Why do I lie?

Hi Alto-thanks for reaching out and your question. 

How long has this been going on?  There may be multiple reasons and factors at play and depending on the situation and the person or people involved.  The general one underlying concern though may be that when one feels that one is not acceptable or okay as one is, that may sometimes lead to prevarications, exaggerations and falsehoods.  Do you find that you are trying to please others? Do you get even temporarily what you want, e.g. sympathy or connection or relatedness to others? 

The bigger or more significant question is what you are looking for in interactions, what you need.  Perhaps the ways that you have related in the past did not gratify or made you feel badly?  Do you find that you do this with everyone or mostly acquaintainces or friends or family members?  Have people uncovered at times the discrepancy with the truth?  How do you feel after blurting out an untruth?  Are you aware of it at the time or is it planned or is the randomness meaning that you just articulate something that you were not intending to entering the conversation? 

What are your relationships with your family and friends like?  Co-workers or school mates?  Is there anyone that you haven't told a fabrication to?  What made this person or persons different?  These would be among the many questions and/or information that are relevant and important to consider.  Are you experiencing any other symptoms or concerns?  Such as anxiety or depression?  Have you experienced trauma in your past?  While there have been a lot of questions posed, it is important to consider all aspects of who you are and have experienced and how these factors may be playing into your issue.  Did you notice a change triggering this behavior?  Are you satisfied in other areas of your life?  Have there been strategies that you have tried to address this concern? 

It says a lot that you reached out with this question, it demonstrates your motivation to change and meet your needs in healthier ways.  I hope this elicits more thought with you and perhaps an intention to engage in therapy to work through your concerns.