Recent content by Ioann

All this resonates with me a great deal. people seem to like me. In social gatherings I tend to shine, if I can overcome my nerves (usually with a drink or two). People find me funny, a good laugh. I can say clever things. But I am always the outsider. I am always on the fringes of any group. I...

'Judas' is, in some places, a synonym for 'traitor'. 'He's a right judas' is the sort of thing you might here in the part of England I originally come from, and it is not a compliment. Jezebel is another biblical name with unfortunate associations - originally a scheming woman, but more often...

Still hoping to be shocked. It would make a nice change.

I have been in a strip club, with lads from work, years ago in my 20s. Didn't do much for me, but then I am gay. I have also once, when very drunk, had oral sex from a female prostitute I met near Earls Court. We went to a gay bar together. As I say, I was very drunk. For the record, she was...

I am a fan of Dr Albert Ellis's Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy (REBT). That rejects self-esteem. Indeed, it thinks both low self esteem and high self esteem are equally based on false perceptions. Because how can anyone judge their self-worth? What are they judging it against? Instead, REBT...

Time, just time. Initially, I acted in a completely irrational way, and I am very embarrassed to think about it now. Love was replaced with a strange combination of love and hate, usually depending on how drunk I was when I decided to text him. What a mess. But the months turned to years, and...

I think you are right that not loving yourself is often the cause of loneliness. It is more an existential loneliness, rather than simply not having people about. My sanctuary used to be the pub, which was not good in the long term. Somehow I enjoyed having people around me, and enjoying...

People will always listen, my friend. I will always listen. May not be much help, but I will always listen.

Therapists often seem to have their own agendas, sadly. Rather than trying to support you, it seems like this person has her own line.

It is up to the individual to 'label' themselves if they wish, or not if they don't wish, as far as I am concerned. Mitorious (interesting name) didn't, btw, say that he wanted gay friends, or only gay friends, just that he wanted friends. Just because two people share a sexuality doesn't mean...

I care about you deeply.

Yes, it can't be much fun being straight. Not only do you have no fashion sense and crap tastes in music, but you have to do strange things with members of the opposite sex. Ugh!

Yeah. Its the nongays I feel sorry for. They will be beginning to feel left out.

I am a 46 year old gay male living in the UK. I guess I was an 18 year old gay male once, but it seems so long ago I cannot remember it with any clarity. Of course, that may say more about the intervening 28 years! It is always difficult being 'different', not conforming to the norm. Jokes and...

I lived in the US for two years, in western PA. I have traveled a bit around Europe - France, Germany, Italy. My last foreign trip was three years ago, to Ravenna, to see the late antique buildings, etc. Spectacular.