Why doI feel more comfortable telling my secrets to you guys and not my friends and/or family?

Anonymity

because we are all here on the same boat maybe? well most of us have problems.. and we all spill them out on here. we don't know you personally so we can't judge. maybe it makes you feel more at ease knowing that we don't know who you are. Also the fact that we can't tell other people your problems because we don't know anyone you know etc..

probly because you know you will probly never meet anyone you talk to on here so if they do judge you it wouldnt hurt as bad as if your friends and family judged you

i think the environment here just feels safe and comforting.

Because it's sometimes easier to open up to a total stranger. Plus you are wrapped in anonymity here, and most of the people here won't judge you and try to offer honest suggestions. There's none of the baggage attached to the advice you'd get from someone who knows you & your situation personally.

Because even if anyone does judge you (though almost all do not) based on your activities here, they still don't know you, so it won't hurt you.

Also, family and friends can feel too close to you, anonymity has a very good upside!

Because you can remain anonymous. Even if people judge you, you can easily detach yourself from the situation.

We treat you way better here then your friends and family.

Because we don't know you in real life and probably no one here will see you outside of the forum. This means that none of your current relationships will be affected by you opening up, but you will have some support. Usually it's those people with the same problems that will read your posts and offer the best advice.

Because if you don't like us, you can switch us off. And if we respond to you, it's because we genuinely wanted to, not through some mindless loyalty.

I don't like my family and it doesn't like me. I relate more to people I've never met than any of them.

Maybe 'cause you're hiding behind your computer. After reading some of the things people ask or confess here, your secrets don't seem so shameful after all. Also, we can't judge you 'cause we don't really know your situation...only what you choose to reveal.

I feel the same with one of my deepest secrets. In my case, it's because I'm not that emotionally communicative with my family as for my friends... let's just say I'm afraid of what they may answer. If my boyfriend who's my #1 person to tell secrets to, said what this one guy said to me on here, it would have hurt more than how I had a stranger say it. When you're talking to a stranger, you also always have the escape of "but they don't know me" if they get hurtful. And don't forget, here you are as anonymous as you need and you can block anyone out forever with a couple clicks; in real life with family and friends you're involved with emotionally, you can't do that. Plus, the people close to you may, depending on situation, bring consequences - either telling someone, getting involved, etc; no one on here will do that. Etc etc... saying that, I believe that it's important to get closer to the special people in your life, than to the members of an anonymous site. I'm not trying to be judgmental here since I'm kind of the same as you - I'm just saying what I'd like to be like.

Friends and family tend to judge us--they feel we should
do what they would do. Those of us on EP feel judgements
are useless--that's why we're here! So we just offer ideas
and suggestions and support.

We are anonymous, and we won't see you tomorrow.

Maybe you appreciate more the feeling of acceptance and support that people have shown here, whenever you want and need it. Friends and family can be too nagging, overbearing and controlling sometimes even though we know that they mean well.