This story is from the comments listed below, summarised by AI.
Authenticity Assessment: Not Suspicious
Based on the provided comments, the account appears authentic. There are no serious red flags suggesting it is a bot or an inauthentic detransitioner/desister.
The user demonstrates consistent, nuanced, and personal perspectives on recovery, self-reflection, and societal issues over a year-long period. The language is natural, varied, and shows deep personal investment in the topics discussed, which aligns with a passionate individual sharing their lived experience.
About me
I started transitioning because I was lost and hated the changes of female puberty, especially my developing breasts. My thinking was heavily influenced by an online group where transition was the only answer, and I quickly moved from identifying as non-binary to a trans man, taking testosterone and getting surgery. The doctors I saw never questioned my reasons, and I now realize I was using transition to escape my deeper mental health issues. After years of medical transition, I began the difficult internal work of building a real sense of self, which led me to detransition. I now live as a female again, but I deeply regret the permanent changes to my body, including infertility.
My detransition story
My journey with transition and detransition was deeply tangled up with my own mental health and the people I surrounded myself with. For a long time, I was very lost and had extremely low self-esteem. I now see that a lot of my desire to transition was a form of escapism. I was running from myself and from the discomfort I felt, especially with the changes of female puberty. I hated my breasts; they didn't feel like they belonged to me and seemed to only serve as a source of unwanted attention, completely separated from their actual biological purpose, which I later came to appreciate.
A lot of my thinking was influenced online and by a specific group of friends I had at the time. We were all struggling, and it felt like we were building this new identity together. It was a very insular world, an echo chamber where this one way of thinking was the only acceptable one. Any questioning was shut down immediately. I now recognize that some of these friends were mentally ill and self-destructive, and being around them pulled me deeper into my own issues. It was a hard but necessary decision to eventually cut those ties for my own well-being, even though it felt like abandoning vulnerable people.
I started identifying as non-binary first, which felt like a less scary step, but it quickly escalated to identifying as a trans man. I pursued a medical transition. I took testosterone for several years and I got top surgery. I can't say I fully understood the long-term implications at the time; I was just desperate to feel better. The medical community I engaged with never really dug into the "why." They just affirmed the identity I presented. Looking back, I believe I would have benefited immensely from non-affirming therapy that challenged me to look inward instead of just outward for a solution.
Doing that deep, internal emotional work was what ultimately saved me. It was a long and difficult process of turning inward, reading, and really confronting my own pain. I had to build a sense of self that wasn't reliant on external validation or a "false self" I created for praise. I learned that my lack of a solid identity made me easy to influence. Letting go of that and finding my own core beliefs was the only thing that brought me real peace.
My thoughts on gender now are that it's become far too complicated and political. I believe there's a lot of faulty research and social pressure driving things, and it feels like a massive malpractice waiting to happen. I think what truly matters is being a good person, not what labels you use.
I do have serious regrets about transitioning. The testosterone caused some permanent health complications, and I am now infertile, which is a profound loss I grapple with. The top surgery is something I also regret; it was a permanent solution to a temporary feeling. I’ve had to learn to accept a body that was permanently altered when I was in a very bad place.
Here is a timeline of my journey:
| Age | Event |
|---|---|
| 13 | Started female puberty; began to feel intense discomfort and hatred toward my developing breasts. |
| 19 | Met and became influenced by a new group of friends online and in person; began identifying as non-binary. |
| 20 | Socially transitioned to identifying as a trans man. |
| 21 | Started testosterone. |
| 23 | Underwent top surgery (double mastectomy). |
| 26 | Began to seriously question my transition and started deep internal emotional work and therapy. |
| 27 | Stopped taking testosterone and began living as a female again (detransition). |
Top Comments by /u/Material_Recover_760:
Reddit can be an echo chamber where moderators limit free speech for innocuous, benign, and even just common sense comments. It is a larger problem within society right now. It leads people to erroneously believe that everyone thinks the way they do and any other perspective is wrong/evil/bigoted/insert mean word here. There is nothing inherently wrong with cis white gay (insert other identity politics label) men. All that matters is whether you are a good person. Also, the whole tactic of don’t talk to me unless you are at the same level or higher on the oppression pyramid is just a power play. My life greatly improves when I call out those logical fallacies and don’t let their toxic thinking impact me. Good thoughts your way~~~
That’s a really good explanation of the false self. Narcissists use that false self to garner attention and praise (narcissistic feed). Once that feed dries up they will change the false self. They are reliant on external praise bc they lack an inherent sense of self and with it self esteem. If that praise is withheld or worse they are criticized narcissistic rage will be released to protect their supply of esteem.
I live in a “purple” county and I love the mix. I very much disliked being in the SF Bay Area where only one way of thinking was allowed (inclusive my foot). Being able to speak freely and question without reprisal has allowed me to come to my own opinions on social issues that interest me. Though I know that liberty is not present everywhere (I.e. majority of the internet) and I’m grateful I now know that freedom. Hope you find multiple forums and ways to communicate with others freely.
I find asking guiding questions helps more than telling in those types of situations. Take care of yourself though - in general my life is better after I cut out my mentally ill / self-destructive friends. Which is a double edged sword bc in order to protect ourselves we have to abandon the most vulnerable. It is a guilt inducing solution, but effective.
Turn inward and do the emotional work to move yourself forward. It’s really the only thing that has brought me personal peace. It takes a long time, but it is so worth it in the end. If you can and are willing to start with reading. You said you have delusions maybe read “I never promised you a rose garden”. Beautiful book that explains one woman’s story about recovery from Schizophrenia. Another favorite is “Get me out of here: My recovery from BPD”. First hand Recovery stories are so valuable I hope some one can recommend a good AGP, NPD, Trans book some day.
Growing away from old friends is hard, but it is a part of life for most people. Think of it as an accomplishment you are moving on after overcoming whatever you needed to learn at that junction in your life. I’m glad I don’t have the same perspectives, goals, and preferences as I did when I was younger that would mean I haven’t learned much. It’s good to be around people you can express your new views or even just questions around. Personally I learn from others as well and it would be hard to progress if I let others hold me back. Find others that are open to you exploring new ideas and allow you to question/change/grow. Well wishes your way
Thats really interesting and telling about the state of the U.S.’s society. Wouldn’t that be the biggest malpractice class action lawsuit ever. I would wager many of the pharma companies providing HRT are operating internationally. Of course they would point to the research, which once you dig in is faulty from detrans rates to the foundation that it is built on aka Dr Money.” (Rightly named in retrospect).
I didn’t think about the facial piercings at first, but I have to admit many I know let go of their piercings once they seemed to become truly settled in themselves (usually past 25 yo) and stopped hiding in a way behind fashion. The hair is nice and if it grows out just a little bit would really highlight your pretty eyes and round out the face. It’s hard to pull off that hair color too so blessed be your skin! On a side note I loved breast feeding and I very much valued the experience. Seems like boobs have been fetishized and somewhere along the way we lost sight of their purpose.