What are the long-term mental health consequences of repressing same-sex desire?
People who experience same-sex attraction can face various challenges when they try to hide their feelings from themselves and others. Repression involves suppressing desires that feel unacceptable or shameful. This is often done to avoid social stigma or punishment.
Repression does not remove those desires; instead, it pushes them into the subconscious mind where they may be acted out indirectly or lead to harmful behaviors. Therefore, repressed same-sex desire has numerous negative psychological effects.
Repression creates anxiety and fear due to self-denial and self-rejection. Individuals who deny their attractions may struggle with guilt, depression, low self-esteem, and a sense of hopelessness. They may question their worthiness and purpose because they do not fit traditional gender roles. As a result, they may engage in risky behavior such as substance abuse, reckless driving, or promiscuity. Second, repression leads to internal conflict and identity crisis. It is difficult for people to reconcile their true selves with society's expectations. They may become disconnected from their emotions and lose touch with reality, causing confusion about their sexual orientation. Third, repression causes stress due to secrecy and isolation. People must hide their desires from family, friends, partners, and colleagues, which creates tension and mistrust. They may have difficulty forming close relationships or find little support outside of LGBTQ+ communities.
Repression results in health problems related to sexual frustration, including erectile dysfunction, decreased sex drive, and chronic loneliness. These issues can worsen over time, leading to physical illness or even suicide.
The consequences of repressing same-sex attraction are severe and long-lasting.
There are ways to address them through therapy, support groups, and open communication. Seeking help early is crucial to avoiding the negative effects of suppression.
Accepting one's sexuality leads to greater happiness, fulfillment, and well-being.
What are the long-term mental health consequences of repressing same-sex desire?
In terms of long-term mental health outcomes, research suggests that individuals who experience a significant degree of distress due to their sexual orientation may be at an increased risk for various negative psychological symptoms such as depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and suicidality (Lykins et al. , 2018).