When you live with a mental illness like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), telling little lies may be a reality of your life just to make it through. Maybe you say, “I have a headache,” instead of telling people you're experiencing an intense flashback.

Can trauma make you a liar?

Other factors may also influence the development of pathological lying. For example, childhood trauma can result in the sufferer relying on lies to create a persona that can withstand the negative environment, a habit that can persist into adulthood.

Can people with PTSD be delusional?

Among combat veterans with PTSD, 30% to 40% report auditory or visual hallucinations and/or delusions. The presence of psychotic symptoms in PTSD is associated with a more severe level of psychopathology, similar to that of chronic schizophrenia.