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How do I ignore my sexuality and keep my MH in check?

184 replies

Magicmixie · 22/11/2021 07:00

I’ve been depressed nearly all of my adult life, actually I’ve been depressed all of my adult life and I’m now 40.
Anxious, depressed, self-harm, eating disorders etc
I’ve never fully understood why as I have no ‘reason’ for any of these things, or so I thought.
When I was about 14/15 I suspected I was gay and told my mother I thought this. The way she reacted made me shut it down completely and I decided there was no way I could be anything but straight. I am one long disappointment to my mother anyway, so I should have just ignored her, but at 14 I was terrified.
I’ve been ‘straight’ ever since and I’ve done a pretty good job of it. I’ve maintained a marriage, had children and for years and years barely thought about it. I barely thought about anything - I just did what I was supposed to do and concentrated on my children.
However about six months ago I ended up kissing a friend (I know, I know, I’m married and a terrible person) and it brought it all back. I am as certain as I can be that I’m gay, and I really don’t want to be.
I need a way to function with this knowledge and be ok about it. I’m already on antidepressants. I’ve had therapy. Ultimately I don’t want to be gay and I want to be with my family. I don’t really understand why this is now so difficult when I’ve done it for years. I don’t even want to be ‘happy’ I just want to be not actively unhappy. I will settled for numb, which is where I’ve been for a very very long time.
My mother (who I’ve told again as an adult) says I just need to have a life outside of my marriage in terms of friends and career and I have those things. It’s not really helping. The disordered eating is not great and nor is the self-harm.
I have an appointment with the gp to see if I can up the antidepressants.

OP posts:
Magicmixie · 22/11/2021 18:30

I place little to no value on my own well-being.
I’m not sure if that’s because I’ve been denying my sexuality for so long.

OP posts:
Simonjt · 22/11/2021 18:31

Lots of different things here, so I apologise if my post is a garbled mess.

Firstly you need to read straight jacket by matthew todd, is is aimed at gay men more than gay women, but the content is still relevant to both men and women. To be honest it wouls be great if straight people read this as well. Get a kindle version if you don’t want a physical copy in your house. Watch Olly Alexander growing up gay (iplayer).

So you don’t want to be gay, well no one wants to be gay when they realise they are gay, so while that is a bit crap it is normal, look at Olly in the link below, he is very very out, but as a 30 year old gay man still struggles to accept his own sexuality and he is out to literally the whole world.

Keegan Hirst is gay, he used to have a wife, he ‘dealt’ with his sexuality by trying to kill himself. He is very thankful he turned away from that, he had some interesting pieces about shame and his children meeting his partner “My son was introduced to my boyfriend when he was 4. My daughter was 8.
No moral outrage, no ‘issues,’ no problems whatsoever. Just lots of love, laughs and fun.
Be honest, be sensible and love them unconditionally and watch how they grow up into well rounded young people.” Doesn’t sound like someone who can’t raise his children does it.

Watch his TED talk on shame

If we ignore sexuality for a bit, you are unhappy in your relationship, there is a fundamental ‘thing’ that means your relationship won’t fall back into happy, carefree etc. You can carry on for a while, but not only will an unhappy relationship have a negative impact on your mental and physical health, it will also start to have an impact on those around you, children, friends, even colleagues. You’re a mum, will you advise your children to stay in an unhappy marriage? Would you encourage a friend to stay in an unhappy marriage? If you don’t want it for them why have it for yourself?

A relationship ending is sometimes someones fault, cheating, marrying someone they don’t love, being lazy etc. Yes a divorce is shit for a while, but everyone gets through and starts to recover, being divorced doesn’t mean someone is a bad parent or a bad person, it just means they fucked up a little bit, just as well all do.

I’m gay, my son is very happy, he has a great step dad. If I had an ex wife or if my son had a mum it would have zero impact on my parenting ability, if I was divorced it would have zero impact on my parenting.

