Work colleague makes up 'funny' stories for attention

[Fudgeandtoffee]

Name changed.

So in some ways she's lovely. She's empathetic, friendly, extrovert, happy.

There's only one problem.

Her conversation can be great. She's a great listener and seems to know how to show interest in others. However, when she speaks her conversation generally revolves around funny stories. It's obvious to everyone that these are either entirely made up or exaggerated.

She got drunk and fell into her sisters wedding cake. She got drunk and told her old boss she fancied him. She pretends people have said things to her 'oh mark from accounts said I was beautiful'. Some story would go unnoticed but you can clearly tell after a few weeks of knowing her these stories don't add up and are far too dramatic.

She's witty and naturally warm and funny and she could be absolutely amazing if it weren't for these stories.

I don't think she'd know what to talk about without using them. That seems to be her only form of conversation.

I actually feel a bit sorry for her as everyone is laughing to themselves when she comes out with these outlandish stories.

We still all like her and miss her when she's on annual leave but this conversational trait is horrendous and will likely mean she struggles to make lasting friends.

I know she moved up here from her hometown 4 yeas ago and I think she's quite lonely. I think her interaction with work colleagues is the only conversation she gets.

AIBU to be annoyed? And is there anything at all I can do to help her become less like this?

She was an intern before and has now been given a full time and well paid job. I'm hoping this new experience will mean she has a move exciting life and more real things to talk about!

I make stuff up at work sometimes. I don't have anything to say and I'm very happy saying nothing but my workmates like chit chat. I don't want to share my real life with them but they keep asking so I make things up. I don't say anything ridiculous but I really wouldn't care if they did realise that I'm lying.

Have you posted about this before? Either that or mumsnet has an unusual amount of posters that know someone who made up falling into a wedding cake.

I agree with TheFirstMrsDV about it often being a sign of bp disorder. These people seem convinced they are the super star and centre stage of their own and everyone elses universe. And that everyone is desperate to hear every word they say.

I know they can't help it but it can get really tedious and exhausting to be around all the time. There's only so many allowances you can make for their illness at the end of the day. other people have lives too.

I knew someone who, the first time we really talked to each other, told me her father was a really famous author who was dying of an incurable disease. I asked his name (am pretty well-read). Nope, never heard of him. She told me the name of his most famous book - never heard of that either. I made polite noises but there was always a doubt in the back of my mind.

A couple of years I picked up the Sunday paper from the doormat and on the FRONT page (half a broadsheet) was that this guy , author of xx famous book, had died of aforementioned incurable disease. Ooh. Had the odd situation of having to ring ring my friend to offer my condolences just from reading the paper. Very glad I never expressed my scepticism to her

I think if someone I otherwise liked was doing this I'd challenge it in a jokey way so say something like 'there goes x with one of her stories again haha' so she knows people are taking it with a pinch of salt.