Adolescence is a period of development that affects not only our physical appearance but out

mental state too. It is in this period that we find ourselves going thought numerous changes,

from growing hair on new places to discovering who we truly are. With this comes the

questioning of one’s sexuality, this with the constant growth of our mind can lead young

children to develop certain mental illnesses, amongst them, anxiety disorder.

Anxiety affects nearly 1 in 3 adolescents ages 13 to 18 and the LGBTQ+ community are amongst

them. According to studies, 30 to 60 percent of lesbians, gay men, bisexuals or transgender

people deal with anxiety and depression. People who suffer from anxiety disorder describe it as

having excessive worrying, feeling restless, being easily fatigued and being easily irritable

among many other different symptoms. LGBTQ+ youth is particularly at risk of suffering from a

mental illness such as anxiety, this is due to the constant societal pressure of being part of the

LGBTQ+, experience buying and hate crimes and the fear of coming out to family and loved

ones as well as finding and accepting who you truly are. All of these factors can put a lot of

stress into the young minds of the LGBTQ+ youth and therefore, being the initial steps to

develop an anxiety disorder.

It is very important to understand the risks these mental illnesses can bring and how one can

take on these hardships and overcome them. Seeking the help of a professional who

understands the problem you or your child is having and knows the steps to help and heal is

greatly important.