Hope I didn't disappoint :) Though I do apologize for somehow not considering the possibility that one of the obstacles in your path might be the same as mine... still so accustomed to seeing myself as "abnormal" compared to everyone else (even though I should know better) that this often just doesn't occur to me. Old habits die hard I guess.

All of which is to say... are you me? :) Yeah: life shaped by avoidance, denial, and C-PTSD here, too. Also crippling self-hatred and the certainty that everyone else will hate me at least as much. Both of which seem to have particularly impacted my sexuality. So, like you, I think that the problems I've had there are more personal than societal, though the former made me hypersensitive to the latter (didn't dare risk disapproval, even when I had zero respect for the reason or the source).

But we've also got this in common: having found effective therapy to deal with these issues. And making progress there. Which I hope will ultimately outweigh all the rest.

You're very wise, "Evita" :) Probably a lot more than me. So I particularly cherish your kind words. As well as your own strong presence of mind and clarity of thought, so often on display here in this sub.

I'm glad that we're both finding ourselves, despite the forces that stood in our way. And that we both found each other, too :)