25 things people are most afraid of revealing

If you’re worried that you’re the only one at your office to fake a case of strep throat to get the weekend started a little early, fear not. Pretending to have a medical condition is one of the most commonly kept secrets among adults, according to a new survey conducted by OnePoll in conjunction with the U.K. TV channel Sky HISTORY.

A survey of 2,000 Britons ranked the 25 things people are most afraid of revealing to their family, friends, co-workers, and partners. The results are below.

1.        Your mental health

2.        An embarrassing incident

3.        Your internet history

4.        Eating/snack habits

5.        Hygiene habits

6.        How many partners you’ve had

7.        Bank/credit card statements

8.        That you’ve faked an illness to get out of commitments

9.        Having an affair

10.     Having a one-night stand

11.     An illness or condition

12.     Smoking habits

13.     That you’ve faked an illness to get out of work

14.     How much you spend on food

15.     Your phobias

16.     Supporting a football team your friends don’t like

17.     How much time you spend in the pub

18.     Buying expensive items online

19.     Drug use

20.     Alcohol abuse

21.     Having a celebrity crush

22.     How good you are or aren’t at something

23.     Being on a diet

24.     Political opinions

25.     Your family history

Why do we keep secrets?

Embarrassment was far and away the most common reason people keep secrets from others, with nearly a third of the survey pool reporting as much. Other commonly occurring reasons include avoiding relationship issues, preserving a personal reputation, and getting out of trouble with authorities. 

The average respondent also said that they are hiding two embarrassing things from everyone they know at any given time.

Of course, this was a British survey and reflected British societal taboos — many of which are changing. Recent polls have shown that mental health issues are less and less stigmatized in most workplaces, for example.

And there’s a health price to pay as well; in nearly every case, secrets took a toll on subjects’ physical and emotional state. More than 25% of those surveyed said that holding secrets was so stressful it significantly impaired their ability to function on some days.