Teenage phase

Our early gender exploration as transgender people almost always includes a teenage phase. We haven't passed through the same rite of passage when going from childhood into adolescence as others, and so the experimentation happens until we reach maturity. 

The louder makeup and the slightly over the top dressing happens until we come to an equilibrium that feels right. The body and the mind unite into some sort of imperfect harmony. 

Until that happens the psychology remains not much further advanced than during those early childhood forays into our mother's closet. This is because that identity still needs to be properly fleshed out.

All is contingent on where we want and need to go of course.

After much trial and error, we then hopefully arrive at whatever our state of daily normalcy is going to be.

It takes time. The older you are when you start this process, the more time will be required.

I wasn't exempt.