"If you tell the truth you don't have to remember anything"

I like this quote by Mark Twain... I guess we all know that this illness makes us lie (sometimes big!) when we are going through difficult moments, either of lows or (especially) highs.

This quote makes me think of all the situations in which I would be caught by surprise due to things I had said and then forgotten; sometimes it is difficult to avoid embarrassment and telling more lies is easier than telling the truth... and having to tell people about my issues even when I wouldn't like to.

There are things I have said to people which I can't even remember in detail, e.g. that I was working for the government services and things like that... It's not even funny when this kind of big lies surfaces in some situations and I don't know how to react, especially if I don't want to tell everyone about my illness and all the rest.

Have you also experienced this kind of situation because of lies your illness made you tell people?

Hey, I thought that was a quote from me.

This is exactly how I operate. My memory was foggy even before meds, so I never remembered what I told people, so I started telling them the truth.

The biggest lie I told, over and over again?

"How are you?"
"Fine, thanks"

Oliveira wrote:"How are you?"
"Fine, thanks"

I also had to say that countless time when it wasn't true. It's much easier than trying to explain how I feel without knowing why... Sometimes I say "I don't know" if it's family or a friend who knows. Meaning that I am not in great shape but that's it and I don't want to talk about it.

Most times I loathe the 'Hi, how are you today" greeting. My feelings are that most people don't really want to hear the true answer to this. It is more of a greeting than wanting an answer. So yes I say fine or good or alright most times as it is better and easier than to say anything else.

That is the one lie I continue to say more than I would like but the alternative is not better in this case.

I have told whoppers in my time. Most I do not remember to this day. I don't remember why I did in some situations as well.

If you want to mask, you have to lie, and it sucks. When people aske me how I am feeling, I have always gone with "well I'm alive and thats a good start".

"How are you?"
"Fine, thanks"

On the phone especially. That is the usual start in a conversation till they get to the point. People nowadays don't usually call unless they need something. It's easier to text.

Years ago I was getting a message to a priest and I sent it to a friend asking her to forward it for me. I was manic and was psychotic. I believed I was the Virgin Mary and that I had a special job in this world. Later, much later I felt awful and ashamed. Good thing is we lost contact with one another and she and I were no longer friends, but I am sure she talks about it. That I was looney and believed this to be true. When I talked to the priest on the phone he hung up on me.

Hi Quietgirl.
I'm sorry you were treated poorly when you were psychotic. I think that is the right word for thinking you were the Virgin Mary. (maybe delusional) The priest couldn't help you, but he could try and get you the help you obviously needed.

Back to the original question... I sometimes tell the truth when it would be better to remain silent.
Is remaining silent a kind of lieing?

I said "the right things" at my father's funeral in spite of the fact that we had no relationship. The people that really knew us knew the truth, and to the rest, it was non of their business.

How are you doing. Fine = Fu-kedup, Insecure, Neurotic, and Eveything else. Yea im fine. LOL

Alot of times if people ask me how im doing. I sometimes say Do you really want to know. Gotta love some of the looks i get.

Wow, I didn't know this was so common! Yeah, my most common lies are those "How are you doing? Fine, thanks!". Even when it's more than just a greeting, I still lie. Sometimes friends who know about my BD will ask "So how have you been doing?" and I always answer with "A lot better, I'm doing great". I don't know why I do this. Even with my p-doc, when she asks how I've been my first answer is always "Great!". It's really stupid!

Other than that, my lies are usually to cover up my mood. For example, I'll stay home and tell people at work I'm working at home when I'm really holed up in bed crying my eyes out. Or I'll say I've been sleeping and eating fine when I haven't. Or telling friends from work I'm meeting some other friends and vice-versa just so I can stay home without being bothered.

I feel stupid doing this. Sometimes I'd like to tell someone how I'm feeling just to let everything out, but I just clam up!

thanks skilsaw