why happiness feels so hard for gay men

In this episode, I'm talking about that weird, nagging feeling where everything in your life looks fine, maybe even good, but you still feel flat. Like something's missing and you can't quite put your finger on it.I explore why happiness can feel so fragile, even when life is going well, and why so many gay men find themselves bracing for something to go wrong right in the middle of a good moment. From anticipatory anxiety to minority stress, I get into the real reasons joy can feel unfamiliar, even unsafe, after a lifetime of hiding, shrinking, and staying on guard.This one is about learning to trust happiness. To stay present in good moments instead of mentally skipping ahead to the worst case scenario. And to slowly, gently teach yourself that joy isn't something to be suspicious of. It's something you're allowed to hold.Want to go deeper? The Hey Gay Boy Substack is where I explore all of this in long form, with thousands of subscribers already in the community. Find it at jameswallis0.substack.comCome and say hello on Instagram @james_wallis and TikTok @jameswallis_If you'd like to support the podcast, you can buy me a coffee at buymeacoffee.com/jameswallis.Everything else is at linktr.ee/jameswallis Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.