We all stretch the truth now and then — to be kind, avoid conflict, or protect someone’s feelings. But a pathological liar takes lying to a chronic, harmful level.
It’s not just occasional dishonesty. It’s a deep pattern of compulsive, manipulative deceit, and it can destroy trust, relationships, reputations — and even legal cases.
Here are 10 key signs you may be dealing with a pathological liar — and how this behavior can cross over into legal perjury and emotional abuse.
🔟 Warning Signs of a Pathological Liar
- They Lie Easily and Often — Even About Trivial Things
They invent stories when there’s no need. The lies may seem small but are constant — which makes the big lies easier to sneak past you. - They Tell Grandiose or Dramatic Lies
Elaborate tales about past jobs, tragedies, illnesses, or connections. The lies make them look heroic or pitiful — often to gain admiration or control. - Their Stories Change Over Time
Watch for inconsistencies. The version you heard last month might differ wildly from today’s retelling. - They Deny the Obvious, Even When Confronted With Facts
Even when you have screenshots, witnesses, or written proof — they will deny it, twist it, or accuse you of “misunderstanding.” - They Gaslight You When Caught
You know they’re lying. But they’ll tell you: “That never happened,” “You imagined it,” or “You always twist things.” - They Lie to Avoid Accountability
Lies are used to deflect, delay, or dump the blame onto others. There’s always an excuse, always someone else at fault. - They Create a False Public Persona
Charming, respectable, even generous in public — while being controlling, abusive, or deceitful in private. - They Use Lies to Divide and Isolate
Telling one story to you, another to someone else — turning people against each other to stay in control. - They Repeat Lies So Often They Start to Believe Them
Pathological liars may blur the line between truth and fiction, even convincing themselves of their own stories. - They Lie in Court, Under Oath — and Feel No Remorse
When deceit spills into legal settings, it’s no longer just personal — it’s criminal.
This is called perjury.
⚖️ Perjury: When Lying Becomes a Crime
Perjury is defined as:
“Knowingly making false statements under oath in a legal proceeding.”
A pathological liar may lie in court documents, testimony, affidavits, or legal declarations.
They may:
- Make false accusations
- Fabricate timelines
- Deny documented facts
- Swear oaths knowing they are lying
This isn’t just unethical. It’s a criminal offense with potential consequences, including:
- Fines
- Court sanctions
- Even prison sentences in serious cases
And for the victims of these lies, the emotional and legal cost can be enormous — especially in family court, custody battles, or abuse cases.
🔎 Gaslighting and Lying: Spotting the Pattern — Emotional Abuse With Legal Consequences
Gaslighting is psychological warfare through distortion, denial, and lies.
When paired with pathological lying, gaslighting becomes a deliberate campaign to rewrite reality — for power, control, or self-preservation.
🔁 How Pathological Liars Gaslight
- They lie to your face and insist you imagined it.
- They tell others you’re unstable or vindictive to discredit your truth.
- They accuse you of lying, even as they fabricate their own stories.
- They use the legal system to harass or “flip the script.”
🚨 Gaslighting + Legal Systems = Legal Abuse
In many emotional abuse cases, especially involving narcissistic or manipulative individuals, the court system is used as another tool to gaslight.
Examples include:
- Filing false police reports or restraining orders
- Claiming you are the abusive one
- Manipulating children, mutual friends, or authorities with carefully crafted lies
- Lying in custody or divorce hearings to gain financial or parental advantage
This isn’t just interpersonal harm — it’s systemic manipulation.
🧠 The Impact on the Survivor
Whether the lies happen in private or in court, the damage is real:
- Cognitive dissonance: Your brain struggles to reconcile lies with lived reality.
- Hypervigilance: You constantly question yourself and fear being “caught out” for telling the truth.
- Shame and confusion: You wonder, “Am I overreacting? Maybe it is me…”
- Legal trauma: Being gaslit in court feels like being betrayed by the very system meant to protect you.
🌱 How to Protect Yourself
- Document everything. Keep records, screenshots, emails, text messages, and a detailed journal.
- Get legal support. If perjury is suspected, alert your lawyer — courts take false testimony seriously.
- Work with trauma-informed professionals. You need allies who understand both legal strategy and emotional fallout.
- Validate your reality. The lies aren’t your fault. You didn’t imagine it. You are not crazy.
💬 Final Word
Lying becomes abuse when it’s used to control, distort reality, or silence the truth.
It becomes a crime when it enters the courtroom.
Whether you’re facing emotional gaslighting at home or perjury in court, you deserve support, clarity, and justice.
The truth will rise — even if it takes time.
