Here Are the Psychological Effects of Keeping Secrets
Even when we need to keep others in the dark Psychological Effects, keeping secrets as we become older can make us feel guilty, ashamed, and regretful. We can keep our new promotion a secret since our friend just lost her job, or we might hide our shopping receipts from our partner.
Psychological Effects of Keeping Secrets
Recent research, including one from Columbia University, indicates that the issue may not always lie in the act of concealing information. Instead, the source of our anxiety is the constant review of the information we’re attempting to hide. For instance, the Columbia researchers discovered that those with worse physical and emotional health tended to spend more time ruminating on their secrets Psychological Effects.
Secrets “begin to consume our mental and emotional energy as our mind wanders,” explains Parenting Pathfinders founder and CEO Michelle Felder, LCSW, MA. “The shame and guilt we experience can result in a profound fear of what other people might think if the secret was revealed.”
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Undoubtedly, the kind of secret matters. It’s one thing to keep secrets regarding a surprise party. However, when we break someone’s trust, we often feel bad about it “because we know how this information might hurt them and us,” according to Elizabeth Fedrick, PhD, LPC, owner of Evolve Counselling & Behavioural Health Services in Phoenix, Arizona. Because we frequently imagine the worst-case scenarios of what might occur if the other person finds out our secret Psychological Effects, fear plays a significant part in the development of feelings of shame.
How To Protect Our Mental Health
Living in secrecy can cause tension and worry. Felder advises those who have been hiding something for a long time to think about how crucial it is to their current identity Psychological Effects. She continues, “Secrets can be less taxing on our relationships and mental health when we shift from believing that they are a reflection of our identity to understanding them as a reflection of past choices or behaviours.”
Even though keeping secrets might damage our relationships, we sometimes do so out of habit. To the greatest extent possible, Dr. Fedrick cautions against “putting yourself in a position that requires you to keep malicious or harmful secrets from loved ones.” If someone’s secrets annoy you, you might need to create boundaries with them. If a friend keeps confiding in you, it’s fair to let them know that you don’t want to talk about certain topics.
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Missing out on sporting, recreational, and social events is immensely disappointing. These are significant losses. Everyone finds them to be quite disturbing, even youngsters, according to Dr. Damour. What is the most effective method to handle disappointment? Let yourself experience it. “The only way through a painful feeling is through,” someone once said. Go cry your eyes out; you’ll feel better soon if you let yourself.
It can be beneficial to talk to a person you trust, such as a friend, family member, or work colleague. You could feel better if you can talk openly about how you’re feeling with someone who cares about you Psychological Effects. If you reside in a location where face-to-face interactions are scarce, you can utilise a video call, phone call, or messaging app to keep in touch with your loved ones.
Continue to do the activities that bring you joy and fulfilment, such as cooking for yourself or your loved ones, spending time with your pet, taking walks in the park, reading a book, or watching a movie or TV show. By sticking to a regular schedule that includes fun activities, you can keep your mental health in check.
Avoid using dangerous substances like kava, alcohol, narcotics, or smoke to deal with your emotions. Even while they appear to be tempting initially, these things can really make you feel worse over time. These harmful substances increase your risk of getting sick or hurt, as well as the risk to people around you.
FAQs
What is an example of a psychological effects?
Physical deterioration might get worse as a result of psychological effects. For instance, after a fall, a person could become less confident in their ability to carry out tasks without falling. Therefore, he or she limits his or her activity in an effort to prevent more falls.
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