Hey everyone. I'm 17M from India, and lately I've been caught in a lot of doubt and overthinking about a part of myself that I've struggled to understand and accept.
I've enjoyed wearing sarees and other traditionally feminine clothes for a long time. I'm a guy, and I generally present masculinely in everyday life, but this feminine side of me is genuinely important to me. Wearing these clothes gives me a sense of comfort and peace that's difficult to explain. It's not something I want to simply grow out of or abandon. I've tried pushing it away before, but the feelings keep coming back.
Growing up in a fairly strict Muslim household, I haven't really had the freedom to explore this side of myself openly. That leaves me wondering what my future will look like. I want to be able to build a life, become independent, and eventually have a relationship with someone who accepts me as I am.
And that's where a lot of my doubts begin.
I want a relationship with a girl someday, but I don't want to hide something this important from her. I'd want to be honest before things get serious, rather than develop a deep emotional connection and reveal it much later. At the same time, I'm scared that being open about it will make finding someone compatible much harder, especially in the cultural and religious environment I grew up in.
There are also some personal preferences and curiosities that I worry a future partner might not understand. I don't want to get into explicit details here; what matters is that I'm afraid of being rejected for parts of myself that I don't feel I can simply switch off.
Sometimes I wonder whether I'm overthinking my future, whether I should accept myself more confidently, or whether I'm being unrealistic in hoping to find someone who could genuinely understand me. I don't expect everyone to be comfortable with everything, and I know compatibility goes both ways. I just don't want to feel like I have to choose between being loved and being honest about who I am.
How have you dealt with these doubts? Have you found ways to reconcile your identity with your faith, family background, or hopes for a relationship? And how do you keep yourself from spiralling into the belief that your future is already decided?
I'm not looking for someone to tell me what I should be. I just want to hear from people who might understand what this feels like.
(I would like it if we can be friends or something)