This story is from the comments listed below, summarised by AI.
Authenticity Assessment: Not Suspicious
Based on the provided comments, this account appears authentic.
There are no serious red flags suggesting it is a bot or an inauthentic user. The comments display a consistent, personal narrative about detransitioning, emotional depth, and specific, mundane details (e.g., struggles with hair regrowth, specific makeup routines, old glasses) that are highly characteristic of a genuine person. The user's frustration and focus on their personal appearance are consistent with the stated context of being a desister/detransitioner.
About me
I started testosterone at 15 after a year of therapy, believing it was my only option. I stopped at 21, and now at 22, I'm navigating the difficult process of reversing a male puberty. I focus on small things to feel feminine again, like growing my hair and wearing makeup, but my facial hair is a constant struggle. I wish I had known more about detransition before making such a permanent decision so young. My journey now is about patiently finding new ways to feel comfortable in my own skin.
My detransition story
My whole journey with transition and now detransition has been a long and complicated one, and I'm still figuring things out. I started transitioning when I was 14 years old. At the time, it felt like a life or death situation for me. I had to beg my parents to let me start testosterone, because they were afraid I might be unsure later on. They were supportive but cautious, and I had to go through nearly a year of therapy to get the approval letter. I was so sure this was what I needed.
I took testosterone from the age of 15. Now, looking back, I don't necessarily regret my choice because it brought me to who I am today, but I do wish I had been more informed about detransitioners back then. What I didn't realize at 15 is that my brain wasn't fully developed, and in my opinion, I shouldn't have been able to make that permanent decision on my own at such a young age. I discovered I wanted to detransition when I was 21, and I'm 22 now.
A lot of my focus now is on feeling comfortable in my body again, which feels like a reversal of puberty. My hair is in a really awkward, short phase from where I cut it, and I can't stand it. I feel so much better about myself with longer hair and I'm considering getting extensions because I'm very impatient for it to grow. I'm forced to wear headbands because it's the only way it looks acceptable to me.
I think a lot about passing, and sometimes I worry I'm trying too hard. Little things make me anxious, like my glasses; they're old men's Nike frames and I'm always afraid I'll get misgendered because of them, even though I know that probably sounds silly. I have a lot of facial hair that grows back the very next day after I shave, which is a constant reminder of my time on testosterone.
To feel more feminine, I have routines. I wear mascara and lip gloss almost every day. I get my nails done often because I feel like I have man hands without them. I wear necklaces almost every day, too; they really help me feel better in my mind. I've tried wigs, but they annoy me and are so time-consuming to put on with a full face of makeup, and they never look real to me.
I'm considering going on a birth control with estrogen in it to see what it might do for my body and face. I'm exploring everything I can to feel like myself again. Someone suggested I try to find something that connects me to who I was before I transitioned, but that's really hard. I started at 14 and I'm 22 now, so it was so long ago that I don't even have anything from that time in my life. I'm trying to explore and find new things that I really like for myself now.
My thoughts on gender now are that it's a very personal and complex thing. I think everyone, especially trans children, teens, and young adults, should be more aware of and do research about detransitioners before making permanent decisions. It's important to know all sides of the story.
Here is a timeline of my journey:
| Age | Event |
|---|---|
| 14 | I started socially transitioning. |
| 15 | I started taking testosterone. |
| 21 | I realized I wanted to detransition and stopped testosterone. |
| 22 | I am currently detransitioning and trying to feel comfortable in my body again. |
Top Comments by /u/Spiritual_Cupcake_64:
thank you!! i’m considering going on a birth control with estrogen in it to see what it would do for my body and face. also very very impatient when it comes to my hair and considering getting extensions i just feel so much better about myself with the longer hair
aww thank you! i think i just feel better with longer hair right now. i can’t stand myself with short hair now and i have no way to style it bc it’s in a weird phase rn where its all shorts of different lengths. i think you’re also right about me trying to be someone else, possibly i’m trying too hard to pass
i don’t regret my choice because it brought me to who i am today. however, i do wish i was more informed about detransitioners at the time. i was 15 when i went on t, and had very supportive parents. i had to beg to get on t, because they were afraid if i was to be unsure at sone point. and at the time for me it was life or death. what i did not realize at that age is that my brain was not developed fully and (in my opinion) i shouldn’t have made that decision on my own or at that young of an age. i did go through therapy for nearly a year to get my letter because i wanted to be sure. it was a long process, but even then i discovered i wanted to detransition at 21. everyone has their own opinions about this issue, but i at least think that trans children, teens, and young adults (and anyone trans really) should be more aware of and do research about detransitioners.
i can’t express how much i appreciate your response!!💗💗 ughh yes the awkward phase is terrible. i’m forced to wear headbands its the only way my hair looks acceptable. it’s funny how you mentioned glasses because mine are like 2 years old and they’re nike men’s glasses and i’m always afraid i’ll get misgendered for them. (even though it sounds silly) i don’t get my eyebrows done i just use a razor to them but they grow insanely fast so i was actually thinking about getting them done routinely. but you’re so kind for taking the time to reply to my post so thank you tons!!🫶🏻
thank you for taking the time to reply to my post. i really appreciate all your tips. wigs have really annoyed me lately and when i wear them it takes like 2 hours because i do full makeup too and they’re just so time consuming. all for it to not even look real. i wear necklaces almost everyday, they really help a lot in my mind. i want earrings but last time i had earrings i passed out lol. i get my nails done often, because i feel like i have man hands without them. although you can’t see it in these photos, my facial hair grows within the next day after i shave. i don’t always wear foundation but it’s been pretty routine for me to wear mascara and some lip balm or gloss. i’ve really thought about what you said - finding something that brings me back to who i was pretransition. i’m not too sure what that would be, as i started transitioning at 14 and i’m 22 now. so long ago that i don’t even have anything from pretransition. but i really would like to explore and find something that i really like on myself. thank you again!