I have a crush on one of my friends and a few weeks ago I did the scariest thing in my life by telling him how I felt. You see, I don't really know if he is the same way as I am and I was sort of hoping for an indication, but he didn't really clarify anything. Since then we have been hanging out as if nothing happened. Meanwhile, day in and day out I have to stand by and watch countless girls transparently throw themselves at him and it makes me sick. I have to bring it up again, but I don't know how. I am stressing out! I've lost about 30 lbs. and one day I actually made myself physically sick dwelling on the subject. Do you have any advice?
Signed,
Trapped, 17, Somewhere IL

It takes a great deal of strength and courage to let someone know that you have a crush on them. You should be proud of yourself for being able to talk with your friend about your feelings, especially when you are unsure about his sexual orientation. Some people, both gay and straight, are uncomfortable talking about or dealing with homosexuality. This may be why your friend didn’t give you a clear indication of how he felt about your admission. If you feel safe, it might be helpful to talk with your friend further about your previous conversation. This may help you to clarify where he is at and then, to help you sort through your feelings. Having a crush can be a very stressful experience. When that stress causes severe emotional or physical difficulties, such as the loss of a large amount of weight, it's very important to address it. You may want to speak with a school counselor or a medical professional, just to make sure that you haven’t damaged your health. You needn’t share the specifics of what you’ve been going through if you aren’t comfortable doing so. And, of course, if you have not yet called, you are also encouraged to call our toll-free helpline at 1-866-4-U-TREVOR. You'll be able to talk with a person sensitive to what you are experiencing. Remember that you don't have to go through this alone.