Will no sex drive me crazy?

Dear Pastor,

I am a regular reader of your column. I am a Christian woman. I am 18 years old and I am not interested in guys, but I am not a lesbian. I love men, but I do not want to get involve with them just yet. I live with my uncle and his wife, and they always ask me how comes I don't go out with guys. They have three children, two of them are on their own, and one is my age. He likes to sport, so he is always out. He has his girlfriend.

I almost got raped when I was living in the country. I went to church one evening and was on my way home - it was dark - and a guy tried to pull me into the bushes. I had to 'bawl out' and run. I came to live with my uncle and his family, and I never had a problem like that again.

I am going to evening school and there is this guy who is going to the same school who likes me. He is always asking me for sex. All the girls that are in my class are sexually active and they told me if I don't have sex, I will go crazy and I will have terrible headaches. So far, I am not having headaches, but I want to find out about if what they are saying is true.

Pastor, I am looking for an answer in the paper soon, so all the best.

J.

Dear J.,

I ca n assure you that you won't go crazy if you don't have sex. I want you to know that for a long time, men have tried to convince women to have sex with them by telling them if they do not have sexual intercourse with them, they will go crazy. People may say that there are lots of crazy people on the island, but I am sure that they are crazy because they are not having sex.

The guy you spoke about is just trying to get you to believe the myth. You see, even the girls in your class have believed this myth and they are having their sex, allegedly to prevent themselves from going crazy.

I want to wish you well as you go to school. The time will come when you will get a boyfriend. Do not allow any man to disturb your peace. Take good care of yourself, and let me hear from you again.

Pastor