to live today. That's a miracle. I've been clean from drugs in alcohol for 18+ years. I have been abstinent from compulsive over-eating for going on 15 months. I am taking care of my self, taking the time to look and smell nice - to feel attractive, for me. All that happened because I started to be honest with the people who could help me. Hon, I promise, there is no shame in being mentally ill. You did not choose this. It chose you. And in my belief system, there is a reason, somewhere out there for why it chose us. Some day, you will be able to help someone else and it will be the most full-filling thing you've ever experienced. Now, you may have read some of my previous posts. I am going through a really heard itme emotionally, right now. I've been off my meds since I had my heart surgery at the beginning of July and I have been through a complete cycle sincethen - the worst of my life. I've calmed down a little because they put me on a mild sedative until they can figure out what i can take safely, given my medical conditions and the numerous meds i am on for them. It's gonna be a process and it might take some time. I'm tired. I'm cranky. I I don't sleep more than 2 to 4 hours a night and I cry for atleast half the day everyday. (I also started menopause the same month I had the surgery, so I hit the mood swing jackpot. But you know what?? As painful and hard and frustrating as it is, I'm okay. I'm surrounded by people who love me and medical professional who went to school for this. I am not gonna lie. I had the thought the other day that everyone, including myself would have been better off if I had died, and that scared me. That's my illness talking and I can tell it to shut up whenever I wqnt to. Honesty is the key to recovery. We are only as sick as our secrets. They grown in the dark and die in the light of day. I encourage you to speak out, be honest and ask for help. Even if you did have to go to a hospital. in the end you'd never regret it. Sorry this got so wordy. Contact me any time you want or need to. Take care of you!! - Mary / PaintedTurtle

The message above probably should have applied to everyone on this thread. I'm still learning how to do this. I'm "technologically challenged". They should have therapy for that in this day and age. If you're interested, read it. And know that anyone hre is welcome to contact me any time. I'm a people person. - Mary / PaintedTurtle

Me too. It doesn't even feel wrong anymore.

**RANT warning**
I don’t lie. It’s wasting everyone’s time.
I know I’m the odd one out but I’ve seen way too many brain damaged psych patients who have ended up in ICU etc.
What’s the point of seeing a doctor if you’re going to tell porkies?
Health professionals make decisions based on what’s been said to them.
*End of rant*

Thanks for your responses. I realize that it is important to be honest with those who care about you. I also know that sometimes, people don't really want to know how you really feel, So a simple "fine" is sufficient. I know that several people have been to the hospital and it has worked out in their favor. I just know that my thoughts don't always match my intentions. If I say certain things, a person who doesn't know me well may misinterpret my responses.

If I tell a lie, it takes me about 10 minutes before the guilt sets in and I have to go back and tell the truth. I never lie to my pdoc. I need as much help as I can get and if I'm not honest he can't help me.

I never lie. I add color to an event that really happened, most of the time.
At least in my mind it did happen.
Stretching the truth is not lying. It's called overreaching nowadays.
I consider it to be a lie, when is said for personal gain, or to throw someone under the bus.

Once another non psychiatric provider asked and I was honest about having dark thoughts and depressive symptoms, and they didn't/couldn't do anything about it so I learned to lie.

I usually don’t lie... I won’t answer if anyone asks my age though. It’s NOT their business..

As for “providers” - I learnt (by many “hard knocks” and other sub optimal responses from them ) to say the absolute minimum

I don't lie to doctors/ therapists.

I lie in another way

like.. because I'm so ashamed of my life, I'll lie about having a job or doing something worthwhile with my life.

" I'm a professional coutch potato" never sounded too good

I usually get away by telling people I work as a vet or a careworker

it's bad, but I do do it