Secrets in Marriage and the Need for Privacy

Secrets in Marriage and the Need for Privacy Relationships Spouses & Partners Marital Problems Print Secrets in Marriage and the Need for Privacy By Sheri Stritof Sheri Stritof has written about marriage and relationships for 20 years. Shes the co-author of The Everything Great Marriage Book. Learn about our editorial policy Sheri Stritof Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Carly Snyder, MD on February 01, 2020 facebook twitter linkedin Carly Snyder, MD is a reproductive and perinatal psychiatrist who combines traditional psychiatry with integrative medicine-based treatments.   Learn about our Medical Review Board Carly Snyder, MD on February 01, 2020 Carey Kirkella / Getty Images More in Relationships Spouses & Partners Marital Problems LGBTQ Violence and Abuse Being honest with your spouse does not necessarily mean you must share every single thought, dream, fear, or fantasy with this person. In fact, honesty may be a double-edged sword in your marriage. Knowing what to share and what not to share is an important communication skill for couples to learn and use in their marriage. It may also be something that can help or hinder peace and harmony with your spouse.?? Keeping Secrets and the Right to Privacy You have the right to privacy in any relationship, including with your spouse or family. In any relationship, you have the right to keep a part of your life secret, no matter how trivial or how important, for the sole reason that you want to do so. You also have the right to spend some time alone and with only yourself.  ?? In a healthy relationship. you honor the sense of emotional and physical privacy needed for yourself and your spouse. Otherwise, ironically, you end up limiting your intimacy  with one  another, not enhancing it. You cant be truly intimate with your mate without being in touch with the innermost parts of yourself too. Is Honesty Always the Best Policy? There are valid reasons for keeping a secret from your spouse. You shouldnt have to defend not revealing embarrassing or hurtful moments from your past. It is possible that the secret involves someone else who asked that the story not be told. There are many couples who have been married for a long time who have personal secrets that they havent shared with their spouses. The sense of space and the sense of a private part of oneself is important to many individuals. How to Decide When to Share a Secret   If you have a secret that you think you should share, but you are unsure about doing so, look at your own physical responses when you are hiding the secret.?? If your blood pressure increases, or you find yourself blinking a lot faster, or your breathing is heavier, or you are perspiring more, then these could be clues that you should share that particular secret. If you are keeping a secret because you dont want to face responsibility, this can create problems in your marriage. Withholding facts or information your spouse needs to know in decision making is harmful manipulation. Secrets that can hurt your marriage are ones concerning: Job problemsNot paying billsLending moneyNot revealing an illnessSeeing family and friends secretlyLying about how you spend moneyKeeping an addiction or substance abuse habits  hiddenLegal problemsHaving an affair Poor Times to Share a Secret If you are going to share a secret or difficult issue with your spouse, realize that the following times are not a good time to reveal this:At bedtimeIf either of you is drunkWhen either of you is in a stressful situationDuring periods of grumpinessWhen you or your spouse are angryWhen either of you is tired or illWhen your spouse is already dealing with bad news Seeking Help Honesty and trust are vital to the success of a marriage. Its a thin line between what secrets are acceptable and which ones will haunt an individual and hurt a marriage. If you begin to feel the distance in your marriage and think it may be the result of a secret, then it is time to consult a professional therapist.   A partner who discovers he or she has been directly lied to, given a half-truth or not told critical information can feel an enormous sense of betrayal. These betrayals can be hard to come back from and your partner may never feel a full sense of trust again. If you think this situation applies to you, the sooner you face it the better too!