Most people have an idea about what it means to be bisexual, but they do not understand its long-term psychological impacts. This is because the society makes it difficult for individuals who identify themselves as bisexuals to come out openly. Bisexuality refers to being attracted to both genders, men, and women.
Many cultures see this as something deviant, obscene, and immoral. It can create challenges for these individuals when growing up. The following are some of the long-term psychological effects that such individuals experience in their lives.
The first problem is the sense of isolation and loneliness. Many people may not be comfortable coming out about their sexual orientation due to fear of rejection. As a result, they choose to live their entire life without telling anyone that they feel attracted to both sexes. This may lead to depression, stress, anxiety, and low self-esteem, which affects them physically and emotionally. These individuals may develop suicidal tendencies if they cannot get help from peers or counselors.
A person might withdraw socially or avoid making friends for fear of revealing his or her true identity. Some may even opt for alcoholism, drug abuse, or other destructive habits. These activities can make their situation worse.
Such people struggle with self-acceptance and identity issues. They find it hard to accept that there is nothing wrong with being attracted to two genders. They keep on trying to deny themselves by thinking that they are gay or straight rather than bisexual. They may also have difficulties accepting other people's feelings towards them, leading to conflicts. These individuals also face emotional dilemmas because they do not understand how to relate with others who identify themselves differently.
They might think that those who consider bisexuals are weird, unnatural, or dangerous. Such perceptions can negatively impact their mental health.
Another issue is rejection and discrimination. It is challenging to come out when you belong to a culture that makes fun of the LGBTQI+ community. Bisexuals face various forms of stigma in schools, workplaces, and communities as they try to express their sexual orientation openly. They may lose job opportunities, relationships, or social statuses due to their identities. This is because many cultures still believe that homosexuality is immoral and should be avoided at all costs. As a result, these individuals will feel like failures if they cannot hide their feelings anymore. They become afraid of opening up about themselves, which leads to isolation and loneliness.
The above effects occur throughout life unless one gets proper support.
Parents might push their children into marriage with an opposite gender to suppress their true feelings. In school, peers might bully such students for having conflicting thoughts. Adults may also criticize them or laugh at them behind their back. The effects of this experience can last a lifetime if not addressed early enough. Therefore, it becomes crucial to educate people on different sexual orientations so that they stop seeing bisexuality as taboo or obscene. Individuals need counselors who help them deal with psychological problems that stem from being bisexual.
What are the long-term psychological impacts of growing up in a culture that renders bisexual desire invisible or deviant?
In many cultures, sexuality is perceived as either heterosexual or homosexual, with no room for bisexuality. When growing up in such a cultural environment, individuals may feel pressured to conform to one of these two categories. Those who identify as bisexual may experience isolation, marginalization, and stigma due to their nonconforming identity.