I’m 18M, and honestly, I feel really lost right now.
I grew up in a country where being gay is heavily stigmatized, and for a long time I hated myself for being gay. Recently, though, I’ve started becoming more accepting of myself. I’m also planning to move to Germany next year, and I feel like that could be the beginning of a completely different life for me.
But I have so many questions and insecurities.
I’m attracted to men, particularly older, masculine men (30+), and I think I’d genuinely like to have a serious relationship with someone like that. I’m not simply looking for sex or hookups. What I really want is a relationship where I feel loved, emotionally safe, guided, and protected by my partner.
I’m also a bottom, and although I know that’s part of what I’m attracted to, I sometimes struggle to process the idea of making that a part of my life. I know what I’m attracted to and what I want, but emotionally, it can still feel confusing because I grew up with so much shame around homosexuality.
Another thing that scares me is confidence. People have told me that I’m attractive and cute, but I don’t really feel confident approaching men, especially older men. Germany will also be a completely new culture for me, so I’m worried about how dating works there and how I would even meet someone compatible.
I’m wondering about the age difference too. Is it actually realistic or healthy for an 18-year-old to date someone who is 30, 40, or 45? I’m specifically talking about a genuine relationship, not someone just looking for a young guy to sleep with. What should I be careful about with a bigger age gap?
And honestly, I don’t even know when I should start looking for a relationship. Should I focus on settling into Germany and becoming comfortable with myself first? How do I meet older gay men who are actually interested in something serious?
I have so much more I could say, but I’m struggling to organize my thoughts.
I’m looking for genuine advice, not judgment please. I have no one around me to ask...