Navigating your LGBTQ+ Identity

The LGBTQ+ community is not a monolith; it’s a richly diverse group of people with a wide range of lived experiences.  Coming to accept yourself isn’t always easy, and sometimes, the stress can negatively impact your mental health. Learn about the challenges and how to foster self-discovery and acceptance.

What is it?

Coming to terms with your identity can be confusing and scary, but it can also be transformative. It can unlock previously unknown parts of yourself; it can reveal your potential as a person; it can bring a world of happiness, excitement, creativity, love, and joy.

Everybody is different, so navigating your identity and coming out looks different for everybody. Some people know who they are right away, but for some people, it can take years before they figure it out. Discovering who you are can be like sculpting—as you chisel away at the marble, you slowly reveal your vision for yourself. Shame and stigma can make this process difficult, and you should show yourself compassion as you take your time to understand and feel comfortable expressing yourself.

What’s difficult about it?

It’s easy to talk about self-discovery but doing it can be difficult, especially when you lack resources, safe places to turn, or safe people to talk to.

LGBTQ+ identities were once categorized and treated as mental health conditions, all operating with the underlying assumption that being part of the LGBTQ+ community was a disease that could be cured. While we’ve come a long way in combating hate, the stigma hasn’t completely gone away.

Over the past several decades, LGBTQ+ folks have waged strong and successful efforts to combat that stigma and gain greater acceptance. But in recent years, anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination has increased, making it harder for LGBTQ+ folks to live safely as their authentic selves.

How should I deal with it?

Discovering who you are can be difficult, but you’re not alone. Giving yourself space to heal and explore, and seeking out people who understand you, is a great place to start.

Things to try

Acknowledge and avoid negative self-talk
  • Group of people’s hands on top of one another in unison

    Connect with others

  • Build pride for your community

  • Older man and younger man talking while on a walk

    Try talking about it

More Things To Try

What can I do now?

If you’re in the process of discovering who you are, you aren’t alone. If you haven’t figured it all out yet or just need some more information, we have some ways to get through and learn more.