• tourist@lemmy.world
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    2 days ago

    Makes me think of how many people will remain in the closet, because they fear the possibility of these stupid and disgusting repercussions.

    From my anecdotal experiences, people who have come out publicly as LGBTQ seem a lot happier afterwards.

    While I was in a mental health clinic for depression, anxiety coupled with a cocaine and drinking problem, I spoke with another patient about my fairly unhealthy coping mechanisms. She noted that her brother was fully addicted to every drug he could get his hands on, for many years of his life while being completely depressed. Going in and out of rehabs and clinics, but never kicked any of it. Once he came out as gay, i.e. be his true self, he managed to quit the drugs and was a lot more happy in general.

    One of my favourite YouTubers to watch is Philosophytube. She made an announcement video where she came out as trans. She had a quote near the end of the video that went something like

    When people ask me, “Do you feel like a man or a woman”, I say, I feel happy.

    If a person stays in the closet, of course they will become depressed. Sexuality and gender Identity is a core part of being human.

    They already fear being ousted by family and friends, but now the government is involved, even more will silently suffer because of who they are.

    I’d give anything to alleviate my mental health issues. I have no idea why I’m depressed, but if I did, and I knew I’d be punished for being myself, that would make matters a lot worse

    • captainlezbian@lemmy.world
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      19 hours ago

      Philosophytube is excellent and for anyone who doesn’t know that quote is a reference to a more famous quote by youtuber contrapoints: “I look inside myself and ask, do I feel like a man, or a woman, and the answer is that I feel like shit.” And I love this inversion because both approach philosophy wildly differently.

      Contra is someone who needs to know more, and to pursue truth even when it is self destructive. Her transition wasn’t the turning point towards happiness (though her accepting she’s a lesbian and an addict may have been), but it was an act of deep personal honesty.

      Philosophytube routinely approaches topics as tools to improve your understanding and life, and if Kant can’t improve your life that’s ok, you don’t need to deal with his ideas if they don’t, but aren’t they still interesting and a good foundation to other ideas… Her transition was clearly both a turning point and a culmination of a progression towards happiness, and you can see it in her face in her videos.

      I like that duality because I’ve met people like both of them and in both cases the end result is an increase in both happiness and truth.

      I wish you too all the healing you can find. Mental health is hard and healing can be long and slow, but practicing healing does pay off