Sexual shame was embedded in so much of my behaviour - I never had reflected on that before, so I wasn't aware of it, therefore unable to change it until now. Having the realisation how big my sexual shame is, how much of my life it takes up, has given me the freedom to overcome it, or at least many aspects of it.

Name withheld

My main insights about sexuality now are that I have repressed it for three main reasons: 1) to protect myself from letting girls and women down 2) to protect myself from envy of less able and attractive men. 3) and to protect myself from envy, hostility and possible confrontation with regard to "alpha" types who want to put me and keep me in a particular box and neutralise any threat. I have learned through this course that it is ok to behave in line with your actual values around sex and destructive to bury them so deeply that it causes severe mental distress over time..

Name withheld

I opened up to friends about my lack of experience, and also tried being more sexually flirtacious - both were very nerve wracking experiences.

James K

I talked to people about the things that caused me shame. I practiced being more honest with people in general. My filter for seeing the truth in any given moment and ignoring or at least identifying stories has improved. Favorite part was realizing that some of the stories around sexuality are not true.

Name withheld

Sharing the way shame affects me was liberating - I've got a lot of sexual shame!

Will S