Introduction to Nori Rose Hubert, Author of 'The Life: LGBT Mental Health'

My name is Nori Rose Hubert. You might recognize my name from the Work and Bipolar or Depression blog here at HealthyPlace, where I have been blogging for a little over a year. I have enjoyed my time there, but lately, I have felt called to expand my mental health writing into other areas -- and the subject of mental health in the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, etc. (LGBTQ+) community is a topic that hits very close to home.

I identify as cisgender (someone who identifies with the gender they were assigned at birth – in my case, female), bisexual (attraction to more than one gender) and demisexual, meaning that I only experience sexual attraction after forming an emotional bond with someone. As a queer woman with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder, the intersection of living with a mental illness and being part of the LGBTQ+ community is something that affects every facet of my life, and I am excited for the opportunity to share my perspective and experiences with you here.

Nori Rose Hubert's Mental Health Journey

I began showing symptoms of anxiety and childhood depression around age seven, although I did not receive my bipolar diagnosis until I was 26 years old. During that time, I experienced alternating bouts of depression and mania that led to problems in my familial relationships, difficulty making and keeping friendships and self-harming behaviors, as well as an abusive relationship that lasted for much of my high school years.

I was also raised in a very conservative, religious environment where I was taught from an early age that LGBTQ+ people were sinful and unnatural. I was also taught that as a woman, I was much more prone to sin and sexual temptation than men were and that it was especially important for me to keep to the church's teachings about sexual purity so that I would not be "led astray." Looking back, I realize that I have always been attracted to multiple genders, and being forced to ignore and deny those feelings for my entire childhood was extremely damaging to my mental and emotional health.

After a particularly bad bout of depression in college, I started going to therapy to finally start addressing my traumas and develop better strategies to cope with my episodes. It was the first step towards a much brighter and healthier place for me, and I finally came out at age 23. While being openly queer in the American South can be scary at times, I love my community and am very devoted to creating a safer, healthier and more joyful world where we can all live well and thrive together -- namely through my writing.

Nori Rose Hubert's Plans for 'The Life: LGBT Mental Health'

My work for The Life: LGBT Mental Health will focus on healing from sexual trauma, including internalized homophobia (or, in my case, biphobia), as well as building a supportive community and creative ways to tend to your mental health needs as an LGBTQ+ person. There are a lot of challenges facing us as a community, but there is also a lot of room for change, growth and joy. I'm so glad to share this space with you and look forward to your comments and feedback as we walk this path together.