"I am married to a someone I do love. We have children we adore, and we built a life together that hums along with normal ups and downs. I have also come to realize a truth about myself that I have done everything I can think of to suppress and run away from. This secret that I’ve tried to banish to the recesses of my heart and mind will destroy everyone I love and the life we have if it is brought into the light of day. It may also destroy me from the inside out if I continue to hold it in. I am overwhelmed with fear deep down, and I cannot see any way through this…"

If this describes where you are at in life, you are not the first and will not be the last to find yourself in what seems to be a no-win situation. It is impossible to measure statistics around the number of married people who are deeply in the closet with their true sexuality. It is more common than most realize, however, and men and women all over the world and across all cultures deal with this situation every day. Understanding how and why people find themselves in such a struggle is complex and not quickly or easily explained. Some find comfort in at least knowing that they are not alone in a situation that feels so isolating and unique. The emotional and psychological toll of hiding this reality often becomes overwhelming for all involved, and the consequences of maintaining deception of self and others can have devastating outcomes. Yet, people are more courageous than they realize with a bountiful ability to heal. Stepping into truth does not have to end in complete and utter destruction. That does not mean it is not hard or painful – it is both, but there are ways to move into truth with grace, respect, and dignity for all, which can lead to a better, if not always easier, place in the end.