“Still Haunts Me To This Day”: 26 People Reveal Their Darkest Secrets

Some secrets we want to take to our grave. Others we can share with the world anonymously without fear of our loved ones finding out. Researchers claim there are 36 common secrets that most of us keep. An average person keeps approximately 12 of them. Keeping some things to yourself is just common sense – you shouldn't go around telling others what your social security number is.

But people also keep other secrets – those that are less serious and harmful. One Redditor asked fellow netizens for their darkest and deepest secrets. And although not everyone delivered on the 'darkest' part, some of their answers were pretty humorous and entertaining. Do you have something similar you want to get off your chest? Let us know in the comments!

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Even if some of the secrets on this list are harmless and even funny, keeping secrets, in general, can have a negative effect on our mental health. Researchers at Columbia University discovered that the biggest burden is not the secrets themselves. It's that we're thinking about them constantly. That puts a strain on our mental wellbeing.

Behavioral analyst John R. Schafer writes that it can even trigger depression and anxiety. "To maintain secrecy, it must be on constant guard not to wittingly or unwittingly reveal itself, which causes stress," he claims. "For example, if a person cheats on a significant other, they might feel guilt and shame."

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Licensed Psychologist Dr. Alison Block writes that a lot of therapy is admitting secrets – to yourself and your loved ones. Most people avoid revealing their secrets out of fear. Sometimes, they're afraid it might damage a relationship. Other times, there's fear of judgment or disapproval.

However, Block is a proponent of coming clean no matter the circumstances. "Even if it's not what you want to hear, finally letting go of whatever burden you’ve been carrying could be beneficial to your health, both physically and mentally," she writes. "When a friend, spouse, or family member keeps small secrets and chooses not to talk about feelings or experiences, he or she is putting up a wall that hurts the relationship."

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Associate Professor of Leadership and Ethics at Columbia University Michael Slepian told The Cut that even sharing a secret anonymously online might help us take the burden off. "If you can talk to someone about it, you’ll be in better shape. It's best to confess to someone who can offer you valuable insight or help."