So today was one of those days that you hear about all the time, I was having a conversation with a psychiatrist to try and do something about my anxiety.
The guy was bonding with me over my IT/general nerd things and I thought everything was mostly going okay... and then he tells me that I am doing my transition "RIGHT" because I waited this long and these damn kids these days think they're transgender and have no idea, and that's why they all end up killing themselves.
It's SO hard to deal with that kind of situation because obviously I was there looking for help, and arguing is not the best way to achieve that.
So I basically just sat there gritting my teeth....
Honestly I WISH I had the option when I was young to do something about this sooner, but lots of people strenuously object to the idea of young people transitioning, so here's where I stand on it.
If your child/teen insists for an extended period of time that they are a gender other than the one they were assigned at birth, and they frequently talk to you about that and want your help, then you should listen to them. Visit a child psychologist who specialises in gender diverse people, and READ, read everything you can.
If the time comes that your child wants to transition you can consider puberty blockers which basically prevent them from being forced through puberty and being affected by hormones they don't want and the physical effects of those. And that buys them the time to make an informed decision for themselves as an adult.
I get that its scary.... but the alternative can be much scarier.
The idea that people are claiming to be transgender, genderfluid or nonbinary to be "cool" is really fucking silly, we don't choose this. We are this.
Love your kids. Talk to your kids. Avoid bad mental health professionals.
Oh and I guess just to kinda finish that initial story, I was prescribed Escitalopram an SSRI to help with my anxiety. Lets see how that goes over the next little while, fingers crossed.
Love,
Abigail
