When I announced to the world that I had transitioned from male to female and would be taking the name of Sophie I did so with a blog post that I shared simultaneously on Facebook and LinkedIn.
The post met with a universal wave of support and love, acknowledging my struggle and praising me for my (perceived) bravery, here is that post:
Since January this year I have lost 4 1/2 stone and 12″ off my waist, I have done this through cutting out carbs and, now, exercising.
But the greatest contributing factor to me sorting my health out was getting my head right.
Over the past 15 years I have suffered from depression, every single day a little voice in my head would suggest how easy it would be to end it all, even on good days, totally out of the blue. I hated myself and I self harmed with food, eating crap because I hated my body and hating my body even more because of the crap I’d eaten.
In January I realised that the negative thoughts all stemmed from a condition that I’d lived with all of my life but had never been able to seek assistance for.
I am transgender, all of my life I have felt like a woman, I know that I’ve hidden it well but that’s what you do when you have to repress your true nature.
I tried getting help with it 15 years or so ago but stopped after our son, Noel, was born with a disability as I didn’t feel that I could put my family through this at the same time as dealing with his issues.
Since coming to this realisation and accepting it my mental state has been transformed, I like myself, I’m happy and I even smile — my family said that I’d been a miserable sod for the past 15 years (at least!).
I’m currently being treated for my dysphoria, and I’m now living full time as a woman.
Gender Dysphoria is chromosomal condition, caused in the womb, it’s not a mental condition and as such it should be treated like any genetic condition and not be stigmatised. If you’d like to know more you could read this on the NHS website:
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Gender-dysphoria/Pages/Causes.aspx
I have the full support, acceptance and love of my family and could not have wished for a better reaction from them.
I hope that my friends are open enough to support my change even if it isn’t entirely understandable for them.
Thank you, in advance, for your understanding.