Former Pioneer Theater Company manager Christopher Massamine’s assertion that lying is a mental illness is something that I believe is true. And I feel a great deal of compassion for him and others struggling with this affliction.
As a (retired) psychotherapist, I specialized in treating adults who grew up in dysfunctional families. Most of my clients had an alcoholic/addict parent(s). Their families functioned in pervasive denial and isolation (and often traumatic violence), and the children were obliged to hide and distort the truth. They learned not to talk about the real issues, not to trust and not to feel. As adults, they continued (often compelled) to lie when it was just as easy to tell the truth.
Living in a system of rigid denial is like being gaslighted 24/7. One’s own perceptions must be repressed to maintain the family lie. This adaptation can result in compulsive lying. So yes, I have compassion for them. Therapy helps!
Dale Palmer, Sandy
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