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 podcast@understood.org

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Listen to Everyone Gets a Juice Box, a new podcast from Understood.org where host Jessica Shaw has honest talks with parents raising kids who learn and think differently.

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