How gossip and secrets trigger depression and anxiety

Whispers, innuendos, drama, negativity, outright lies dressed up as well-meaning comments… All these things are part of your lives, and once you take part in actions related to them, you will soon feel their effects.

Not just on other people. Gossiping and keeping lots of secrets have a direct impact on your own happiness and wellbeing. Often downplayed as harmless, gossiping can seriously damage your inner peace and lead to a rollercoaster of emotions.

Secrets play their part in ending quiet and rest. Once they add up, you will no longer get the chance to be spontaneous. A different type of behavior will replace open words. And you might even get to the point where you don’t recognize yourself.

This is how daily gossip and having secrets bring about depression and anxiety:

1. You always worry about what might get spilled

It’s natural. Whenever you’re trying to hide something, your behavior will change. For example, you could feel guilty for keeping a secret, and that will easily cause constant worry and bad moods. Your focus will get worse, and you might find it hard to fall asleep as you’re thinking about the things that need to stay in the dark.

2. Being seen as a gossiper could hurt

You might believe it doesn’t matter if you gossip, but if you become a permanent part of the grapevine, you won’t just know everything that’s going on. Letting other people know what they shouldn’t or discussing personal matters that don’t belong to you will inevitably affect your reputation.

You will be less liked as people start to treat you with caution and watch their words around you. This will make it hard to build close relationships, and your social circle could dwindle drastically.

People will begin to avoid you as they make an effort to keep you at a distance to protect themselves.

3. It’s a lonely place where only secrets dwell

It’s not as easy as not saying a word about something. Trying to keep quiet about an issue puts a lot more at stake than that.

You will have to deal with a constant fear that the secret will be exposed, and your mind will be on a racing battle to keep it all covered up. That will make you grow hyperaware of everything that’s happening around you. And you will often overreact or make a big deal out of something that doesn’t really mean much.

As you ruminate about all possible consequences, your energy will get drained. Exhaustion will be just one step away. Your performance will halt, and you will soon get to thinking that you are an imposter. Until you come clean and face people’s reactions to your secrets, it will be hard to believe in any positive comments you hear about yourself.

4. Gossiping doesn’t get rid of the real issue

It’s not a long-term solution to what you’re facing. Sure, gossiping might seem like an easy way to let some steam off. It will make you feel better since you will get the extra attention, but it’s very easy to become addicted to that type of behavior.

Trying to fit in could lead you to gossip, but giving in to peer pressure won’t make you more confident just because you do what everyone else is doing. Find someone who shares your interests and start meaningful conversations.

Resorting to gossip when you’re bored is not a great idea either. Instead of adding up spice to your life, the sparks you set up to fly will just go round and come back to get you. Try to take on a different hobby or look for more information on an interesting topic. You will feel more relaxed at the end of the day.