Define “figure out.” I figured out I disliked being male by considering what I liked and disliked about myself. All the positives were more feminine or neutral, while all the negatives were masculine or masc coded. I decided on NB, but it still felt off. I didn’t want to be considered male, but I didn’t know if I wanted to be female.

For years I couldn’t parse my feelings when I imagined myself as a woman. I felt better, but I struggle with even identifying emotions, so it wasn’t clear enough to convince me. Eventually, I imagined myself as a mother: being pregnant, giving birth, raising a child that was my own. It felt so euphoric that I broke down crying because I knew I could never go back.

I still took another 5-6 months to start the process of coming out. I was still uncertain and terrified when I finally took the leap of faith. I was on death’s door mental health wise. I realized I could not carry on any longer as a man, yet it still took so much effort to make the best decision I’ve ever made.

It was night and day. I never thought I could be so happy or love life like that. It’s a miracle that I made it 23 years feeling like I wasn’t alive.