I keep hearing around me that the world cannot continue as it is! Honestly, I don’t know what to say—I’m not that optimistic, or should I say naive? I’ve witnessed many historical changes that, in the end, left the world pretty much the same.

Yet we’re witnessing, perhaps not just recently, a major epidemic that no one seems to talk about—the epidemic of lying!

People writing about brand X or Y for money, even though they’d never actually use it themselves; people presenting themselves as X or Y to gain money and followers, despite the starkly different reality at home; people posting about their happy families when they know deep down that’s far from the truth…

Now, let’s not throw stones! I understand the need for validation, admiration, and financial stability. Plus, once you’ve joined the dance, you have to keep dancing, right? But nobody speaks about what this dance truly costs us—the effects of these constant lies…

The prolonged effect of lying deeply harms our minds, bodies, and souls. Lies without a higher purpose, without saving someone, just lies for lies’ sake.

In the religious tradition I come from—Orthodox Christianity—truth is seen as light, and lies as darkness, casting shadows over the soul and preventing us from clearly seeing ourselves and the reality around us.

Modern psychology confirms these same truths scientifically. Studies showed that people who reduced their daily lies experienced fewer physical pains, less tension, and warmer relationships. Brain scans (fMRI) reveal that each lie forces our brain to juggle multiple realities simultaneously, significantly increasing mental stress and fatigue. Moreover, repeated lies numb the amygdala—our emotional center—and weaken our moral compass.

Long-term effects include chronic pain, persistent fatigue, heightened anxiety, depression, sleep disorders, panic attacks, identity crises, low self-esteem, and even cardiovascular problems resulting from sustained stress. Recent psychological studies further demonstrate that chronic lying weakens our immune system, increases risks of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, causes concentration difficulties, severely impairs memory and decision-making skills, and deepens feelings of guilt and shame—potentially leading to social isolation and profound difficulty in building authentic relationships. Being healthy and cultivating genuine relationships is essential for our wellbeing!

The aim of this article isn’t to make you stop lying overnight—let’s be honest, that’s hard for most of us. But we can begin by looking honestly in the mirror , by confessing the truth to ourselves first, and then to others.

PS1: Don’t convince yourself that “if others can do it and benefit from it, so can I!” You don’t know their reality, how much suffering lies behind the image they present. You only see a facade!

PS2: I know from personal experience and professional practice that sometimes a psychologist’s office is the only place people can speak the whole truth—or reveal truths they’ve never admitted before. Here lies the psychologist’s mastery: their gentle yet courageous ability to help people open up. And that, my dear ones, is no small thing!