Mental Health

Processing the issues that come with being queer can cause other mental health issues.

First I would like to talk about the issues Charlie faced. Charlie ended up being diagnosed with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and Anorexia. He has very specific rules on when he can eat, what he can eat, how he can eat, and where he can eat. This caused a flurry of other issues within the plotline, like snapping at friends with anger, disappearing from social groups, passing out during events with a lot of stress, and skipping school. His therapist from his mental hospital visit and onward said that this could be a result of his bullying from a young age. 

This is consistent with studies from the real world. Williamson (1999) found that homophobia in society can create negative feelings within teens, potentially causing self-abuse, suicidal ideation, and disordered eating (p.1). In another study Williamson wrote with Hartley (1998), they said, “...there is now consistent evidence that with males there are frequently strong associations between egodystonic homosexuality and eating disturbance…” (p. 161). Egodystonic in this context is relating to the distressing feeling of being queer, especially when you are unsure of yourself. This is especially prominent in teens. In his article, he wrote, “In the typically hostile and homophobic environment of the school, college, and peer group, it would appear that the young (gay) male adult may project feelings of the ‘bad me’ onto his body leading to increased vulnerability to eating disorders”(Williamson, 1999, p.166).