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HELP ME!!! Really conflicted and confused!!!

If anyone could give me some advice I would greatly appreciate it . Ive recently come out to myself as bisexual an feeling very conflicted. Its something i've known for most of my life but just didnt know how to handle. I'll start with 3 months ago: I'm a very intuitive person, and it's recently come to my attention that my sister in law who I am close with, is a lesbian but in the closet. After a night of drinking she sort of attempted to tell all but eventually trailed off into another conversation. Since then, I suspect that she is in fact well aware of what she said that night but doesn't know how to go about it. Being that we are close, of course I became sympathetic about it and wrecked my brain about aproaching her without freaking her out. I still haven't talked to her about it, however I have realized that I'm identifying myself with her. Wanting to come out but not knowing how you family and friends will deal with it is such an overwhelming feeling. When I was 18, I figured that maybe it was curiousity nagging at the back of my mind. Yet before I knew it, I met my now husband, fell in love and now here we are 6 years later with 3 beautiful kids. And I love my husband, I know he's the only man for me. But I also know that like women as well but have no intention of cheating. What I really want to know is where do I go from here? Do I tell my husband about my bisexuality? I realize that if I do, I may be adding stress to his list of insecurities. Like I said before, I have no intention of cheating on my husband. But a part of me feels like I'm lying to my husband and it's sort of eating away at me. And my sister in law, do I tell her as well? I'm not worried about her telling anyone but I do want her to know that I understand where she's coming from. Please help!!!

BioRocks's picture

You say that if you don't

You say that if you don't tell  your husband about your sexuality, it would feel like lying and would eat at you. This may sound easy in theory, but telling the truth is the best policy. Tell him about your sexuality and assure him that you have no intention of cheating on him or leaving him. Remind him what a great family you both created together. Be extra attentive and reassuring for a while after you tell him, if he is that insecure. Once you've told your husband, it should be simpler to tell you sister-in-law.

This advice may be a bit naive, but it is the only one I can think of at the moment. Hope things resolve themselves favorably.

tracey's picture

I agree with BioRocks...

the truth is the best policy. Just think if the shoe were on the other foot wouldn't you like to know, even if you never act on your feelings and never cheat. I think it would make you feel better if you got the news out to your husband and it may surprise you that it may bring you closer.

That's just my two cents. Hope this works out. Please keep us posted.

Monique's picture

My Opinion.

Speak with your Sister-in-law, if she is the person you described, then she will understand you, and much more easier to carry a secret for two person. I think your husband don't need to know, because you said, you dont want to cheat on Him, so this information is not really relevant to your marriage.

Melissa Hsu's picture

O.K......

so, what  advice do you want us to give you. This is something that you have finally accepted about yourself, unless you are prepared to act on it than your husband doesn't need to know about it. I say you should talk to your sister-in-law about it if you need to get it off your chest or it may be easier to talk to someone you don't know, there are a lot of places for gays & bisexual people to go now. Why tell your husband that you are bisexual & maybe risk having your husband question any little gesture you make around other women. Unless the urge to be with another woman gets to much for you to handle than you should talk to your husband & see where you go from there. You say you love your husband & you would never cheat on him & he's the only man for you, so what if you finally realized that you like women too, you love your husband. And if you are in a committed relationship to eachother than you sould not allow your curiosity to get the best of you, just because it's another woman doesn't  change the fact that you are already in a committed relationship, you just know one more thing about yourself, that's all & one more thing you're not lying to your husband if you don't tell him about your revolation about yourself, now....the only way you should feel guilty is if you are having thoughts of acting on your feelings, goodluck. 

 "where you're at now in your life is where you need to be, you're there for a reason, so figure out what it is you need to learn so you can move on".

Koma's picture

Be prepared for both reactions

IMHO, if you are thinking of coming out to your husband then you need to prepare yourself for his reaction, whatever it may be. Even if he's the greatest guy in the world, he may not know how to handle this. Truth is important, but if you feel that your family is more important, you'll need to decide if they're worth (possibly) losing if hubby reacts negatively.

Sorry for the doom and gloom, but I was once in your position (sort of): I came out to my then-bf as bisexual and he didn't handle it well. I did it because I wanted to be honest - like you, I had no intentions of leaving him or cheating - but he just couldn't deal with it. Paranoia, jealousy, false assumptions, you name it... It didn't work.

Good luck. :)

 

True happiness, we are told, consists in getting out of one's self, but the point is not only to get out, you must stay out; and to stay out you must have some ab

sunnyday's picture

Wouldn't tell-

 

I would not tell your husband.  If you love him, don't intend on cheating, and don't intend to leave, then why would you tell him?  So you could feel better?  I don't think that's something he should be burdened with, if, again, you plan on staying.

My recommendation would be to talk to a close friend, possibly the sister-in-law, clergy, or a therapist.  It can be a lonely position and I understand your compulsion to talk about it, or share it, and talk it out with someone.

However, I don't think your husband should be the one with whom you share/have this conversation.

candice's picture

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