Joey look here I was: Born illegitimate, beaten and punished by family and therapists as young as 7 for acting effeminate, Got terrible grades in school because of constant stomach trouble related to the beatings and therapy, taken out of all city choirs because my voice was to high, got the church on my but for being a feminine pervert, called to the front of almost every class as an example of how not to act, did not fit in with girls or boys, forced into isolationism, chased home and/or beaten every third or fourth day after school, barely graduated high school because I was so confused, told to marry a female to appear normal, had two failed marriages due to my dysphoria, lost my kids in the last one, adoptive parents won't talk to me, forced into an alpha male line of work, got depressed as h-LL, developed PTSS, lost friends because of dysphoria, got injured in the line of duty not paying attention because of dysphoria, am raising eyebrows of everyone transitioning at 47, should I go on???
What I did do: saved a lot of lives, saved property, learned to persevere through adversity, learned I could actually survive on my own, grew Kevlar skin, met people from all socio-economic backgrounds, religions, sexualities and how to talk to them, finally took control of my life, and am doing things for me and not everyone else, learned people are too busy with their stuff to judge me, learned how to shut them down if they did. WHEW! Get the picture? The way you feel now is a test, will you rise to the challenge knowing others have been in the same boat and are now doing good? It's not easy, it's not free, but it is attainable! So sick-em!!!!
