Stop Confusing Privacy with Lying | #216

In this episode of The Neurodivergent Creative, Caitlin explores the psychology of secrecy, honesty, rumination, and the very neurodivergent pressure to be “fully transparent” all the time.Because sometimes keeping secrets is not dishonest. Sometimes, it is safe. Sometimes, it is healthy. Sometimes, it is necessary.Inspired by a Psychology Today article and research from Michael Slepian and Alex Koch, Caitlin unpacks why humans keep secrets, what kinds of secrets people commonly carry, and when secrecy becomes emotionally or physically harmful. They also share how OCD, black-and-white thinking, and burnout created a belief that being a good person meant being endlessly open, endlessly nuanced, and endlessly available. (Spoiler: it does not!)💬"Sometimes keeping secrets is a safety thing. You don't have to tell everybody everything about you." - Caitlin Liz FisherWhat We Explore in This Episode:The difference between privacy, secrecy, and dishonestyHow OCD and black-and-white thinking can create pressure to be “honest” at all costsWhy oversharing can become unsafe or unsustainableHow secrets can cause distress when they create shame, isolation, or uncertaintyWhy rumination is often more harmful than the secret itselfHow confiding in a safe, compassionate person can reduce the burden of secrecyThree questions to ask yourself when deciding whether a secret is harmful