I need to talk to a gay person
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Internalised homophobia and oppression happens to gay, lesbian and bisexual people, and even heterosexuals, who have learned and been taught that heterosexuality is the norm and “correct way to be”. Hearing and seeing negative depictions of LGB people can lead us to internalise, or receive in, these negative messages. Some LGB people undergo from mental distress as a result.
A general meaning of personal worth and also a positive view of your sexual orientation are critical for your mental health. You, love many lesbian, gay and bisexual people, may own hidden your sexual orientation for a long second. Research carried out in Northern Ireland into the needs of young LGBT people in revealed that the average age for men to realise their sexual orientation was 12, yet the average age they actually confided in someone was It is during these formative years when people are coming to understand and admit their sexual orientation that internalised homophobia can really affect a person.
Internalised homophobia manifests itself in varying ways that can be linked to mental health. Examples
Mental health back if you're queer woman , gay, bisexual or trans (LGBTQ+)
Mental health problems such as depression or self-harm can impact any of us, but they're more common among people who are queer woman , gay, bisexual and trans (LGBTQ+).
This may be linked to LGBTQ+ people's exposure of discrimination, homophobia or transphobia, bullying, social isolation, or rejection because of their sexuality.
Other things, such as their age, religion, where they live, and their ethnicity can append extra complications to an already hard situation.
How talking therapy can help
It might not be easy, but getting help with issues you're struggling to deal with on your hold is one of the most key things you can do.
Talking with a therapist who's trained to work 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 convey your true gender (gender dysphoria)
- transitioning
- low self-esteem
- self-harm
- suicidal thoughts
- depression
- coping with bullying
As a therapist, I’m often hearing certain particular questions from clients and potential clients alike—as a gay man, should I be seeing a gay therapist? Does it matter? What makes the most sense for me?
It’s worth talking about these questions now, as so many people select as part of their Modern Year’s resolutions to start therapy. How do they choose?
Why a gay therapist?
Let’s begin with the benefits of seeing a lgbtq+ therapist. The first one is pretty obvious: there are no long explanations needed in organize for him to understand your situation. You can go in with the assumption that your gay male therapist will be comfortable and will have already heard about everything—including your sex life.
Additionally, a gay male therapist can spend time with you talking about shared homosexual community norms, which can assist you make decisions about what’s healthy for you and/or how you may want to modulate your behavior.
Belonging to the matching community can also present challenges that you probably haven’t consideration about. Given that you are both a part of the same community, there may likely