Bipolar disorder and lting is there a link?

Posted , 3 users are following.

Is having Bipolar disorder make patients lie on a constant basis?

But they fully believe what they are saying is 100%true.

My brother has bipolar 2 and he never used to lie at all, in fact he was the only one I would trust completely.

But as of late he tells stories in company and these stories have completely grown arms and legs and he was at family arguments when he wasn't even there, but he fully believes he was, can this condition be the problem or is there something else going on?

I really appreciate any help as this is breaking the family apart.

Thanks

0 likes, 5 replies

5 Replies

  • Posted

    Hello, Jane,

    I am no psychiatrist, but speaking from personal experience, your brother seems to be behaving with what is known as 'confabulation', that is to say, to make sense of a confusing and overwhelming input of sensory data, the person fits together scenarios, ideas, connections, etc, that explains what is going on around them. It's not lying as such, grandiose ideas, escalating stories of seemingly little sense or rationality are all indications of a mania. I myself when in the throes of mania used to make up completely irrational and illogical stories to explain my confusing and frightening loss of grip on reality.

    You don't mention if your brother is on medication, or under any medical supervision, but I would advise to watch for signs of this escalating, and to talk to him, ifyou can, to see if he himself feels frightened or worried about his surroundings. Be gentle and coax him a little, and maybe ask him if he would like to see a GP. When people are slightly manic they feel better than normal, and see no reason to see a doctor.

    Sorry for the long winded reply. It's the best adviceiI can give. He's not lying. His mind his racing

    • Posted

      Thank you Frank.

      yes he sees his Dr regularly he's on Lithium and all other medications.

      sees a psychiatrist every week.

      he goes over his past and screws every little bit out of a situation and clearly says he was somewhere when we know he wasn't.

      It's actually quite scary. He totally believes what he is saying and so does his wife. She believes everything he says and it's causing trouble in our family so she's falling out with is all but we know the truth.

      I don't know what to do for best. I speak to him or try to and his wife and it just ends up in arguments.

      thank you for replying

      much appreciated.

  • Posted

    Hi Jane,

    Could also be phychosis when you cannot determine what is truth or reality - the belief is so strong that no one can convince you otherwise....this is also a sign of becoming unwell and can be treated with anti-phychotics (not sure of the spelling)!

    Very scary when it happens but it does pass with medication. 

    • Posted

      Hi

      thanks for your reply.

      he is on lithium and many others..they trying to get the balance right.

      It's just so hard to deal with and I'm scares I male it worse but scared not to do anything and it gets worse and the family fall apart.

  • Posted

    Hi Jane

    Do the things in the past that your brother is talking about involve your family?

    Is it that you don't believe he is telling the truth about this?

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