How do secrets affect us

But so do genetic factors. Not everyone goes into shock after a traumatic event, much like not everyone experiences post-traumatic stress. What we biologically inherit plays a significant role in how we deal with our fight-or-flight responses.

While some people fly off the handle at the slightest inconvenience, more patient people show reduced reactions e. It is actually in our best interest to do so. The longterm effects of stress have been well documented, and they extend well beyond early gray hairs and serious irritability. The Mayo Clinic lists migraine headaches, chest pain, sweating, substance abuse and depression as common side effects, but stress can also cause heart problems, like cardiac arrest and heart attack — neither of which seems appealing in any way.

The couple is attending one of their presumably last therapy sessions. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Advertise Contact Training. Facebook Pinterest Twitter Newsletter Search. Next Neuron to Neuron: Dr. But the same study by Slepian found that it can be harmful when you actually stop and think about it. According to the study, people were found to feel a lot worse about their secrets, the more they thought about it.

This proved to be especially true if the secret they were keeping involved how an individual felt about themselves. People don't like feeling inauthentic. When they felt like they were holding back on who they truly were on the inside, it led to an overall lower sense of wellbeing.

They were also more likely to feel less satisfaction with their personal connections. The stress and anxiety you get from keeping a secret can lead to insomnia. According to the National Insititute of Health, more than 40 million Americans suffer from chronic sleep disorders. Many times, this is due to physical and mental stress.

Those with sleep disorders are at risk for diabetes, heart attack, [ Keeping secrets can be tough for anyone. But it's even harder for those keeping bigger secrets such as anything related to your true identity. As Hafeez says, "The bigger the secret, the bigger the inner conflict. Inevitably, this leads to more guilt and anxiety. Something which can ultimately have an impact on your sense of wellbeing. As part of the research, Dr Greenaway and Dr Slepian investigated the secrets of more than participants, covering stories of abortion, work, theft, infidelity, sexual preferences, marriage proposals, lies, hobbies, hidden relationships, finances and more.

They also looked at the way the secret holder interacted within their social network. For Dr Greenaway, whose prior research has included emotional regression, secrets make for a fascinating insight into how we connect, and disconnect, with others. The positive is that you feel greater trust and a bonding and that can improve your relationship. So the cost can be offset by social benefits," she says.

Greenaway and Slepian's research also found that there tend to be three kinds of secrets: those involving others, say infidelity or theft, those involving the self, personal preferences, health and positive secrets, marriage proposals and pregnancy. So not all secrets are equal, or equally as burdonsome. Greenaway hopes the new research will give an even better understanding of secret keeping, the emotions it brings up and most importantly, how to better manage them.