Pride Month, Identity, and Dissociation
The mental health impact of hiding who you are
The mental health impact of hiding who you are
June is Pride Month, a time to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community, recognise progress, and reflect on the importance of acceptance, visibility, and belonging.
For many people, Pride is a joyful celebration of identity. For others, it can bring up complicated feelings around acceptance, safety, family relationships, or past experiences.
One topic that is not often discussed is the relationship between identity, stress, and dissociation.
Dissociation is a protective response of the nervous system.
It can involve:
Dissociation often develops when stress, anxiety, or emotional overwhelm become difficult to manage.
It is not a sign of weakness. It is the mind's way of protecting itself.
Feeling accepted for who we are is an important part of psychological wellbeing.
When people feel safe expressing their identity, they are often better able to develop confidence, connection, and a sense of belonging.
However, when someone feels they must hide parts of themselves, the experience can become emotionally exhausting.
Some people may worry about:
Over time, these stresses can affect mental health.
Many LGBTQ+ people grow up learning to monitor how they speak, act, dress, or express themselves.
For some, this becomes a way to stay safe.
While these coping strategies can be understandable, constantly hiding parts of yourself can create emotional strain.
Some people describe feeling:
These experiences can sometimes overlap with dissociation.
Researchers often use the term minority stress to describe the additional stress experienced by people who belong to marginalised groups.
This stress may come from:
Not everyone who experiences minority stress will dissociate.
However, chronic stress can increase the likelihood of dissociative experiences, particularly during periods of overwhelm.
Research consistently shows that LGBTQ+ individuals experience higher rates of mental health difficulties than the general population. This is not because of sexual orientation or gender identity itself, but often because of discrimination, rejection, bullying, and social exclusion.
The UK Government's National LGBT Survey found that:
Research has also found that experiences of discrimination, victimisation, and minority stress are associated with increased rates of anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress, and dissociative symptoms.
These findings highlight an important point: feeling accepted, safe, and able to be yourself is not simply a social issue. It is also a mental health issue.
Source: UK Government Equalities Office (2018), National LGBT Survey.
Pride is not only about celebration.
For many people, it is also about recognising the importance of self-acceptance.
Self-acceptance does not mean having all the answers.
It can simply mean allowing yourself to acknowledge your experiences without judgement.
For some people, Pride Month may be a time to:
Not everyone feels positive during Pride Month.
Some people may feel:
These feelings are valid too. There is no right or wrong way to experience Pride.
Understanding the connection between stress, identity, and dissociation can help reduce self-blame.
If you sometimes feel disconnected, numb, or "not really here", it does not mean something is wrong with you.
It may be your nervous system responding to stress in the best way it knows how.
Awareness is often the first step towards self-understanding and support.
Understanding dissociation is an important step towards self-awareness.
Download Ground Me Dissociation Aid on the App Store to learn more about dissociation and check your level.
Android coming soon.
Sign up to our newsletter at groundme.app to stay updated.
Ground Me is a self-help app, not a diagnostic tool, and does not replace professional care.
Bilge Kıvrak is a Mental Health Practitioner, MSc Mental Health and Clinical Psychology, and Co-founder of Ground Me. She specialises in dissociation, trauma-informed mental health support, and increasing awareness of dissociation through education and digital health innovation.