THE PSYCHOLOGY OF SECRETS

The effect of keeping a secret on mental heath. Can it cause any harm?

Of course, yes. Keeping secrets, for example, in a family can develop a harmful surrounding that harms the members. It may bring anxiety, shame, resentment, stress, and trust problems. Some people may also turn to addictive behaviors for consolation. The secret holder feels burdened with the information and the bad energy makes other physical activities difficult to carry out. Even those whose thoughts are majorly on the secret find life harder. They may experience headaches, stress, and anxiety, thus affecting their mental health.

Does the content of the secret have an impact (ie something really serious like an affair etc)?

Sure, it does. If it brings mistrust, then the partner feeling betrayed may give up with a mindset that there could be more other secrets kept and may not be able to handle it any longer.

What if you find out someone close to you has a big secret? Can it cause damage to a relationship?

You may feel betrayed. And yes, it can damage a relationship because secret keeping is a form of deception and can cause trust issues, which may never be returned after breaking. It may even lead to divorce.

Is it sometimes good to keep secrets? And can sometimes unburdening yourself actually dump that emotion on to the other person?

In my opinion, no. I refuse because it will never set you free. It would be best if you find a good way of approaching them and expressing yourself to create a trustful relationship that has time endurance

Why do people keep secrets?

Most people prefer staying quiet over a piece of information because they think disclosing a secret will worsen the situation. Some people are fully convinced that their partner may not be ready for the truth- may overreact, and abandon them.