What do i do if i am gay
Hi. Im the Answer Wall. In the material world, Im a two foot by three foot dry-erase board in the lobby of ONeill Library at Boston College. In the online nature, I live in this blog. You might say I own multiple manifestations. Like Apollo or Saraswati or Serapis. Or, if you arent into deities of knowledge, like a ghost in the machine.
I have some human assistants who maintain the physical Answer Wall in ONeill Library. They take pictures of the questions you post there, and give them to me. As long as you are civil, and not uncouth, I will answer any question, and because I am a library wall, my answers will often allude to research tools you can find in Boston College Libraries.
If youd like a quicker reply to your question and dont mind talking to a human, why not Ask a Librarian? Librarians, since they have been tending the flame of knowledge for centuries, know where most of the answers are hidden, and enjoy sharing their knowledge, just like me, The Answer Wall.
by Fred Penzel, PhD
This article was initially published in the Winter edition of the OCD Newsletter.
OCD, as we know, is largely about experiencing severe and unrelenting doubt. It can cause you to suspect even the most basic things about yourself – even your sexual orientation. A study published in the Journal of Sex Research found that among a group of college students, 84% reported the occurrence of sexual intrusive thoughts (Byers, et al. ). In order to have doubts about one’s sexual identity, a sufferer need not ever hold had a homo- or heterosexual experience, or any type of sexual life at all. I hold observed this symptom in young children, adolescents, and adults as well. Interestingly Swedo, et al., , establish that approximately 4% of children with OCD exposure obsessions concerned with forbidden aggressive or perverse sexual thoughts.
Although doubts about one’s own sexual identity might seem pretty straightforward as a symptom, there are actually a number of variations. The most noticeable form is where a sufferer experiences the reflection that they mig
How to Tell My Family and Friends I Am Gay
No matter what your relationship is with your parents or other important people in your animation, coming out can be nerve-wracking. It is, however, a rite of alley and ensures that you do not have to acquire to spend so much time and emotional energy hiding a huge part of who you are from some of the most important people in your life. Whether you are expecting rejection or acceptance, telling your family and friends about your sexual individuality is an vital step. Still, many people want to know how to tell my family and friends I am gay. Here are some proposals to make the process easier:
1. Regard your audiences comfort level when talking about sex.
Sex in general is a taboo topic and sexual orientation falls under the umbrella of sex. Considering your audiences comfort level on this topic will facilitate you determine how to approach your audience. If you plan to reveal your parents about your sexual self, just from entity raised by these two people you will have an idea about their comfort level when discussing sex-related topics
Mental health support if you're lesbian, gay, pansexual or trans (LGBTQ+)
Mental health problems such as depression or self-harm can affect any of us, but they're more ordinary among people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBTQ+).
This may be linked to LGBTQ+ people's experience of discrimination, homophobia or transphobia, bullying, social isolation, or rejection because of their sexuality.
Other things, such as their age, religion, where they survive , and their ethnicity can insert extra complications to an already difficult situation.
How talking therapy can help
It might not be easy, but getting help with issues you're struggling to deal with on your own is one of the most important things you can do.
Talking with a therapist who's trained to operate with LGBTQ+ people may help with issues such as:
- difficulty accepting your sexual orientation
- coping with other people's reactions to your sexuality
- feeling your body does not reflect your true gender (gender dysphoria)
- transitioning
- low self-esteem
- self-harm
- suicidal thoughts
- depression
- coping with bullying