Would you tell friends about skeletons in the cupboard?

[lemonface]

Or if you have what were the reactions?
I have always held off from telling my close friends some things which are quite significant in my life for fear of how they view me. Sometimes I really want to tell them though.
For example - I used to self harm quite badly.

Best not to. How can you trust them 100%?

I've always been very open about skeletons in my cupboard. I definitely don't tell all and sundry but certainly good friends. I would never judge anybody for self-harming!

Depends on the friend.

Close friend for 10 years, but I think she would be shocked by all the stuff as I am a happy confident person now.

She does not know about self harm, the fact that i am bisexual, I was raped as a child several times I could go on... Just sometimes feel like I dont want these secrets!

I don't know. I think if you're happy everyone knowing, then tell her, otherwise don't tell. Some things are better left unsaid.

Depends on the skeleton, how relevant it is to today, and the friend in question.
My DH told me about his, when he knew our relationship was significant, a few weeks in. It was ok, I have not blabbed, or changed my behaviour to him. It was a shock that I had not seen coming. But it is part of his history.
You need to weigh up a lot of things before you tell. How about telling someone anonymously? Samaritans - just to release the pressure, and talk it through? Any counsellors associated with your workplace (employee wellbeing services?)
It will have shaped you, but need not define you.

Someone close to me told some skeletons to their friends. There were different reactions. One friend cried and made it all about her - how awful it made her feel that this person had lived through that

Other friends rallied around and were fantastic support.

If you want to then I'd tell it. But I'd also specify why you're telling them - is it for support? Is it so they understand you better? Do you want to talk about it? Or just say it once? Are you prepared to answer questions?

Try and think about what you want out of this

There are some things I do tell because they would come up on a Google search, and occasionally pop up on social and national media. And no, I'm not a sleb. But I've used my experience to help advocate for better mental health services, and still occasionally do so. I'd prefer my friends to hear from me first about my BPD, but I am selective who I tell.

Absolutely not. I have a couple of friends that I really do trust but I think this complicates things unnecessarily. You would always have that teeny tiny nagging worry that they would say something, even by accident.