ADHD and lying: Why it happens and how to stop

For many people with ADHD, lying isn’t about dishonesty. It’s a stress response.
Some days your ADHD brain tells a tiny fib just to survive the social jungle. Saying “yes” when you mean “no.” Inventing excuses for forgetting something obvious. Lying isn’t villainy here — it’s impulsivity, executive dysfunction, and a dash of fear.
In this episode of ADHD and, Dr. J digs into why ADHD makes dishonesty feel automatic. Plus clever ways to notice, pause, and try something different in the moment.
For more on this topic
Listen: The noisy ADHD brain — plus ADHD and lying
Read: Why ADHD lying happens (from ADDA)
For a transcript and more resources, visit MissUnderstood on Understood.org. You can also email us at [email protected]
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Getting your child the support they need at school shouldn’t feel like a fight. But for millions of families, it does. In Zero Reject, an investigative podcast from Understood.org, award-winning journalist Anya Kamenetz looks at how changing federal policies are reshaping special education — and what’s at stake for families trying to access the support their children are legally entitled to. Start listening now.
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