Trauma
Like doctors and pilots, I didn’t make up the principles that govern LGBTQ mental health — we have merely discovered them and now use them daily to safeguard lives. I pray with my feet every day that Latter-day Saints will come to fully understand these discoveries too. We are all part of one body in Christ. May we see that each part however different is equally needed by us.
It can take as much or even more courage to seek help for depression, anxiety, or trauma as it does to come out as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer. There is help though, and Rich Keys encourages anyone to seek it by sharing his own struggles and successes.
While the holidays are a time of celebration, they can also mean additional stress for anyone. For LGBT Mormons and their families, the holidays can be particularly stressful. We can combat stress by recognizing the cycle of stress and stress-induced habits, keeping perspective, and avoiding judging ourselves and others. We can learn to manage stress in a healthy way.