Whose Burden Am I Carrying?
September 8th, 2025
A worksheet for adults who had to carry family secrets as children and beyond.
In many families, children are asked, directly or indirectly, to keep secrets. These secrets may involve abuse, hidden paternity, incest, health diagnoses, finances, or behaviors that threaten the family’s image. As children, silence can feel like a form of survival. But as adults, continuing to carry these secrets often leads to shame, anxiety, isolation, and broken trust.
This worksheet will help you explore:
- Who you were protecting by keeping the secret.
- How the secret shaped you.
- What belongs to you and what doesn’t.