J:
Happy to have you with us!
For many, sorting out our gender identity is not the work of a minute. Probably the major thing is knowing that such thoughts are in direct opposition to what society continues to tell us. Like a salmon, we are swimming upstream and the decisions that we ultimately make may have a significant effect on our mental health, family life, employment, etc. As the phrase goes, “It’s Complicated!”.
The suggestion about seeking professional help can really be quite beneficial. The problem is that we are dealing in things for which we have no experience. Also, the tendency is that our minds will work to reduce tension and stress by avoiding thinking about the possibility of significant changes in our lives. Unfortunately, that does not lead us to making decisions.
What a therapist does is ask questions to get us to think about what we should be thinking about and help keep us focused. Ultimately our chances of moving forward are greatly improved. And yes, it is important to find a therapist who has experience with patients regarding gender issues. Not everyone has this background.
Clearly, the path that we are on is not an easy one, but it is the one that we have been given. It is up to us to do the best that we can with what we have to work with.
As always, remember that we don’t “become”. We “are”, from the beginning, but sometimes we just need to discover that.
