I can't stop lying

I'm a 17 year old boy and I suffer from ADD and take medication to help me in school life. In the last few years I've developed am addiction to lying.

I lie a lot and over the smallest things, Recently I was caught out in a big lie by someone close to me and had a serious thought about why I do it and this was the first time I had considered that I have a problem. when I was confronted about the lie I got home and started to think about how I could prove I wasn't lying, I made fake text messages on my phone to prove it (this wasn't the first time I had done this). Once I had done this I was laying in bed and started to right this after realising I had a problem.

I have no problem lying to people and will happily lie to someone close to me like a family member even when It is not necessary, for example what I did that day or over the weekend. It sounds odd but when I am telling a lie I believe that it it true and almost fake memories I my head about it even though it didn't.

The reason that triggered the lies is unknown to me, I had a normal upbringing where the only bad thing that happened to me was my parents divorced which to be honest never really bothered me. Other than that my life is boring. I go to a good school and have no other problems.

The only possible reason why I do it so often is that I enjoy the sort of thrill of lying, I often get bored of my life and always wish that something would change. The lies I tell are always realistic but are more exciting that what ever the truth was, like when I go on holiday I might say I was staying at the same resort as a celebrity, normally small lies that are believable but there are a lot of them.

I don't really know what else to say about it only that I need to change as it's not a healthy why to live.

Hello Just some person: I'm sorry you've developed this addiction. But the good news here is that you recognize this is a problem & you want to correct it. To my mind that is a huge first step!

I see this is your first post here on PC. to PsychCentral… from the Skeezyks! May the time you spend here be of benefit.

PsychCentral is a great place to get information as well as support for mental health issues. The more you post, & reply to other members’ posts, the more a part of the community you will become. Plus there are social groups you can join & chat rooms where you’ll be able to connect with other PC members in real time (once your first 5 posts have been reviewed & approved.) Lots of great stuff! So please keep posting!

Hey, I've been there. What I've found to be the problem, is that I would tell a lie or a fake story, and then end up having to tell MORE lies to support it. So, if you can, try to incorporate as much honesty as you can. Over time, you'll find it gets easier.

Stay strong,
Nikki