Mental defense mechanisms are a normal part of how the human mind operates. This is especially true when addicts are forced to acknowledge unpleasant facts, feelings or actions.

Why Do Addicts Lie?

Addicts are masters at concealing the truth about their actions. This is no fault of their own, but is merely one of many negative manifestations of their addiction. Lying and addiction go hand-in-hand.

Asking why addicts lie is akin to asking why sober people tell the truth. The disease of addiction does not support an honest and healthy lifestyle. It forces addicts to do things that they are not proud of, resulting in a chain-reaction of untruth and deception.

While the addict is not setting out to deliberately believe or convince us of things that are not true, it may seem otherwise. The addiction employs any number of defense mechanisms when the mind is confronted with uncomfortable truths…