Does it get better?

[Virginia]

Of course gender reassignment is likely to be a huge mistake for somebody who is not gender dysphoric. But his case is an exception to the rule, and doctors are very careful to weed out these sort of misdiagnoses, so thankfully they are few and far between.

VA raising hand to add one more person to the list of people misdiagnosed as transsexual with gender dysphoria.

Dissociative Identity Disorder/Multiple Personality Disorder (DID/MPD) is a disorder of secrecy; the victim's life depended on hiding it. My DID flew under the radar of a full psychological profile and 2 ½ years of therapy before the time/memory loss and flashbacks began, and I was correctly rediagnosed and referred for trauma recovery therapy. Almost five years to understand the psychological relief I get from estrogen HRT has nothing to do with giving my brain the right hormones, but the peace that came from sterility and knowing I had broken the cycle of abuse once and for all.

The battle for control of the body when my female alter Virginia became self-aware was a bloody one. I completely understand how it was misdiagnosed as GD. She is strong, fronted for my System through junior high. But I have been host for the other 51 years, fought my GT and psychologist's diagnosis tooth and nail.

The last few years have been extremely hard- for my wife and me. My wife's therapist, my trauma specialist and cognitive psychologist and our couples psychologist have all told me trauma recovery therapy is the most horrible therapy anyone can go through. But the worst is behind me now. I see my childhood for what it truly was, understand the affect it had on me, and my wife and I have grown closer than I ever dreamed was possible. Transitioning would have cost me my marriage and the life I spent 50 years building; I would be just as unhappy being stuck living as a girl as Virginia was living as a guy; And I would still be battling the demons of being raped and psychological abused as a kid... if I hadn't chose suicide.

From my experience, I would not recommend anyone start therapy with a gender therapist. I see it much akin to going to a brain surgeon for a headache. GD has enough visibility these days that you would be hard pressed to find a therapist who didn't have a basic knowledge about it. Your therapist can refer you to a GT if necessary. And as someone who barely dodged the bullet of a transition gone wrong from a misdiagnosis, I am sick and tired of the insurance companies, the psychological community and the media jumping on the transgender bandwagon when there are many reasons a person may need to express themselves as their gender not assigned at birth that have absolutely NOTHING to do with gender.

[Gothic Dandy]

I find this thread both relieving and distressing. I hate feelings.

I love what Jessica said, though. I think I'll have to quote her in one of my videos.

If you approach transition well educated and with support both here and real life the rate of regret is very low. Most who regret transition did it recklessly or way to fast.

[Illuminess]

From my experience, the moment you think nothing is going well something surprises you. Let those little things serve as beacons. Two of my friends (and recently new ones, at that, who I currently live with) have started using my new name and using female pronouns even though I'm not even presenting accordingly. I admit, it's strange to hear, because I'm not used to it, but I don't get that pain in the stomach that I get from male pronouns. Just thinking about it is making me emotional, and I want to cry tears of joy, but sadly I'm at my grandmother's at the moment. Someone would definitely ask me what's wrong.

So many here have had to wait years to get HRT, but here they are. I may only have to wait just another month, but it feels like an eternity. Plus, I still have so much work to do to make sure that I pass even just a little. Thankfully, I have some girlfriends on standby to teach me the ancient ways of cosmetics. 😛 I sometimes wonder if I'll even be able to handle living as my true gender since I've grown accustomed to this...costume...for 33 years, but I know I'm just projecting fear, and that everything will be fine. The unknown has that effect until it's finally the known. So, hang in there. ♡