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What should I do if people think I am lying?

208 Answers
Last Updated: 04/29/2022 at 8:35pm
1 Tip to Feel Better
United States
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Alex DS Ellis, MA, LMFT

Marriage & Family Therapist

Feeling depressed or anxious can be so overwhelming. I want to help you feel better and be able to enjoy life. You are not alone and you deserve emotional support.

Top Rated Answers
Alissa01
October 17th, 2019 6:50pm
What's important is that you know for your self that you are being honest. If you're being honest you don't have anything to worry about therefore you should be calm. You did your part which was telling the truth, it is up to the other person now to believe you or not. You should not have to force someone to believe you. Trust should be mutual. Sometimes it is not, then we as humans need to learn to accept the decision of others and move on. We have to learn to accept the things we can not change and either work with it or leave it alone.
Anonymous
December 19th, 2019 2:07am
Keep telling the truth no matter what - people always believe what they want, but if you are consistent the truth will come out. Your body language may also be a factor. Using open body language can help. This may include making good eye contact and not folding your arms - keeping your posture open. Find the people who believe in you and use them for support. People who believe you despite everything can hopefully become your really good friends and support for you. I really hope this helps. Believe in yourself, and other people will as well. Wishing you the best
hearingsoul
December 22nd, 2019 5:15am
well if you are lying and people are confronting you, honesty is always the best. but if you are not lying, you should stick to what you know its true no matter what the rest thinks, maybe try to talk them out of their thoughts and explaining them that theres no reason for you to lie so they should learn to believe and not judge so much. also try and not get very stressed about the rest not believing you, it only matters what you believe and what you stick to, never let anyone take that from you
SriVidyaSaraswati
January 5th, 2020 6:22pm
why bothering yourself about what people think? if i am telling the truth let them believe whatever they want! It is not my problem what the mind of others think....it's their problem and their mind! I am truthful so there is nothing to do about the negativity that other people react to what I say....I could explain to them that I am not lying....but apart from that I cannot do anything else. If they want to think that I am a liar, I cannot change their mind, so I don't have to bother with it. Just accept it, without feeling bad about them nor about me....
KiaraBowie19
January 10th, 2020 10:56am
You shouldn't have to justify yourself, you know you are in the right and anyone who doesn't believe you doesn't deserve to have you! Spend time with people who believe and support you, cut out toxic people who bring nothing but misery to your life. It's hard to say goodbye to people, in fear of loneliness. But it will be a lot better in the long run, otherwise they will simply think they can walk over you again and again. You are worth more than any of their opinions, if you are hurting and they can see that then they should support you no matter what.
Jing2010
February 14th, 2020 5:54am
In my opinion, and that is all it is - an opinion, if someone thinks you are lying, there are two reasons that they feel this way. 1) They are insecure/jealous or 2) You have someway or somehow proven yourself dishonest in their eyes. Either way, there is absolutely nothing that you can do about it. To attempt to prove yourself, you make it known that you recognize their distrust, thereby giving them satisfaction and/or more reason to doubt you. If you want people to believe you, make every effort to be trustworthy whether it is in your talking or, more importantly, in the integrity that you show in everyday life.
Anonymous
February 14th, 2020 3:27pm
Tell the truth. State the facts. Sometimes overexplaining makes things worse. So stay with the facts. In the meantime let others feel your sincerity and honesty in your words. Be as objective as possible. If you are telling the truth, you have done your part. People can interpret things differently. It is not practical to try to manipulate their ways of thinking. If you have proofs, show them proofs. If not, explain yourself in a nonjudgmental way. Don't blame others. By taking your responsibility and being truthful you earn trust. Remember don't explain more than you need. After that, go on with your life.
