Lillian Garrett

Three things you are most passionate about & why? 

Reproductive and sexual health - Dealing with PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome) for most of my life has been really challenging at times but it has forced me to be really open about my body and what is happening with it. People are made to feel ashamed or embarrassed to speak about reproductive issues (Endometriosis, PCOS etc) or Sexual Health issues (STI's etc) and I really hope that by opening up conversations we can normalise this. 

De-stigmatising Sexuality - The world and our society are changing massively at the moment, which is fantastic but there is still a lot of work to do. Unfortunately, a lot of the time it's only acceptable for men to express their sexuality and in mainstream porn/the media cis-gendered, straight, white people are what is deemed 'desirable.' Everyone deserves to express their sexuality and deserves to feel pleasure and feel desired. There needs to be more space for the LGBTQIA+ community, all genders, races and abilities to have a platform and express their sexuality, and I hope to do my part in this change. 

Go for what you want - I truly believe that we should all go after things we want even if it is scary or if other people don't understand. If I believe in something or someone, I will always give it a chance and I have never regretted it! 

Why did you decide to become a sexologist?

Navigating dating and a sex life with PCOS is what led me to take ownership of my sexuality and my body. I was so tired of feeling too embarrassed to talk about the issues I was having to partners and dealing with it alone. I started reading and researching a lot about how the body and the mind is connected and was fascinated by it, I also always loved talking about sex! I find people and their experiences really fascinating and the world of sex and sexuality can be quite a taboo topic, so the idea of helping people own their sexuality and normalise it makes me really excited.

Tell us a little bit about your journey with mental health and body confidence.

I have always been super anxious since I was little and it's something I really struggle with most days. I didn't have the tools to deal with it growing up and it wasn't until about 5 years ago that I started opening up about it more and seeking help for it! Opening up about it was the hardest part but since then I have found things that work for me to manage it like meditating, exercise, journaling and doing my tarot cards really helps. Body image is also something I have struggled with and is something that I also work at every day. I find the more I take care of myself and my body the better I feel and the more comfortable I feel in my own skin, so prioritising my health and well-being has been a great step to feel positive about my body and feel more confident. 

What is your best piece of advice for young women?

To always listen to your gut and not let other people's opinions/advice affect your choices too much. There have been so many times when I was younger that I didn't feel confident enough to make my own decisions. I believe that deep down we always know what choice we want to make, and I think it's important to have the self-confidence to always listen to yourself first and trust yourself.