Never The Same: 45 Of The Darkest Family Secrets These People Found Out

Bored Panda was curious to get the thread author's thoughts on why the question they posed started such a massive discussion on Reddit. They were happy to share their take on why the topic resonated with so many online readers, pointing out that it's a relatable question.

"Reddit is quite a platform, covering all sorts of topics with people sharing their weird stories. In my own family, there are some secrets and drama, but nothing too outlandish," the OP opened up to us about the inspiration behind the question.

"I decided to ask Reddit about darker family secrets to see what would come up, and surprisingly, it gained a lot more attention than I anticipated!" they said.

We also asked the redditor how open families ought to be about their secrets, and how old someone ought to be to hear the real truth about their relatives.

"I reckon families should be quite open about their history. Sooner or later, those holes in the made-up stories meant to avoid the real secrets start to show," the author of the post, Reddit user u/EgglessYolk, told us.

"Especially when someone hits their twenties—that's when things start to click as you become more of an adult."

Meanwhile, the author also revealed their thoughts on transparency as a whole, and shared whether there are any family secrets that ought to remain, well, secret.

"To be honest, I don't think so," they explained that they're 100% set on transparency.

"I believe that all family secrets should see the light of day at some point, at least within the family circle. Of course, there might be some you wouldn't want outsiders prying into, but within the family, it's essential to eventually share them," they told Bored Panda.

"Over time, they can even turn into interesting stories for people to tell—you know, like on a Reddit thread or something."

How open family members ought to be about secrets depends on a couple of things. First of all, you have to take into account whether the secret affects just you as an individual or the entire family as a whole. And secondly, it’s important to keep in mind the scope of the secret and the possible fallout from telling everyone about them.

For instance, if something tragic happened to a relative, it might be wise to keep the information under wraps, within a small group of people. Sharing something traumatic with a child may give them nightmares, especially if they don’t have the capacity to process the information (yet). So it may be wise to wait until everyone’s grown up until they’re told what happened to a beloved relative.

Meanwhile, keep in mind that secrecy and privacy are two very different things. Just because you’re close to someone does not mean that you have to tell them about every tiny little thing and thought that pops into your head. It’s fine to keep some things to yourself. Living with 100% honesty would be exhausting and might make people think that you have no filter or may be too blunt.

However, if the information affects the people closest to you, it might be a good idea to spill the beans. After all, deep relationships require trust, respect, and transparency. If you’re being secretive, your feelings should give you a heads up about it: you might feel guilty or ashamed. On the flip side, if something’s merely a private issue, you won’t feel bad about withholding that information. There’s nothing wrong with having at least some privacy in your life, no matter how much you might love your family.

When uncomfortable secrets come out, they might shock everyone. What’s important is that you embrace whatever feelings you have, instead of shying away from them or repressing them. All emotions are valid, and it’s vital that you allow yourself to feel what you feel.

“You might feel discomfort, disgust, anger, pain, denial, rejection, grief, apathy … maybe even excitement. It’s all normal, and you have permission to fall anywhere along that full range of human emotion. In fact, you might not even be able to put your finger on how you feel,” ‘Focus on the Family’ explains.

However, if you’re having difficulty processing the news, it might be worth reaching out to someone for help. You could talk to your family members to make sense of things or to understand the context of what happened better.

Meanwhile, a trusted friend who won’t judge you could, for instance, hear you out to show their support or even offer you some advice if you ask for it. It might also be worthwhile to reach out to a therapist who could offer fresh new perspectives on the entire dramatic family situation. Whatever you choose to do, just remember that you’re never in this alone… and asking for a helping hand when processing things isn’t a sign of weakness.

Which of these stories shocked you the most, dear Pandas? Have you ever had to deal with sensitive family issues like these before? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments. Meanwhile, for some more radical honesty on Reddit, take a peek at Bored Panda’s previous article about uncovered family secrets right here.