Fear, shame, and anxiety over gender

[Berkeley2003]

I think adjusting to pronoun changes and like what would feel like a drastic change, from being female to male. And I've had people tell me like you'll still be the same person, why worry? I still worry. I'm afraid of change especially when i've gotten so familiar with being uncomfortable with myself.

I'm fearful of trying on the identity of trans male, maybe specifically looking more outwardly and internally identifying as masculine and male. I think I'm fearful of leaning into that look. I just feel really scared and anxious these days that I feel like I can't think straight and process.

[CaitlinEve]

Your feelings and experiences are valid! It's okay that you still worry! It's easy to tell someone not to, but it's an entirely different beast when you're the one experiencing those changes. Change is HARD. But it's important to try and evaluate whether that hard change is worth it. Many things worth doing are hard. They may hurt, but is that pain something you're willing to endure?

I also want to mention that identity doesn't have to be clear-cut. You can try some things on and decide they aren't for you later. You don't have to just dive right into being a trans guy. Additionally, your pronouns never have to change if you don't want them to. Pronouns do not equal gender; you could identify as a trans man and still use they/them pronouns, or you could use he/him pronouns and still be non-binary.