The murky middle

For some people their particular combination of expression and identity becomes a puzzling riddle. When this happens the potential to overshoot or undeshoot a response becomes much greater. On the one hand they can tell themselves they just need expression as a stress safety valve or conversely begin the process of transition after feeling they have left their identity bottled up for far too long.

You will note that cases at both extreme ends of the spectrum tend to be the most decisive. Some are extremely happy with sporadic feminine expression which celebrates a facet of their personality while on the other you have extremely dysphoric individuals certain of their plans who do not waiver in their resolve to transition.

For the rest of us it can be a little murkier and all the more so if we have much lived history in a role which did not entirely suit us. Those of us on the cusp of transsexualism needed to stew in our juices while we pondered the potential fallout of every one of our actions which might move the goal posts even a little.

People who are conflicted are the ones I most want to help through their dilemma which I know will be much shorter by virtue of the subject matter knowledge we have today. Public awareness has helped to shine a spotlight on those with gender dysphoria and how to help them. 

Despite the detractors there are many reasons to think that we may have finally turned the page.