Misunderstood

I had a sexological assessment done and I received a diagnosis of Pedohebephilia. My understanding is that this term isn't even officially in the DSM yet, and that it is only a proposed term for the next revision of the DSM, but anyway, that's the diagnosis I received.

I'm having difficulty trying to figure out how supposed to deal with (emotionally, and intellectually) being officially labeled as a pedophile. It's a word that is often used as if it was synonymous with the phrase "child molester", and is often used only in the context of expressing contempt, hatred, disgust, etc..

I don't believe that I'm deserving of the hatred, contempt, and disgust that is so often associated with the label. I've never molested anyone. I'm not a rapist. I've never had any kind of inappropriate contact with a child whatsoever.

How are we supposed to live our lives knowing that so many people would hate us, and wish horrible things upon us just for being who we arefor something we didn't choose. I'm pretty sure that in spite of the label, I'm really basically a good person, at least no worse than anyone else.

I believe that I deserve to be able to love myself, and to embrace and celebrate who I am, but I am struggling with trying to reconcile my own perception of the kind of person I am, with other people's perceptions (or misperceptions) of the kind of person I am. I feel very misunderstood.

And that's the most frustrating part of it.the feeling of being hopelessly misunderstood. And feeling misunderstood can lead to feelings of isolation. I feel like I have a responsibility to myself, and to others like me, to try to do something to contribute to changing people's understanding of pedophilia...but where does one start?