blueskiesforyou
March 22nd, 2020 1:47pm
If people think I am lying I would calmly let them no I was being truthful and ask them what gave them the impression I wasn’t be truthful . I would hope then to continue the conversation in a productive manner . I would try my best to consider what they were saying and double check my answer or responses to see if there was something I was saying that lead them to think I was being dishonest. If I know in my heart I was being truthful . I would try to show more compassion towards the person knowing that it was their issue or concern with trust and not me specifically. If we could not move on past this point I would refer them to another listener
gentleRiver9663
March 25th, 2020 4:30pm
Honestly there is nothing you can do. More than anything else, it's their perception. If they think you are lying and you are not, it could be what is called "projection". It means they are guilty of lying and their brain is attributing it to you. It's called an 'ego defense'. It's very common and is what happens when people wont admit they are wrong, even to themselves. Other than that, you just need to understand what other people think literally is due to their brain and perception, it has nothing to do with you. So if they think you are lying it is what it is, your going to have to accept it and depending on who it is, may readjust your views on your relationship with this person. Be strong. it's literally, neurologically not you. Because science.
Anonymous
April 4th, 2020 6:39am
Most people who constantly gets accused of lying has a history of not telling the whole truth. This may or may not bayous case. If the people you're surrounded by don't believe the things you say ask them why. If you already know why I would take the necessary precautions to change the way the perceive me. Another reason could be (if its not closed ended conversation) Is they don't feel you are knowledgeable about the subject at hand.So they don't necessarily believe what you're bringing to the table. I hope this can help you reflect on the many reason people think you're not telling the truth.
blissfulSunshine81
April 4th, 2020 6:31pm
If people think you are lying, then they must have a reason. Your words could just not sound truthful, even if they are. I know I have heard stories that are completely true, and I was even there, but they sound fictional. It’s a vicious cycle. But if they think you are lying, I would clarify that you are not. People are quick to jump to conclusions, and don’t always stop and think about who they can be judging. I would say make sure your words sound truthful, and always clarify your stories. If they still don’t believe you, then I would just walk away.
victoryhavealittlefaith5555
April 16th, 2020 8:42pm
It is very hard to live though the situations when we think that someone is doing something to portrait us in a wrong way. We can be exposed to judgments that hurt our feelings and what is even worse sometimes those situations can hurt people around us. Is it easy to say that if we did not do anything wrong things are easy? Is it really easy? On the other hand, do we need to go around and try to convince everyone that we are not lying? It also depends what the accusation that someone is lying is about, of course. That is a very important detail. I would say that the most important thing is that we trust ourselves.
Blynng
April 17th, 2020 2:00pm
The only thing you can do is continue living and speaking with consistency. We cannot control the thoughts, beliefs or behaviors of others. If they think we are being dishonest, it is their right to hold that belief, but their belief doesn't make it true. The best way to demonstrate your honesty is to simply live your honest life. If this is a consistently expressed opinion in your life, you might consider asking for feedback as to what about your behavior is conveying dishonesty. Sometimes our mannerisms and habits can give a message that we do not intend to give. Ultimately though, if you know you are being honest, then you shouldn't really need to concern yourself with whether or not others believe you.
Anonymous
April 24th, 2020 4:35am
It is never fun to either be accused of something or some one who thinks that you are lying. I t can also be a tough situation to be in! I would say that you should do everything that you can to convince them, and if they are not believeing you, you just have to say ' i know what the truth is and if they can not see that, that is really too bad' good luck!!!
pforpositivity
April 25th, 2020 6:21pm
I would try hard to rebuild my trust with them. When people think you are lying, it is usually because you broke their trust in the past. This may seem like a great feat, but a little effort can go a long way! Whether it be helping them run an errand, take care of pets/kids, or keeping a promise, they will eventually start to realize that you're a good person. They will begin to understand that you mean no harm to them and that you wouldn't lie to them because you actually care about them. It will take a little time, but sooner than later, they will not think you are lying anymore.
