When secrets are tinged with shame and guilt, they turn toxic. Such secrets can hamper our growth and strangle our lives until we struggle free of their control. Here’s how.

Healing the ‘secret’ wound
However hard, first admit the secret to yourself.

• Telling others is often enough—but choose compassionate, trustworthy people.
• In group therapies it is healing to know that others have also gone through the same thing.
• Forgive yourself. There is nothing, nothing at all, beyond the bounds of forgiveness. God is also all-forgiving.
• If you have wronged someone, talk to the person about it and ask pardon, or do what is in your capacity to make up for the wrong done. If, that is not feasible, use a therapeutic ritual like writing a letter and tearing or burning it up.

The wound healed, some scar may remain. But you would be  a finer, stronger person now.