From Psychology Today…

Depression and anxiety are 1.5 times higher in LGBTQ+ individuals than in heterosexual individuals. Further, there is a higher likelihood of mood and anxiety disorders among LGB people compared to heterosexual individuals. Research also shows LGBTQ+ individuals have rates of substance abuse two to three times higher than the general population in the United States.

Yet an important distinction to make is that most or all of the “disorders” researchers found among LGBTQ+ people can be, and often are, connected to trauma. We cannot fully address gay men’s mental health without exploring trauma.

When we think of trauma, most of us think of rape, murder, death, a catastrophic event, or a natural disaster. While these are unequivocally traumas, trauma can also be experienced as a long string of daily hurts, such as experiencing homophobia, bullying, and time spent in the closet. Any child who has experienced the closet has known shame, which is itself deeply intertwined with trauma.

Read the full article by Chris Tompkins