Hey everybody,

"I am gay and currently living in the Middle East, specifically in Turkey. Though it's not a bad place for open living, there are times when I struggle and feel lonely. I have a partner, three dogs, and cats. Together with my partner, we run a yoga studio, and many of our customers and close acquaintances, including our families, know about us. However, due to the societal attitudes towards LGBT issues and sexuality in Turkey, it's challenging to be completely open about these topics in public. This restriction leads to fear, sometimes making me feel extremely lonely and trapped in a cycle of fearful thoughts. I constantly create scenarios in my mind about the future. Recently, due to these concerns, along with financial pressures and the obligation of military service, my anxiety has escalated, leading to mild twitching in my right eye for the past week. I have many things to be grateful for, like my wonderful family, friends, pets, and business, but sometimes it doesn't seem enough. My worries feel like they are taking over."