A 20-year-old student visited a clinic experiencing prolonged insomnia, heart palpitations, and occasional chest pain. After extensive cardiovascular examinations, doctors found no physical damage to the patient.
During psychological counseling, the truth gradually emerged: the young man lived in fear of his family discovering his sexual orientation and frequently endured teasing at school.
Doctor of Philosophy, Second-Degree Specialist Physician Tra Anh Duy, a lecturer in the Psychology Department at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Ho Chi Minh City, identified this as a symptom of man tinh stress caused by stigma and the strain of hiding one's true self. When an individual is forced to live in a state of constant vigilance, their body responds with very real physical symptoms.
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Stigma and the pressure to conceal identity silently leave distinct biological marks, causing complex mental health issues in many LGBTQ+ youth. Photo: AFP |
Similarly, a 23-year-old sought help due to feelings of emptiness, reduced motivation, and low self-esteem. After many years of internalizing negative prejudices against LGBTQ+ individuals, he gradually believed himself to be less valuable. According to Doctor Duy, this is the phenomenon of internalized stigma—where societal prejudice "seeps" inward and becomes a personal belief, igniting syndromes of depression and anxiety.
In medical literature, stigma is identified as a source of man tinh social stress. Unlike temporary pressures from exams or work, stress due to stigma is often recurrent and difficult to avoid.
This mechanism directly impacts the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which regulates the stress hormone cortisol. When cortisol remains elevated for a long period, the body enters a continuous "red alert" state, leading to fatigue, weakened immunity, and sleep disorders.
Research published in Psychological Bulletin indicates that sexual minority groups face significantly higher stress levels than the general population. This prolonged pressure, not their gender identity or sexual orientation, is responsible for causing depression.
Living in an unsafe environment forces the brain to constantly assess risk, consuming a tremendous amount of mental energy. According to a study in the American Journal of Public Health, this state increases inflammatory markers and emotional dysregulation in the body.
Doctor Duy noted that many young LGBTQ+ individuals are hospitalized for headaches, digestive disorders, or rapid heartbeats, yet clinical tests show normal results. Medicine refers to this as somatization.
Research in Psychoneuroendocrinology shows that prolonged elevated cortisol disrupts the connection between the brain and the digestive system, directly affecting heart rate. The body is logically reacting to a damaging environment.
Statistical data from the Annual Review of Clinical Psychology also reveals that LGBTQ+ youth have a 1,5 to 2 times higher risk of depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation compared to heterosexual peers. These indicators, however, improve significantly in more accepting environments.
The harm is real, but the positive news is that the human body possesses an astonishing capacity for self-healing, according to Doctor Duy. When the living environment becomes safer, the stress hormone axis gradually stabilizes, restoring sleep and energy to the individual. After a period of psychological intervention—focused on addressing negative beliefs, building support networks, and reinforcing positive identity—the physical symptoms of these patients showed significant improvement.
According to research in JAMA Pediatrics, friendly school and family environments are the most crucial health protective factors. Acceptance is not merely a humanitarian concern; it is an essential preventative healthcare method for the younger generation.
"When society reduces its prejudiced gaze, a young person's body will experience one less chest pain attack," Doctor Duy stated.
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