I’m a good enough parent, I’m not amazing, but I am able to meet my sons needs, I can only do that because in certain instances I put myself first, I take care of my mental health by having therapy and taking antidepressants, I look after my physical health by eating well, exercising and taking my diabetes seriously, I say no to people/things unless I genuinely think they are worth my time and effort. If I didn’t put myself first a lot there would become a time when I stopped being a good enough parent. I’m no use to my son if I’m depressed, unwell, performing poorly at work.

You are the most important person if your life, not your husband, your mum or your children.

KnitFastDieWarm · 22/11/2021 18:35

placing little to no value on your own well-being will be actively harmful to your DC. If you can’t do it for yourself, do it for them. Do what your mother didn’t do for you, and show them how to be an emotionally healthy adult who values integrity over appearances.

Unreasonabubble · 22/11/2021 18:38

Flowers I totally understand and feel for you. @Magicmixie you deserve your own happiness.

TheElvishQueen · 22/11/2021 18:40

@Magicmixie

I place little to no value on my own well-being. I’m not sure if that’s because I’ve been denying my sexuality for so long.
Then this is what you are teaching your children. Not to value their own needs and essential self.
fournonblondes · 22/11/2021 18:41

In your case I would talk to your husband and tell him that you want to get divorced. You do not really have to explain anymore than you are not in love anymore and is unfair on him. If you are willing to leave the kids with him and he agrees to this or shared custody is better than you are now. You will then work on yourself and start building up your life. Taking step by step guided by a therapist. Remember people get divorced every day for less valid reasons. You need to think about you. Times have move on and your kids will understand in the future if you decide to talk to them about your sexuality. Time to Ignore your parents as they with intention or not have not given a fair change for you to be happy. Big hug and hope you stay strong to overcome or untangled this situation.

Magicmixie · 22/11/2021 18:47

I really really don’t want to leave the dc as I’ve been their main caregiver. I think they’d be very upset.
But it doesn’t seem fair for me to take them with me - so maybe it would be better to leave them here.

OP posts:
Prater · 22/11/2021 18:50

OP, I've read your posts but not the whole thread.

Just wanted to say, one of my best friends recently came out as lesbian in her 40s

She was married with kids too. She met someone and fell in love.

She was so nervous telling me all this, but I don't know why she thought I would be anything but supportive. She was so relieved when I listened and gave her a hug.

Of course I empathised with her husband but there's no way anyone with any feeling could wish a woman to stay in an unhappy marriage where she has to deny her sexuality.

I can't imagine how hard it must be not to be accepted by your family.

I hope you have true friends who will support you x

spotcheck · 22/11/2021 19:07

@Magicmixie

DH has just been talking about his friend who split from his wife and how he couldn’t bear not seeing his children everyday. Maybe if I leave, I leave on my own and he keeps the dc and the house etc. I sort of feel like that’s only fair given that this is my fault.
Jesus OP!!!!!

Honestly.

If someone had an affair, would you think the other person 'deserved' the children, because it was the cheaters 'fault'.

What about if someone is abusive ( but won't acknowledge it). If the other person leaves, is it their 'fault' so the abuser gets the kids?

Relationships break down. Whoever instigates the split doesn't automatically forfeit rights to the children.

NoSquirrels · 22/11/2021 19:14

Stop punishing yourself.

In a way, this is absolutely no different to a straight person falling out of love with their spouse, and wanting a divorce.

The feelings of shame you have, though, and the way you’re talking about punishing yourself by not asking for custody of your children, is what’s different.

You can leave a relationship or a marriage, even when children are involved, for any reason at all. Not wanting to sleep with your husband any longer, regardless of the underlying cause, is a very valid reason to split up.

I’m horrified you self-harm and your mother sees the evidence of that and thinks it’s OK. That’s not OK. I’d be devastated if my daughter felt like this.

You can get divorced, share custody of your children, and then just see what happens next.

You shouldn’t stay in a marriage that’s actively harming you ‘for the sake of the children’. Because you’ll teach them terrible things about what a relationship is and should look like. If you’re not happy you can’t hide that, it becomes ever more obvious as they grow.

