TRIGGER WARNING-

Traumatic topics discussed in this episode

In this episode of Unbox Yourself with Samantha Fox®, Samantha talks with Mandy about trauma, complex PTSD (CPTSD), and sexuality, and what it can look like to be coming out later in life (as bisexual/queer) inside a long-term marriage.

Mandy shares her story of starting therapy in 2020, coming out in 2022, and navigating the nervous system reality of healing: codependency, fight-or-flight, feeling “too much,” internalized homophobia, and the grief that can come when a partner can’t fully accept your identity. They also discuss the stigma and complexity of divorce, co-parenting after separation, and why sexuality is about more than sex, it’s about self-trust, belonging, and being seen.

If you’re navigating CPTSD, a mixed-orientation marriage, late-in-life coming out, or rebuilding after divorce, this conversation will help you feel less alone.

In this episode of Unbox Yourself with Samantha Fox®, we explore why a not straight awakening can feel emotionally overwhelming for women coming out later in life, whether you’re realizing you’re gay/lesbian, bisexual, or queer after years of living a straight, heteronormative life.

If you’re experiencing shame, guilt, fear, or self-judgment as you notice same-sex attraction, you’re not broken—your emotional system may be stuck in survival mode, using protective strategies to keep you safe. Samantha breaks down the core emotions we’re wired with, how childhood conditioning can teach us to shut feelings down, and why those “protective parts” get loud when you begin exploring your sexual identity.

You’ll leave with a compassionate reframe for the inner backlash (including internalized shame/internalized homophobia), and a path toward moving from surviving to thriving so you can access what’s truly authentic for you—without forcing one “right” outcome for your relationship or your life.

***I create this content for a general audience and may not address every access need or circumstance in each episode. Please adapt what you hear to your own body, mind, and lived experience, and seek appropriate support when needed

Summary:

In this heartfelt episode of Unbox Yourself®, sexuality coach Samantha Fox is joined by two former clients, Rebecca and Trish, who came out as gay later in life after long marriages with children ranging from teens to adults. Together they explore the fear behind the question “What about the kids?”, the reality of the messy middle of separation/divorce, and what happens when you stop living “half-dead” and start living authentically. This conversation offers reassurance, real-life perspective, and practical emotional guidance for anyone navigating late-bloomer coming out, parenting, and family change.

Keywords:

coming out later in life, late bloomer lesbian, gay later in life, sexuality coach, sexuality coaching, LGBTQ+ parenting, telling your kids you’re gay, divorce with kids, separation, co-parenting, internalized homophobia, authenticity, messy middle, resilience, Glennon Doyle Untamed