Living a double life & developing anxiety from it

Chanel1
Community Member
Ok, so where do I start? I'm a 27 year old girl who studies Psychology- works by night in a hotel as a Receptionist, and by day in a Massage Parlour. I only began working in the Massage Parlour a few months ago, and this was due to not being able to pay for my expenses on the part time salary I am receiving from my job as a Receptionist. Nobody in my life knows I work in the Massage Parlour. I don't consider myself as a sex worker as I don't do anything sexual, but it is known as an 'Erotic Massage Parlour' and I feel dirty working there and I hate the feeling of lying to the ones I love, especially my partner who I love dearly 😞 Everyone knows me as a bright, intelligent young woman and I am highly respected by the ones around me, but the more time goes on with me lying and leading this double life, the more sick I feel and the more I feel like I am losing sense of who I am. Since the guilt began creeping up on me, I wake in the middle of the night in a sweat. I cry for no reason and I constantly feel like my stomach is in knots. The worst part of this whole ordeal is that I can't tell anybody about it!!! I can't trust anyone... I know I will be judged and frowned upon and I fear losing respect and the ones I hold so close to my heart. I feel so sick every time I have to lie to my partner about where I'm going... He is such a beautiful person and doesn't question me the slightest and believes every word that comes from my mouth, so it just tears my insides apart after I've lied to him. He doesn't deserve to be treated like this. I don't know what to do with myself. I want to stop working there but I don't know how I will afford to pay my rent, and the others many costs of living on a part-time salary. I do it to pay my bills, pay for groceries and pay for my rent. If I was doing it for anything else, I would never have stepped foot in such a disgraceful place. I can't eat, I can't sleep, and the lies after lies after lies are haunting me. Most of the time, I can't breathe and I get all choked up. My hands get all clammy and I feel like I could faint right then and there, I get dizzy and I black out too. I need someone to PLEASE tell me what I should do, or please try and help me with suggestions. I can't tell anybody about my dirty little secret and I wish someone on here could not judge me and advise me instead.. I feel so alone and lost... I appreciate anyone who can help me or even just chat with me so I can get it all out 😞
10 Replies 10

Molly06
Community Member

Dont beat yourself up, you are trying your best.

I feel like this can't go on for you though cause eventually something will give, as you can obviously massage have you tried applying for jobs at reputable massage places? Or talk to your parents/ boyfriend and explain the money situation and ask if they can help or know of any jobs going around.

There must be some sort of alternative for you.

Good luck

Zeal
Community Member

Hi Chanel,

Welcome to the forum!

I'm sorry to hear about your stressful situation. I too study psychology, though I don't currently work and still live with my parents. Studying and working two jobs must take up a lot of your time. Do you feel overloaded? Like Molly said, is there a way to enquire about alternatives to your massage parlour job? Perhaps you could work in a beauty salon or ask your family for some financial assistance while you search for a new job. Your massage role is making you feel upset, stressed and ashamed, and no one deserves to feel this way. As you don't do anything sexual, you have not done anything unsavoury or wrong, but I can understand why you still feel uncomfortable. I am fairly conservative for my age (I'm 23), and I would also feel uncomfortable in this role.

While you may be concerned about his reaction, I think it's important for you to tell your partner about the job, and how it stresses you out. He sounds caring, so when he sees how upset it makes you, it is unlikely he will feel anger. He could be frustrated that you hadn't told him sooner, but that feeling will pass. Being honest is liberating, and I find that disclosing things to loved ones makes me feel less alone and also calmer. I tell my boyfriend everything, and I personally feel that this brings us closer and enhances our sense of trust and solidarity. It's easier said than done, but it's worth building up the courage to speak the truth and explain how you feel.

If you don't mind me asking, have you ever been diagnosed with or had symptoms of a mental health condition? The insomnia, night sweats and sick feeling could be purely manifestations of the guilt and extreme discomfort you feel about this job. However, seeing a doctor (GP) and talking to them about your symptoms and situation is crucial, as your mental health needs must be met.

I really hope you are able to tell your partner what's worrying you, and speak to your GP.