Anonymous
April 26th, 2020 1:54am
I have so many in-laws that constantly think I’m lying. I for a long time spent days and weeks trying to explain myself to them and it never seemed to work. It was extremely frustrating and daunting do you think about talking to them. I did eventually come to realize it does not matter what they think because everything I am saying is true. If it is not something that I have an opinion on but I can prove with the fact I have chosen to not let people bother me. I know that I could easily pull out my phone or something to prove that I am correct. That is not necessary. Sometimes individuals think that you’re lying because they are or they have trust issues. There are countless reasons for someone not to believe you more so than to believe you without any evidence. What I enjoy is continuing to be honest and never lying or extremely rare and keep moving with my life. Since I have chosen to be so honest I have my in-laws trusting me with what I say and even apologized which was a bonus!
Anonymous
May 1st, 2020 8:13am
We will still think about what we will become in the future. But soon, after a short period of thinking, it will be overshadowed by playful thoughts. But when everyone was young, he could not put aside the question, "What is your dream when you grow up?" Be a scientist, be a people's police. The answer of most of us always seems so great, perhaps out of envy, perhaps out of ignorance of children, but is it still the same today? Wake up your heart and look back at that time, what was your original dream? No matter what it is, it is possible to realize it, because everyone has a child in his heart and the motive force of his dream is always there.
lightbeing2020
May 6th, 2020 11:21am
Discovering people thinking about us negativity is hurtful and often we feel unfair if it wasn't the truth. What we can do is to re-establish our boundaries and also think about if it was based off mind reading through peoples' behaviour. If you managed to know someone who tells you that there have been stories about you lying, ask them what makes them think that way about you and respond accordingly to their concerns. At the end of the conversation, you can also invite the person to encourage whoever else talking about the stories to approach you directly instead if they have further concerns about your integrity. If you don't know who exactly had these thoughts about you, the best way is to not get into mind reading others' behaviours or expressions while continuing to try to communicate with others and practice self care daily.
Frostedflake
June 21st, 2020 3:31pm
Honestly there is nothing you can do. More than anything else, it's their perception. If they think you are lying and you are not, it could be what is called "projection". It means they are guilty of lying and their brain is attributing it to you. It's called an 'ego defense'. It's very common and is what happens when people wont admit they are wrong, even to themselves. Other than that, you just need to understand what other people think literally is due to their brain and perception, it has nothing to do with you. So if they think you are lying it is what it is, your going to have to accept it and depending on who it is, may readjust your views on your relationship with this person. Be strong. it's literally, neurologically not you. Because science.However if you are lying just try to be honest. The truth will set you free.
Keepyourmindcalm
June 27th, 2020 2:59pm
I don’t know you or the other people who think that so don’t take my words at face value. A good question you could ask yourself is “why do you thing THESE particular people think that about you?”. Also, is something that they told you or something you believe it’s in their minds? There’s a big difference between these two. If these people who think that are people you value and trust, I believe it would be really important to talk to them about it openly. Discussion is the best solution to everything. On the other hand, if these people are not important to you you don’t need to worry about them. You are the one you know your self the best! And remember that in order to be honest to others, you need to be honest to yourself! There are people who always judge others without knowing them. Mostly this happens because they are not honest to themselves. Take care! :)
Anonymous
July 14th, 2020 4:26pm
Dont take it as serious and dont waste your time to prove that..you are good...Just say i am not..if they really love they will come and say i trust.... so dont worry about other people words...you know you are doing good..then why do you want to explain to someone that person doesnt even want to believe you... so just leave them your behind and keep moving on..and the world doesn't stop if you just try to explain the person i am not lying... so keep moving and reach big heights...do what do you want don't stuck with others..just move on
Anonymous
July 16th, 2020 6:38am
Clarify their misunderstanding and if they refuse to listen, make peace with the fact that you know you're not lying. You can not force others to believe your truth, but you can feel better because at the end of the day you know you were being truthful. Remember that the truth will always shine through. If you are able to, clarify the misunderstanding with the whole group (everyone who thinks you have lied). It is up to them whether they will believe you or not, and you have to recognize and accept that. That will be the best route.
