compulsive lying is a symptom of mental illness, its very difficult and painful to bear and even worse to recover from. but it’s not discussed as such. when we talk about compulsive lying, we talk about the people who’ve been lied to, we use words such as manipulation and betrayal. we shun the person suffering from it and say it’s only justice. I’ve spent two years on this website and I’ve seen only one post showing support for those suffering for it and it has been derailed with the usual “no one will love you” and “you’re awful” comments. like you have no idea how exhausting it is to live in lies, you have no idea the level of self-loathing and distance from reality it entails. it’s called compulsive for a reason. people lying don’t mean to do it. they can’t help it. I suffered from it my whole childhood, due to abuse. it’s been hell recovering from it because I had no help, no one to turn to. you can’t open up about it to anyone because the ableism surrounding this particular disorder offers no mercy whatsoever. this needs to stop. compulsive liars need help not censure. they need to know that they’re not monsters, that they can heal. they need to know that they can be loved without relying on lies. these people are ill and lost and ultimately, they mean you no harm. they just can’t tell the difference between what is real and what is not. I understand not wanting to meddle with someone suffering from it, I understand the hurt it causes. but it’s nothing, nothing at all compared to the hell that is compulsive lying in a society that hates those afflicted with it on principle, I can assure you.