<p>Even those of us who get along with our parents hide stuff from them. You know it's true. I get along great with my mom, and talk to her about a lot... but at the same time... not really. I mean, I don't tell her anything personal. And I definitely don't tell my dad a scrap of info about myself. There's just too much crap from our past that my dad and I have to deal with before I can become close with him... and no way will I be able to sit down and deal with it with him until after college...</p>
<p>I was just curious what type of things people here hide from their parents. Anything serious?</p>
<p>I actually suspect I have dysthymic disorder (a form of depression), and have for a while now... But I won't look into getting help for it, because my parents would find out. And its something I really don't wanna discuss with them. One major reason is I know they'll think I'm just being melodramatic and it's only teen angst... And you know what? Maybe it is. It's something I might be relieved to hear from a professional... But what if it's not? I do seriously want help for whatever my plights may be. I plan to get help when I leave for college, but I still have another year to wait... and it's gonna drive me crazy.</p>
<p>(Some small things I've hidden from my parents include this guy I dated - who turned out to be a real...jerk - going places without permission, normal teen stuff)</p>
<p>You need help...and not from CC. What do you think posting on here will do for you? Go seek a psychiatrist, and just screw your parents--who cares if they find out; you're going to college next year.</p>
<p>I don't think a counselor is sufficient for the problem you described. You will be much better off if you seek serious professional help, even if it turns out you didn't really need it. I think just about everyone on this site would give that advice; there probably isn't anyone here who can actually help with something like this.</p>
<p>Go to the library and get out a few books by Martin Seligman. He writes about learned optimism. It may help. If it doesn't and you feel like you need a counselor, find a good counselor. It's your life.</p>
<p>As a parent, we know you hide stuff from us. But hey, you're almost grown up. We don't tell you everything, either. It's OK.</p>
<p>My parents actually told me, point-blank, I'm not allowed to keep secrets from them. Unfortunately, that isn't possible.
I don't tell them anything personal or anything about my friends, and I've done that my whole life, so it's become second nature. They ask me much too much if I tell them something irrelevant.</p>
<p>ha panda_chibi, most of the time when I'm around my dad I feel the same as you, or as you described, but I'm not around him often. I guess if you're strong enough inside you can get through anything w/out taking the easy way out, but if you're not then that's what psychiatrists are for...</p>
<p>Hmm I wouldn't say I hide things from my parents... it's more like I don't talk about certain subjects. Drinking, smoking, and drugs all fall under the category of "taboo subjects for parental discussions" as do hook ups, sex-related stuff, crushes, things I've done with my former boyfriend, etc. </p>
<p>So yeah, I guess I'd say illegal actions and intimate occasions by both myself and people I know are the two main topics I don't talk about with my parents.</p>