There are a lot of stereotypes about gay life and some of these are associated with 'healthiness' or 'unhealthiness'.
We all make choices about the way we live and part of being gay is the freedom to make choices. Sometimes the expectations of others (our family, friends, lovers or the dominant ideas around us) can lead us to forget to look after ourselves.
Looking after your general health.
If you are gay you might prefer to see a doctor or other health professional who is familiar with issues that concern gay men and lesbians. Contact your local gay and lesbian organisation to locate a doctor who is comfortable with gay patients.
If you are in Australia, you might like to take a look at our gay friendly doctors page.
Drugs
Gay
people, like anyone else, can become dependent on drugs or alcohol.
When it becomes hard to stop using drugs, other aspects of life can
become difficult. We will shortly be posting some information that
might be useful for anyone who is struggling with drugs or alcohol. You
will find ideas about how to cut down or stop drinking or using drugs
here.
Some people choose to take
drugs when they party. It's important to be as informed as possible
about particular drugs and their effects so that we can look after
ourselves and those we care about. More information about drugs and
gay partying can be found here in the Scene Survival Guide or on our drugs page.
Sex.
Part
of being happy as a gay person is the opportunity to enjoy sex when (or
if) you have it. If you have a problem with sex, we might have some
ideas or answers for you here in our Sex
section. Perhaps you find it hard to enjoy sex or feel guilty when you
have it. Or maybe something doesn't seem to work right. There are lots
of tips and suggestions to be found here.
Being
gay doesn't mean you are more likely to get a sexually transmitted
infection. But sometimes it is harder for gay people to talk about
their health and what they have been doing sexually. Take a look at our
Sex section if you want to know more about how to protect yourself and others or you have a problem and you need help.
Mental Health.
Sometimes
life can get difficult. It's like that for anyone whether we are gay
or not. But sometimes being gay presents particular
difficulties because heterosexuality has such a strong influence in the
world. If you are feeling down or depressed or really struggling with
your emotions or thoughts, head over to this part of the site. We've
called it Being Different, Feeling Good.
If you are a gay guy finding it hard to meet a boyfriend, we've put together a list of the 10 Best Self-Help books for Gay Dating.
We
will keep updating and building on these pages. So please let us know
if there is something that we have forgotten that could be helpful to
others. You can send us an email by clicking here.
