Except for one gay experience when 13, I have always been straight. Now however, at age 62, I have started wanting sex with men. Can this be explained by something in the aging process, or are other explanations?
One thing that can happen with age is more comfort in who you are and what you like as well as less concern over what other people will think. This why it is not unusual for a person who has lead a stright life to decide to either come out or experience a homosexual lifestyle when they are in their 50's, 60's or 70"s. We all want to be loved and at some point many realize that self love, acceptance and authenticity matter more than maintaining a facade. Additionally, some people are attracted to members of both sexes, but the heterosexual life felt more acceptable and so they never experimented with their other feelings.
At 62 it is unlikely a change of sexual orientation internally, but rather allowing those feelings to be conscious. Experimenting at age 13 may very well have been because you had homosexual urges that were your predominent attraction. It is also common for teenagers to experiment with homosexual interactions despite their prdominant orientation being heterosexual.
Whatever the case for you, as long as you aren't hurting a partner who is in the dark and are practicing safe sex, it is great to be comfortable with who you are and who you want.
In my practice over the years I have seen this many times. As people age their defenses minimize and their ability to see things in themselves without judgment and censoring increases.
When you think about it, we still live in a world where children are only allowed to explore and experiment with heterosexuality. Period. Anything else is taboo and frowned upon. This is imprinted upon us all and depending on your personality, your sex drive, your cultural upbringing and other factors you may have been suppressing these feelings for quite a while.
If you discover that you are gay that would not indicate a change of sexual orientation as much as it would indicate you probably always had them.
No one can change their sexual and romantic orientation. Research supports this.
It could also be likely that you are bisexual or simply heteroflexible and are more open to it now that you are older and wiser.
Whatever the case, I hope you don't feel shame around this and embrace it.
I think this is potentially very exciting--you have the opportunity and the desire to explore a completely new realm in your sexual life, something that could be very fulfilling and refreshing and wonderful. I don't think you need to get caught up in whether this means you are "gay" or "straight", if that is something that you are thinking about.
One thing that can happen with age is more comfort in who you are and what you like as well as less concern over what other people will think. This why it is not unusual for a person who has lead a stright life to decide to either come out or experience a homosexual lifestyle when they are in their 50's, 60's or 70"s. We all want to be loved and at some point many realize that self love, acceptance and authenticity matter more than maintaining a facade. Additionally, some people are attracted to members of both sexes, but the heterosexual life felt more acceptable and so they never experimented with their other feelings.
At 62 it is unlikely a change of sexual orientation internally, but rather allowing those feelings to be conscious. Experimenting at age 13 may very well have been because you had homosexual urges that were your predominent attraction. It is also common for teenagers to experiment with homosexual interactions despite their prdominant orientation being heterosexual.
Whatever the case for you, as long as you aren't hurting a partner who is in the dark and are practicing safe sex, it is great to be comfortable with who you are and who you want.
In my practice over the years I have seen this many times. As people age their defenses minimize and their ability to see things in themselves without judgment and censoring increases.
When you think about it, we still live in a world where children are only allowed to explore and experiment with heterosexuality. Period. Anything else is taboo and frowned upon. This is imprinted upon us all and depending on your personality, your sex drive, your cultural upbringing and other factors you may have been suppressing these feelings for quite a while.
If you discover that you are gay that would not indicate a change of sexual orientation as much as it would indicate you probably always had them.
No one can change their sexual and romantic orientation. Research supports this.
It could also be likely that you are bisexual or simply heteroflexible and are more open to it now that you are older and wiser.
Whatever the case, I hope you don't feel shame around this and embrace it.
I think this is potentially very exciting--you have the opportunity and the desire to explore a completely new realm in your sexual life, something that could be very fulfilling and refreshing and wonderful. I don't think you need to get caught up in whether this means you are "gay" or "straight", if that is something that you are thinking about.
I say get out there and explore away!