This story is from the comments listed below, summarised by AI.
Authenticity Assessment: Not Suspicious
Based on the provided comments, this account appears to be authentic.
There are no serious red flags suggesting it is a bot or an inauthentic actor. The user presents a detailed, nuanced, and emotionally resonant personal history that is consistent with the experiences of many desisters. The arguments are complex, build on previous points, and reflect a genuine, passionate engagement with the topic, including the expected criticism of trans activist rhetoric. The multi-year span of the comments also supports authenticity.
About me
I'm a woman who, as a child, felt so wrong being a girl that I lived completely as a boy. When puberty made that impossible, my dysphoria became severe and led to self-harm and eating disorders. I now believe my dysphoria was a symptom of other issues, not an innate identity, and medical transition would have been a terrible mistake for me. I've found peace by understanding my past struggles without changing my body. My experience has shown me that for many young people, a cautious approach is vital, as these feelings can change.
My detransition story
My whole experience with gender has been long and complicated. Looking back, I see it all started in childhood. For me, being a girl felt wrong, and I did everything I could to be a boy. I dressed like a boy, acted like a boy, and even had a girlfriend. In my mind, I had transitioned already, because that wasn't really an option back then. This wasn't just a general unhappiness; I now recognize it as gender dysphoria.
Everything fell apart when I hit puberty. As my body began to develop into a woman's body, it became impossible for me to "pass" as a boy anymore. That's when things got really dark. The discomfort with my changing body was intense, and I started to self-harm and developed serious eating disorders. I often wonder what would have happened if I'd been a teenager today, with the option to take puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones. I'm absolutely certain I would have begged for them, and I'm equally certain it would have been a terrible mistake for me. My dysphoria was powerful, but I believe it was a symptom of other issues, not a sign that I was born in the wrong body.
I've connected with many other women who had similar journeys. From what I've seen, I suspect that for many girls, gender dysphoria can stem from things like trauma or internalized misogyny, rather than being an innate identity. It worries me that this perspective is often dismissed. Before medical transition for minors became common, most childhood gender dysphoria naturally resolved during puberty. That's a fact even the major medical guidelines acknowledge. I believe a approach of watchful waiting, only considering transition in adulthood if it's the only way to manage persistent dysphoria, is a safer path.
This isn't about being anti-trans. It's about being concerned for kids who might be making permanent changes based on feelings that could change. I've been shocked by how hostile some trans activists have been toward me for sharing my experience. It feels like they can't tolerate any story that doesn't fit the "born in the wrong body" narrative.
My thoughts on gender now are that it's a complex issue, and medical transition is just one way to manage dysphoria, not a cure for everyone. For me, it wasn't the right path. I don't regret the journey because it led me to where I am now, but I do have regrets about the suffering I went through and I strongly believe that rushing into medical intervention can cause more harm than good for some people.
Here is a timeline of my journey based on what I remember:
| Age | Event |
|---|---|
| Childhood (exact age not given) | Socially "transitioned" in my own mind by living as a boy. |
| Onset of Puberty (exact age not given) | Dysphoria intensified as my female body developed. Began self-harming and developed eating disorders. |
Top Comments by /u/likelytoffend:
Good way of thinking about it. I have been shocked at how hostile trans activists have been to me. It isn't that I am anti-trans, it is just that I am very concerned that children are being encouraged to transition when their might be underlying issues causing gender dysphoria. I suspect it is difficult for them to hear me talk about my perspective because it could be threatening to those who insist that gender dysphoria is innate and the result of being born in the wrong body.
This is what I am finding. Everyone I have talked to who had gender dysphoria and didn't transition, or who detransitioned feels like gender dysphoria is a mental health issue and transitioning is just one way it can be managed. For me, my "being a boy" stopped working when I started puberty. It was no longer possible for me to "pass." As my body started to change into a woman, I started to self harm and develop eating disorders. I am not sure what would have happened to me if I had the option to take puberty blockers and cross-gender hormones. I am sure I would have wanted them, I am sure it would have been a mistake.
Thank you for the link. There is a huge difference between a guy who gets turned on by imagining himself as a woman, and those of us who have/had gender dysphoria. Trans women do seem to dominate the discussion and are the ones pushing the born in the wrong body idea. Thanks for the insight.
I guess you didn't watch the video. We have kids now who go on puberty blockers then on to cross sex hormones, we have kids who go on cross sex hormones during puberty, we have young adults going on cross sex hormones. Hormones impact body strength, bone strength, lung capacity. There is a reason why competitive sports outlaws hormones because they can give someone an unfair advantage. Fuzzy is fine but fair is also important. To erase girls and women's sports would be a travesty.
It isn't about shame it is about fairness. Generally we have agreed that boys will outcompete girls so we created girls sports so girls have a fighting chance of winning competitions. If we just go by how a child identifies, then girl's sports disappears. Girls sports has been so important. Those who grew up with girls and women's sports don't have any idea how much they have important they have been for girls and women.
I don't think I was clear. When I was a child, it was not an option to medically transition or even socially transition, but in my mind, I transitioned by doing everything I could to act like a boy, dress like a boy, and be a boy. I even had a girl friend. This was gender dysphoria not generalized dysphoria.
Thank you for the link. Something occurred to me today. Traditionally, medical studies have primarily had male research subjects. Recently, scientists have realized that male and female bodies respond to medical treatments differently and also exhibit different symptoms for the same disorders. The trans movement is primarily lead by male to female transgender individuals. It is possible that girls and boys develop gender dysphoria for different reasons and also can manage or resolve gender dysphoria in different ways. Though you suggested I am basing my ideas just on my experience, I have actually been in contact with dozens of women who had similar experiences. I suspect girls are more likely to develop gender dysphoria as a result of trauma or internalized misogyny. What bothers me is how trans activists are so willing to dismiss the experiences of anyone who doesn't conform to the current idea that someone can be born in the wrong body. I will check out your references, but also please realize that prior to the idea that children should be transitioned, the vast majority of childhood gender dysphoria resolved naturally during puberty. Even WPATH recognizes this fact. For this reason, watchful waiting followed by transitioning in adulthood if it is the only way to manage gender dysphoria should be considered.