Anonymous
September 17th, 2020 4:37am
Try to prove to them that I am not and have evidence. I would also ask them why they think I am lying and work from there with them to believe that I am an honest person. It will be hard to prove to someone that you are not lying since they already have that opinion of you. I can also ask them if they just think I am lying about a certain thing I said or mentioned and figure out what made them think I was lying about that certain thing. I would just hope they will end up believing me.
RobertHealWithMe
September 17th, 2020 7:05pm
If people think I'm lying then it's a clear trust issue and that's not necessarily a sign of conflict but the other person is expressing a disconnect in our communication. I would ask them why do they think I'm lying, not to create a debate or a need to justify myself but more of a platform for us to establish where the disconnect began. I want to understand them and I want them to be able to trust me and relate to what I'm saying to establish trust. My objective as a listener would be to be as open as I can and share my experience wit the topic and through that also regain trust in the relationship.
Alisha1611
September 19th, 2020 9:29pm
Be comfortable in your truth. Life can be lived to the fullest when you live it for you and no one else. All that should matter is that you know you’re being honest. Trust that your integrity shines through and that others see it, if they don’t they are not worth your time. (Which is valuable) Stand firm in your our truth, express yourself clearly and concisely and answer any questions asked of you honestly and to the best of your ability. Unfortunately you can not control another persons perception of you, but the knowledge you have done everything you can, will enable you to let it go guilt free and focus on yourself and energies that are deserving.
YourCaringConfidant
September 23rd, 2020 10:45am
It depends on what the lie is. If it is a serious lie that can be detrimental to you or others around you, then you stand your ground and stand up for yourself. But if it is small, minor, insignificant lies... don't let it get to you. You have to pick and choose wisely. If there is something I have learned- it is that people will always think something of you. Whether it is good or bad is based on you as a person. If you know you are telling the truth, then you know and God knows. So who cares if they do not believe you. You can say it until you are blue in the face and some will still not believe.
Anonymous
October 21st, 2020 2:17pm
people opinion matters when they understand you support you and are always there for you no matter what kind of mess someone have become. Thinking about those people who see you as a looser or who can are not even able to trust opinion should not make a person feel worthless or sad. Getting out of the way and making new way toward people who have support and love and the trust is the life you should be living as a person. Letting go or not let the things that they think of you might be helpful in case you have to be around them.
bubblegumPuppy68
October 25th, 2020 3:11am
If people have already assumed you are lying without examining the evidence, there is nothing you can do. It is not our responsibility of what others think of us. They have the right to think as they please. Our and your job is to accept it as it is and not try to prove our case or change their minds. Let it go walk away and let them hold that bag. As long as you know what you have said was the truth, Let It Go. We oftentimes spend to much of our lives trying to worry about what other people think about us or say about us, even get tied into the He said She said cycle. People are going to be people but we have to learn to be confident in who we are. You don't need other people's approval and you have nothing to prove unless it is to yourself. Noone else
Anonymous
November 13th, 2020 1:28am
Nothing. You don't owe them anything. If they think you do, just calmly tell them that you don't have to tell them anything. If you're lying, you must have a reason, and it really isn't any of their business. If you feel they shouldn't know, don't tell them, it is your choice. Don't let them pressure you or manipulate you into telling them. Just tell them you have your own personal reasons for not telling them the truth, and politely ask them to back off. If they don't, you should cut ties with them and get friends who respect your right to secrets.
VixR
November 13th, 2020 12:34pm
I think maybe consider why you think people think that? Is it founded - has someone said this or is it a worry you have? Why would you have this worry - have you been lied to? Have you told a lie previously that you deeply regret? Not all lies are necessarily a ‘bad’ thing, often it is motivated to protect others. Regardless, perhaps confronting these people may alleviate your anxiety. It must be very troubling perceiving that others think this of you and evoke unpleasant feelings. I think this is something you can overcome and hopefully spend less time in your mind space.