Me/transition/overview: Difference between revisions
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Despite the fact of being very unhappy with this, I nonetheless believed – for decades! – that this meant that I was, in fact, male inside and out. I knew I had some kind of issue regarding gender that was making my existence miserable in a lot of ways, but I didn't know what it was. I came up with some theories, but none of them really fit the facts. | Despite the fact of being very unhappy with this, I nonetheless believed – for decades! – that this meant that I was, in fact, male inside and out. I knew I had some kind of issue regarding gender that was making my existence miserable in a lot of ways, but I didn't know what it was. I came up with some theories, but none of them really fit the facts. | ||
It turns out I had some key facts [[../../misconceptions|wrong]]. To put it very briefly: | It turns out I had some key facts [[../../misconceptions|wrong]], and it turns out that what I have is called '''gender dysphoria'''. To put it very briefly: my brain is wired to be compatible with a female body and a female social identity, not a male one. It's unhappy being in a male body and unhappy being seen as male. | ||
I discovered this in January of 2000, but due to circumstances I could do very little about it. Finally, in July of 2016, I was able to start taking substantial corrective measures – mainly taking hormones and getting facial electrolysis. | I discovered this in January of 2000, but due to circumstances I could do very little about it. Finally, in July of 2016, I was able to start taking substantial corrective measures – mainly taking hormones and getting facial electrolysis. | ||
The effects of the hormones have mostly been pretty subtle – although one dramatic effect has been that they seem to have cured my chronic headaches. They have not yet substantially hindered my ability to lift heavy objects, as far as I can tell, but as of this writing I am only six months into it, so that could still change. | The effects of the hormones have mostly been pretty subtle – although one dramatic effect has been that they seem to have cured my chronic headaches. They have not yet substantially hindered my ability to lift heavy objects, as far as I can tell, but as of this writing I am only six months into it, so that could still change. |
Revision as of 00:41, 12 January 2017
It's amazing how long it can take to figure out crucial things about yourself.
The problem is this: I was born in a body which was biologically male.
Despite the fact of being very unhappy with this, I nonetheless believed – for decades! – that this meant that I was, in fact, male inside and out. I knew I had some kind of issue regarding gender that was making my existence miserable in a lot of ways, but I didn't know what it was. I came up with some theories, but none of them really fit the facts.
It turns out I had some key facts wrong, and it turns out that what I have is called gender dysphoria. To put it very briefly: my brain is wired to be compatible with a female body and a female social identity, not a male one. It's unhappy being in a male body and unhappy being seen as male.
I discovered this in January of 2000, but due to circumstances I could do very little about it. Finally, in July of 2016, I was able to start taking substantial corrective measures – mainly taking hormones and getting facial electrolysis.
The effects of the hormones have mostly been pretty subtle – although one dramatic effect has been that they seem to have cured my chronic headaches. They have not yet substantially hindered my ability to lift heavy objects, as far as I can tell, but as of this writing I am only six months into it, so that could still change.