Gays and their mental health (older gays)

[princealbertofb]

A link to this question and these findings... nothing surprising but worth knowing.
http://www.queerty.com/study-sexual-mino...-20120120/

[LateBloomer]

A link to this question and these findings... nothing surprising but worth knowing.
http://www.queerty.com/study-sexual-mino...-20120120/

Older gays, 44-75 years old.

Fantastic. Just four months until I hit that threshold. And the hits just keep on coming!

:tongue:

[East]

I can attest to the part about losing people to AIDS having an effect. Surprisingly to me...the collective advice you guys here gave me actually made a difference for me after having been stuck for years. I came to terms with the fact that I am never going to really get over it but since I asked for help...I find I am actually living with the loss...I even got my 21st birthday picture with my friends blown up and framed and I can actually smile looking at it...there are 23 of us in the one photo and they are all dead except for me. I don;'t even feel guilty for having survived much anymore =and that is an amazing freedom. Does that effect my mental health? Of course it does. You dont' need a study to tell you that. It would affect anyone;'s mental health and if it didn't you most likely have even worse problems.

Other than that...I feel lucky to be gay and it brings me great comfort. If it was a choice I would choose it. I don't find alot of solace in or need for "approval" from people who I dont' know or dont' respect so the drama crap of being gay and the hand wringing just never arrived at my doorstep.

I have been happily partnered for 25 years to a man I love unconditionally so maybe that has something to do with it but I have the same outlook basically even before I met him so who knows?

[fenris]

I am a older gay ? cool ... now I can be grumpy :biggrin:

[Kaybee]

Ive been with my partner 13 years now, he is 12 years younger than me,,,I love him more now than ever,,,,that comes with time.
We are legally partnered now which I find immensely empowering and comforting.
I do often wonder if older gays find it stressful being on their own without a permanant partner to share their everyday lives with, or boring/lonely.
There must come a time in life when the partying and sexual buzz dies off and we arent able to attract the guys the way we did when younger.

[pellaz]

wonder how my life could have been different? The good and bad just if it went a different path.

at some age it might be important to setup a low stress and or monogamous gay family structure.

[princealbertofb]

Older gays, 44-75 years old.

Fantastic. Just four months until I hit that threshold. And the hits just keep on coming!

:tongue:

You'll be OK LateBloomer. Just find some nice friends, some nice activities and a good partner / boyfriend to share life's million little things with. You'll be OK.

[princealbertofb]

I am a older gay ? cool ... now I can be grumpy :biggrin:

hahaha, that's the privilege of all older people, not just gays... Here's a hug for you, Grumpy... (watch Snow White again? We did. :biggrin

[princealbertofb]

wonder how my life could have been different? The good and bad just if it went a different path.

at some age it might be important to setup a low stress and or monogamous gay family structure.

I believe it's really about having a support structure. It may not have to be a partnership or a companion... just very good friends to share with?

[LateBloomer]

You'll be OK LateBloomer. Just find some nice friends, some nice activities and a good partner / boyfriend to share life's million little things with. You'll be OK.

Thanks. You're a prince.



Definitely working on ALL of that now. Wish me luck.