Flowers
TheElvishQueen · 22/11/2021 19:51

@Magicmixie

I really really don’t want to leave the dc as I’ve been their main caregiver. I think they’d be very upset. But it doesn’t seem fair for me to take them with me - so maybe it would be better to leave them here.
Why wouldn’t it be fair? You are their mother!
Magicmixie · 22/11/2021 20:00

Because it would be me breaking up their family.

OP posts:
DirectionToPerfection · 22/11/2021 20:40

@Magicmixie

Because it would be me breaking up their family.
No, it would be you divorcing your husband, as millions of other women have done before you.

Staying for the sake of the children doesn't benefit them if they have a miserable mum.

Think about what this teaches them about their own self worth.

GoGoGretaDoll · 22/11/2021 20:43

@Magicmixie

Because it would be me breaking up their family.
Oh mate. It doesn't work like that. Have you heard of the term 'no fault divorce'? That's because courts, and the whole other rest of the world, realise that sometimes, with the best will in the world, relationships just don't work out. Stop punishing yourself. Who taught you to do that? (I know who it was, it was your mother.)

You deserve to make a new life where you are happy and your children are happy.

nothernexposure · 22/11/2021 20:46

Not much to add but my ex h was distraught at the thought of not seeing the DC everyday when we first discussed splitting. When we finally did split he was offered 50/50 which he turned down. He decided to go for EOW as that suited h8m best. I think what I'm trying to say is what people say, and then what they actually do can be very different.

Hoolahupsaresquare · 22/11/2021 20:54

With respect - your family is already in a sense broken (although I don’t like that term - I’d probably say it’s somewhat dysfunctional at the moment) as what your children are seeing is a mother who isn’t happy no matter how well you hide it and their parents marriage which isn’t a happy one either.

How can it be when you aren’t happy and your husband has no idea his wife is gay. You aren’t showing them what a normal healthy relationship is.

How would you feel if one of your DC was gay ? Would you want them to be happy ? How would you feel if your child was living a lie so as not to rock the boat ?

peboh · 22/11/2021 20:55

This marriage isn't fair on both you or your DH, and it isn't fair on your children.
Your children deserve happy whole mother! Your husband deserves the chance to find somebody who loves him and wants him for who he is, you deserve that too.

How would you feel if your child came to you at your age and said they felt how you did? What advice would you give them? I'm assuming you wouldn't tell them to stay in the relationship? If so, apply that same advice to yourself. You all deserve better.

Oblomov21 · 22/11/2021 21:11

Do you feel you've lived a lie. You knew you were gay. I suspect your Dh will be very hurt.

Magicmixie · 22/11/2021 21:31

I knew sort of...but I didn’t want to know.
I don’t suppose that counts for anything though. I really really wanted to be straight and then I thought maybe I was straight and everyone felt like me about their partners and sex. Half my friends moan about it.
It’s easy to lie to yourself.

OP posts:
itsnevertolate · 22/11/2021 21:52

You can separate from your husband without having to come out as gay to him and your family. Maybe you need to be on your own for a bit, focus on yourself and your children and build a happy life. When you can except the fact that you are gay, then you can come out. But only when you are ready. Your children will be better off with separated parents that are happy, then miserable parents that are together.

WhatMattersMost · 22/11/2021 21:52

Depression is the calling towards an unlived life. Be true to yourself and the rest will follow.

Magicmixie · 22/11/2021 22:57

I keep thinking about the times we’ve enjoyed as a family and how they would be over because of this.
There are no good options here.

OP posts:
NoSquirrels · 22/11/2021 23:48

@Magicmixie

I keep thinking about the times we’ve enjoyed as a family and how they would be over because of this. There are no good options here.
This is true for almost every person with children who contemplates ending their relationship and living separately.

It’s not because you’re gay.

Your relationship may need to end because you are gay, but the ending of a relationship where children are involved is not unique.

NoSquirrels · 22/11/2021 23:56

@Magicmixie

I keep thinking about the times we’ve enjoyed as a family and how they would be over because of this. There are no good options here.
Even the worst, most dysfunctional relationship, has times t look back on fondly.

A stopped clock, etc.

Magicmixie · 23/11/2021 06:47

I need someone to make this decision for me, or a crystal ball.

OP posts: