Watson

I can't say what the global experience of being diagnosed with gender dysphoria is. I can, however, tell you what I went through for the diagnosis, and what the subsequent referral for HRT and surgery was like. 1/8

I was 24, severely depressed with a drinking problem, had attempted suicide, and had had an "episode" which required hospitalisation on a psych ward when I was evaluated at the gender clinic. I was prescribed and was injecting T within months. 2/8

I thought transition would cure whatever had caused my problems. So did my psychiatrist. To his credit, he had no way of knowing otherwise. I genuinely believe he, and the gender team who looked at my case, thought they were doing best by me. They were the professionals. 3/8

I got my double mastectomy in 2017, when I was 26. I was elated. Surely, this would make me better - the man I should have been born as. This would make me happy - the real, male, me. But no. 4/8