Can staying the closet damage your mental/physical health?

Albstr.....Hello and a great big LGBTQIA+ welcome to Empty Closets! I can remember the first post that I made on EC. I was desperate for help and I got the help that night that I so needed. I hope that we can help you in the same way that I received help. The most important thing to remember about Empty Closets is that we do care about you! We're very glad that you found us here on EC and hope that we can answer questions, give you support and provide a place to vent (as long as it's not violent!) when that becomes necessary!

*****I'm so glad that you have reached out for help and are seeing a therapist. There are just some things that we can't solve on our own. If you break your leg, you don't try to take care of it by yourself...you go to a professional and get help. That's the same thing with emotional and/or mental distress...there are times when we really need the help of a professional. They can help guide us through the difficult paths to wellness. Staying in the "closet" for years and years can be so destructive. You are suppressing your real personality and that causes a lot of emotional damage. I know...I did it. For a very long time I hid in the closet and refused to accept that I was and always had been gay. That caused depression that just got worse with every year. When I reached my final crisis I was very close to taking my own life just to be free of the pain and darkness that was destroying my life. The wonderful people here on Empty Closets saved me on that night and I will forever be thankful for the help and love that I received that night. Working with a therapist is a really good choice! It has been one of the best choices that I have ever made. I have learned a lot about myself and have been able, with his help, to make changes that have truly made my life so much better!

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*****Well, as I said, we're very glad you found us! If you have any questions at all, you can post a question on my Profile Page or send me a Private Message.

.....David

 

Hi, @Albstr. Firstly, I'm sorry you've had to conceal so much of yourself; it can't have been easy after all these years, especially knowing this aspect of yourself for as long as you have. Secondly, it can absolutely have negative impacts on your psychological health, and oftentimes it follows that it impacts your physical health too--sometimes directly through coping mechanisms, such as smoking and alcohol consumption, and sometimes indirectly because stress can and does affect us physically.

I'm glad you're undergoing therapy, as with the right therapist, you will hopefully reach a place where you can either come out and make peace with whatever follows, or at the very least find some good resources on how to take the next steps towards bettering your mental health.