When discussing the inner turmoil that exists in the hearts and minds of lesbian, bisexual, gay, and transgender youth it must be understood that the entire world these young adults have been promised has shattered due to discovering their sexuality. If the identity or sexual orientation a person identifies with does not fit into societal constraints, then both externally and internally there is a dissonance between what is expected of the person versus who he or she authentically is. This inconsistency creates turmoil in individuals’ lives that devalues their existence, leading to self-depreciation and depression. The external conflicts that arise due to breaking the “rules” of society seep through the skin and manifest as a disease, a disease which intensifies the already complicated internal battle occurring in many queer youths. The world outside the mind is just as manipulative as the voice inside someone’s head, and the duo working in unison creates a place of darkness where it feels as though light will never exist again.
Furthermore, each queer person has a unique story about who they are, where they come from, and the personal challenges that they have dealt with that have led them to become the person that survived the battleground. Because being any other sexuality other than straight is truly a battleground. There is the battle of society, family, and coming out that many internalize and add to their feelings of self-hate. Queer youth must handle with how their newfound sexuality changes how they view themselves in regards to their life, sexuality, place in the world, and self-worth. Due to all of this confrontation some of these young adults hate themselves, even as blindly as society sometimes does, but if they have the courage to push forward there is a ray of hope. This constant evaluation of oneself and the world can help LBGT youth to be extremely self-aware and can lead to a greater feeling of inner peace after their issues have been resolved.
The trick is finding the power that stays constant despite the situation calms the spirit and releases the teenage angst that can intensify the issues that LBGT youth face. It gives an outlet to negative feelings that are doing only harm to the soul. The true self is underneath the layers of the Id, Ego, and Superego, in a place where the world falls away leaving only the truest form of a person’s spirit. In that place there is no pain or feelings of being devalued, instead, it is a warm safe place where the world exists as a place for learning. This state of being shifts the mind to a positive perspective where most times the person can remain objective and use their experiences to validate their own life and ignore the ignorance of others. In the place of the ideal self, an individual can bring themselves to a state of consciousness that gives way to a deeper understanding of the world and themselves that is not governed by trivial societal standards.
