Being Gay and Trust Issues

I. am. gay. at least i think i am. idrk. me and my mom also have trust issues cuz i sent nudes. h e l p p l e a s e

Help Yourself

• It sounds like you have a lot going on in your mind right now, and you’re looking for someone to help you through it. Thank you for reaching out to TeenCentral to help you get the support you need!
• Figuring out who we are in this world is a very intricate process. You may want to try using the LEARN tab on our Teen Central website. There is a section specifically on sexuality, including who and how to talk to about it. It has some great ideas that may be helpful to you on this journey.
• Have you tried talking to your mom about how you’re feeling about the trust issues between you, and discussing ways that you can work to earn her trust back? It may help to let her know if that’s something that you want, and that you’d like to work with her to move forward in your relationship.
• There is a National Hotline that is available to talk with people under the age of 25 about what you are experiencing. Here is the information, which is also listed on the HELP tab on Teen Central:
  • Gay Lesbian Bisexual Transgender National Help Center
    Monday-Friday 1pm to 9pm / Saturday 9am-2pm (pacific time)
    Monday-Friday 4pm to 12am / Saturday 12pm-5pm (eastern time)
  • Support for LGBT youth
    Youth Talkline: 1800-246-PRIDE (7743)
    http://www.glbthotline.org/youth-talkline.html

Consider This

• As we discover things about ourselves, it helps to have people to talk to and share your experiences. This is not something you need to go through alone. Consider if there are people in your life that you trust and that you can confide in. What would it feel like to share this new discovery about yourself?
• It’s easy to feel overwhelmed when trying to talk to someone about this very personal part of yourself. It’s always your decision if you want to tell someone or not. Would it help to write down some thoughts you would like to share to help you organize your thoughts ahead of time? Also, journaling can be a very helpful experience when trying to sort out your thoughts. There are no right or wrong answers on a blank page – just how you see things. Sometimes looking back on your thoughts can help you better understand how you were feeling at the time.
• Take a moment to check in with yourself if you feel ok with sending nude pictures or if it’s time to rethink this decision. It’s not clear if you’re sending them to someone specific, or posting them online, but your body is your own and you are important. Unfortunately, you cannot control what happens to those pictures once you send them and there are a number of possible consequences to consider – some are social (like is anyone else seeing your pictures besides who you sent them to?) and some are legal (child pornography laws have at times been used in cases involving kids that have nude pictures or send them). Please be cautious and take care of yourself!