http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/science/2013/01/coming-out-of-the-closet-may-be-good-for-your-health/ Ideas, innovations and discoveries from the world of science Tue, 18 Jun 2013 18:06:30 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4 http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/science/2013/01/coming-out-of-the-closet-may-be-good-for-your-health/comment-page-1/#comment-9509 Marcus Fri, 01 Mar 2013 09:38:24 +0000 http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/science/?p=14488#comment-9509 Stress, anxiety and depression are real health hazards. Being out in the open does not necessarily mean that those stressors will be eliminated in a person, it just lessens the cortisol level. Thus, stress, anxiety and depression from social acceptance is already eliminated from the system. Social stigma and rejection are the best stressors a person could have. Stress, anxiety and depression are real health hazards. Being out in the open does not necessarily mean that those stressors will be eliminated in a person, it just lessens the cortisol level. Thus, stress, anxiety and depression from social acceptance is already eliminated from the system. Social stigma and rejection are the best stressors a person could have.

]]> http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/science/2013/01/coming-out-of-the-closet-may-be-good-for-your-health/comment-page-1/#comment-9215 Michael Mon, 18 Feb 2013 21:38:18 +0000 http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/science/?p=14488#comment-9215 Couple this with Sapolsky's work on primates and stress levels, we might even be able to suggest that because of these lower cortisol levels, the "out" LGBT community might actually have long term health benefits when compared to the heterosexual or closeted populations. This is extremely interesting! I wonder if similar results could be found among heterosexual individuals who are very open about sexual orientation. My feeling is that the less social stress we put on ourselves (aka being open about sexuality, rather than restrictive on a very intimate part of our personality) the healthier in general we will be. Thanks for sharing this! Couple this with Sapolsky’s work on primates and stress levels, we might even be able to suggest that because of these lower cortisol levels, the “out” LGBT community might actually have long term health benefits when compared to the heterosexual or closeted populations. This is extremely interesting! I wonder if similar results could be found among heterosexual individuals who are very open about sexual orientation. My feeling is that the less social stress we put on ourselves (aka being open about sexuality, rather than restrictive on a very intimate part of our personality) the healthier in general we will be. Thanks for sharing this!

]]> http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/science/2013/01/coming-out-of-the-closet-may-be-good-for-your-health/comment-page-1/#comment-9073 Philip Fri, 15 Feb 2013 12:14:52 +0000 http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/science/?p=14488#comment-9073 Being true to ourselves can set our feelings free. It is not good we always stay in the dark and keep it a secret which in fact we are proud to be. It is like stress and depression, if we know how to express our true feelings, it can help to set free our negative thoughts and feelings. Being true to ourselves can set our feelings free. It is not good we always stay in the dark and keep it a secret which in fact we are proud to be. It is like stress and depression, if we know how to express our true feelings, it can help to set free our negative thoughts and feelings.

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