What was your biggest surprise when you came out (good or bad) ?

[Heather Shay]

I could not believe how much relief and how good it felt to stop hiding.

[Jackie C.]

I think the biggest surprise was that the weight I'd been carrying just sort of vanished. It's amazing what you can do when you're not lugging around all that extra baggage. It felt like I could finally breathe and it was intoxicating.

 

Hugs!

[Heather Shay]

That is encouraging news for so many.

[Jazz-per]

I'm out at work so:

 

Good: I felt so happy and comfortable. It was so relieving. And finally having a place I can use the men's restroom? It's amazing... the euphoria.

 

Bad: It hurts a lot more when people get it wrong. Also, my anxious a** kind of just gets really worried that since I'm out at work my parents will find out...

[Heather Shay]

Prepare they will have to be told at some time and much coming from you than someone else.

[Beatriz]

I came out first to a friend, about 5 or 6 weeks ago. The feeling was of incredible relief, like a huge weight off my belly and shoulders.

 

8 days ago I gathered the courage to come out to my partner. The conversation itself was suprinsingly civilized. The consequences are being terrible. I'm having such a bad time that I didn't even find the strength to post about it. She's shunned me. We used to text and talk a lot on the phone - that's gone. Now it's one or two neutral text messages a day, one phone call every 2 or 3 days (where she is always angry and I'm super sad) and we have only seen each other once in eight days, in a coffee place, and the conversation was similar to the phone calls (she, angry; me, sad). I'm feeling terrible. I love her and this is extremely sad for me. I'm having a very hard time.

[Charlize]

17 hours ago, Jackie C. said:

I think the biggest surprise was that the weight I'd been carrying just sort of vanished. It's amazing what you can do when you're not lugging around all that extra baggage. It felt like I could finally breathe and it was intoxicating.

 

Hugs!

This!   Fear at first but then freedom.

 

Hugs,

 

Charlize

 

[Heather Shay]

@Beatriz I am so sad to hear this but at least you are talking. My wife had a meltdown but a year later she is slowly coming around. Be kind and gentle and maybe she will come around but you still must do what is best for you.

Hugs

Heather Shay

[Willow McKenzie]

This happened 6-7 years ago.   I came out to my partner---no problem, they are non-binary anyway.  I tried to keep  it from others around me because I thought they wouldn't understand.  I just couldn't retain my happiness and I let it out here and there and it just took off.   What surprised me most was that several people said they already knew without being told.     

[michael.yumm]

How drastically my life changed for the better. Prior to this I was regularly miserable despite having gone through therapy and couldn't understand why I still felt the way that I did. Coming to terms with myself and coming out as a whole has dramatically improved my social and personal life overall. I would never take back embracing myself for who I am no matter what