Bisexual Women and Addiction

Many bisexual women go through a period of confusion while discovering their sexuality. They may think they are gay or straight alternatively and may have a hard time coming out due to the confusion about bisexuality. Gays often refer to themselves as bisexual, when they are questioning their own sexuality, and they may question others that identify as bisexual. Straight people may not believe that bisexuality exists. Bisexual women vary in sexual identity, and assumptions about who they date and why can undermine their sense of identity, lead to depression and anxiety and result in coping with emotions through substance abuse.

Straight and Gay Culture Can Be Judgmental Towards Bisexual Women

Magazines, movies and advertisements often portray images of women that are impossible to achieve which can cause low self-esteem and competitiveness among straight and bisexual women. Bisexual women struggle with these images as well as images in the gay community such as butch, femme and other lesbian gender identities. They may feel pressure to conform to different roles depending on who they are dating. While the gay community strives to be inclusive, lesbians may shun bisexual women if they begin dating or have recently dated men. This constant juggling of different identities combined with the social pressures and beauty standards that all women face can be overwhelming to some bisexual women, and they may abuse alcohol or drugs as a way to cope and relieve stress. A bisexual woman in a committed relationship still identifies as bisexual but may have a hard time expressing it. Some bisexual women may hide their bisexuality while dating men, and this dishonesty can create conflicting feelings of low self-esteem and self-worth which can lead to drug abuse.

Bisexual Women Lack a Defined Community

There is much less of a bisexual community than there is a gay community. There aren’t as many specifically bisexual communities or organizations. Bisexual women often feel they do not belong, both from self-criticism and judgment from other gays and lesbians. Due to the variety of sexual identities among the LGBT community bisexual women may be further divided by monogamy and polyamory, creating a greater sense of distance between them and other bisexual women. This lack of community and recognition can increase a bisexual woman’s sense of isolation and lead to substance abuse as an escape.

Bisexual Women Face Harassment Growing Up and As Adults

Being openly gay or bisexual invites criticism from students in school and from the media. Their families may not accept their identity or may try to convince them that they will change as they get older. As adults bisexual women face the stigma of sexual promiscuity or confusion. They may also face homophobia in the workplace.

Bisexual women are often portrayed as promiscuous and hypersexual in popular media. Even when the word bisexual is not used directly, attractive women are seen kissing or being sexual with each other. These stereotypes make bisexual women seem less real and less genuine, when they come out to those they know. Many of the homophobic sexual comments made by straight men about lesbians are only compounded with bisexual women. Some may not take bisexual women’s identity seriously due to homophobic bias and assume it is “just a phase.”

Get LGBT-Friendly Help for Addiction Today

If are struggling with addiction and sexual identity, call us today. We can help you find an addiction treatment center that is LGBT-friendly and is understanding of people with transitioning and unique sexual identities. Call now, as our toll-free helpline is available 24 hours a day. We are here to help you find recovery and acceptance.