Have you ever looked at your spouse, child, parent, friend, or loved one and asked, “What happened to the person that I used to know?” or “Why do I feel so crazy when I talk to them?” Living with an alcoholic or addict can be stressful and overwhelming, especially when they lie to you. If you have ever lived with an alcoholic or addict, you already know that they can be good at lying. They can look you in the eyes and tell you one lie after another and become infuriated with you when you don’t believe them. Ever wonder why?
Some of the common reasons that alcoholics and addicts lie.
- Lie to hide the fact that they are drinking or using drugs – Many people that are abusing alcohol or drugs will try to hide their usage. This is particularly true for teenagers. They don’t want you to know that they are drinking or doing drugs, so they will lie to keep you from questioning their activities.
- Lie to cover up how much they use – Alcoholics and addicts will try to hide how much they use so you don’t think that they have a problem.
- Lie to cover up their feelings of shame – Alcoholics and addicts often feel ashamed about their addiction. In order to hide this shame, they may lie about their actions or begin to attack your actions or motives.
- Lie to get out of trouble – If the alcoholic or addict thinks that you will be angry with them or that they will have consequences for their actions, they will lie.
- Lie to recover from the hangover – Alcoholics and addicts will make excuses for the time they have to spend recovering from their latest binge.
- Lie to get access to more drugs or alcohol – Alcoholics want more alcohol and addicts want more drugs. If a lie gives them more access to what they want, they will feel justified in using a lie.
Alcoholics and Addicts lie to protect their access to drugs or alcohol
Ultimately, alcoholics and addicts lie in order to protect their access to alcohol or drugs. It is important to remember that when someone crosses the line into addiction or alcoholism, they become consumed by the desire to use again. The more they use, the more they want to use. The more they use it, the more they feel like they need to use it. The more they use, the more they feel like using is the only viable solution to all of their problems. The more they use, the more they feel that if you try to take away drugs or alcohol, you are the problem. The more they use, the more the addiction consumes their thoughts, feelings, and actions.
New Dimensions Can Help!
If you or someone you know is experiencing any of the above symptoms or problems, New Dimensions can help. Our team of experienced therapists and psychiatrists can help you overcome these challenges and help you develop the skills you need to thrive. To schedule a complementary assessment or to find out more about our programs, contact us at 1-800-685-9796.
Our affiliate, MHThrive, provides Individual Therapy, Couples and Marriage Counseling, and Family Therapy at our locations in Katy, The Woodlands, and the Clear Lake area of Houston, Texas. We also provide telehealth therapy for anyone who resides within the State of Texas. To schedule an appointment with one of the MHThrive therapists, contact us at 713-477-0333 or visit www.mhthrive.com to learn more.