“temperamental sensitivity, obsessive introspection and perfectionism.”

I have thought long and hard about this over the past few years, and I have concluded that, for what it’s worth, those traits describe my earlier years — childhood through young adulthood — to a T. Naturally, it would have made me more vulnerable to depression and anxiety. Who knows how it could have influenced my same-sex attractions or other sexual temptations?

Other factors are in the equation (CSA, father/mother issues, a sexually permissive climate leading to curiosity), all of which could have converged to influence my need to seek amelioration or “completeness” with the same sex.

It always makes my head hurt when I try to put it all together. We all know it’s complex and, in some ways, defies understanding. Certainly defies categorizing.

This would suggest a kind of anxiety different from neurotic anxiety, more like flooding.

Sexual feelings (regardless of orientation) could be a quick balm. Erotic identification with a masterful partner would both lower anxiety and increase pleasure.

I suspect they have seen some obsessional clients who worried about being gay; helped their obsessions and called it a cure.

I want to see data not generalizations from people who have demonstrated a willingness to diagnose people without seeing them.

“temperamental sensitivity, obsessive introspection and perfectionism.”