Best wishes,

SM

Chanel1
Community Member
Thank you for your reply SM! You are so right in everything you say, but it's just too shameful for me to bring up. There is no way anyone I know would be accepting of such a job. I know of some of the girls who work there who do sexual favours and it makes me feel so sick that I would put myself in such a horrid situation. I've tried and tried to get a second job but I have had no luck. This was the easiest job to pick up- probably because it is so shameful and wrong and no one is willing to do it. My partner wouldn't understand. I come from a strict religious and cultural background and I think I would be disowned if my family found out, and the last thing I want in the world is to bring shame to my family. I am beginning to hate myself. I'm betraying the ones I love- most importantly my partner- if he knew what kind of environment I was putting myself in, I think he would be devastated. I've never been diagnosed with a mental health disorder but my doctor has prescribed me medication, and also some anti nausea medications. The guilt is still eating me up though.. The only time I don't feel sick is when I get to sleep in that short period of time. I wish I had the guts to tell the people in my life, but like I said, I risk losing everything and maybe even my life, if my olders brothers were to find out .... 😞 😞

Chanel1
Community Member
Thank you for replying to me Molly. I think my only alternative would be to quit this disgraceful double life I am living 😞

blondguy
Champion Alumni
Champion Alumni

Hi Chanel1

I really dont see a an issue with what you are doing. I am open minded and accept and even respect you for paying the bills for doing so. Except...when you mentioned "I feel so sick every time I have to lie to my partner about where I'm going"

  • You are an intelligent and pro-active person
  • Guilt is a man (woman) made emotion that we create ourselves
  • Without sounding boring Chanel....'If there is any doubt dont do it'
  • The crying...the waking up in a sweat.....You have a lot on your mind...not a good place to be in
  • Its really up to communicating with your partner to find peace and keep working......or quit....

Its priorities...Bills vs Yourself and the love you have for your partner. These forums are rock solid secure as you know. If my ex girlfriend wanted to work in a massage parlour to pay the bills I wouldnt consider it a 'disgraceful' place to work. I would respect her for communicating to me...and if she wanted to help with the bills and she was happy, I wouldnt have an issue. As long as she communicated to me about it]

You dont sound happy Chanel. Can I ask how your partner would react if you spoke to him about your work?

I hope some of that made some sense, you are a bright, intelligent and pro-active young woman. You are more than welcome to post back about anything you wish

My Best

Paulx


Chanel1
Community Member

Hello Paul, Thank you kindly for your reply. I appreciate everything you wrote. It is so great to have someone understand me... I've been keeping this secret bottled up for months and I really felt like I would explode. I am feeling a little better since opening up on here, and especially not being judged. Your gf would be a lucky girl...

To be honest, I have no clue how he would react. It could go one way or the other. He's not the type of man to ever disrespect me or do anything rash, however this is a completely out of the ordinary topic. It would be a big shock to him- (as I mentioned before I am someone who is highly respected and someone who holds herself very high) For him to find out that I put myself in such an environment, he would be more disappointed in me I think. Knowing there are girls at my workplace who do sexual favors for money- he would be so upset to hear I am putting myself in such an environment- even surrounded by girls like that.

I don't want to let him down by hiding this awful double life, but at the same time I can't see myself telling him 😞 No one would ever ever believe I am doing such a thing. I don't believe myself half the time. I am slowly losing sight of who I am and to be honest, I am disappointed in myself more than anything.

However, when the bills are paid.. I'm content. I just wish I didn't have to sell my soul for it 😞

Thank you for listening, I guess I just needed someone to open up to and chat with....

Hi Chanel, thanks for posting back, its always good to get a response. You actually do sound a lot better than before and I am happy you do 🙂 Its amazing how good we can feel after having a good yak and clearing the air.

Everyone needs to vent, keeps the mind and soul in tune. Your soul belongs to you and you let your partner close to it of course. Whatever a person does for living cannot touch that special part of us.

You are a great communicator Chanel

My kind thoughts

Paulx

Chanel1
Community Member

Thank you kindly Paul

I don't know if you believe in God- if you do, God bless you and if you don't- then I hope the universe blesses you.

best wishes to you ! X

Good Morning Chanel, yes I do generally and the universe. What a kind post :-)and thankyou!

be 'gentle' to yourself

Paulx