Hi, Gabby, and welcome.
Your story is familiar: having the feelings all my life, wanting them to go away, realizing that they weren't going to go away. You have the advantage of being much younger than I was when I realized that I needed to do something about them. I am 61 years old.
Finding a therapist is a really good idea. I am just getting that process started myself. I am out to my wife and a few close friends, and, yes, it does feel goot to tell someone.
It gets better from here.