How to tell if you are trans

Video: Trans Guy: How to Know if You’re Transgender

Content

Steps
Method 1 of 3: Asking the Right Questions
Method 2 of 3: How to Get Support
Method 3 of 3: How to Know What You Want
Tips

It is assumed that the brains of cisgender and transgender people have biological differences, however, there is no way to check if biological gender matches the true gender. However, with the help of experts and introspection, you can figure out which gender suits you best. If you have serious doubts about your gender, reflect on your feelings and accept your insecurities. Talk to a psychologist who specializes in gender issues so that you have someone to support you as you find your gender. Remember that there are many options for finding gender, but the most important thing is to understand what exactly you want.

Steps

Method 1 of 3: Asking the Right Questions

1 Accept that you have questions. If you are not really sure if your biological gender matches your true gender, then most likely you are not cisgender. This does not mean that you are trans, but it is possible. It can also mean that your gender is different from your biological one in some way.
- Ask yourself why you are in doubt. If you are uncomfortable with your biological gender or would like to see yourself in a different gender, you may be transgender.
- Consider your gender non-binary. If you do not feel like a man or a woman, your gender may be something else.
- If you are comfortable with your gender, but you notice that your behavior goes beyond that of cisgender people, this does not necessarily mean that you are transgender. Perhaps you are just a feminine man or a masculine woman.
- Remember transgender and transsexuality are two different things. A transsexual is a person who has surgically changed the sex characteristics of the body. Some transgender people take hormones and have surgery, but not all.
2 Think about your childhood desires. Many transgender people have expressed dissatisfaction with their gender since childhood. Persistent desires for at least six months are seen as signs of gender dysphoria. These features include:
- persistent denial of the gender that your parents describe you;
- thoughts that your gender will change in adulthood;
- choosing a different gender in your imagination;
- dressing up or wanting to dress up in things that are worn by people of a different gender;
- communication mainly with people of the chosen gender;
- a strong desire to participate in group activities, games and a penchant for hobbies inherent in the chosen gender;
- denial of toys intended for people of their biological gender;
- negative attitude towards your anatomy and / or genitals;
- sadness, fear, misunderstanding, shame, anger and other emotions.
SPECIALIST'S ADVICE
Alex keller

Community Specialist Alex Keller is a transgender man. Actively works on wikiHow topics and articles dedicated to LGBT +.
Alex keller
Community Specialist
«I really realized that something was happening to me when I was in high school, - adds wikiHow community member Alex Keller. - I was constantly sad and I had no idea why. Now I understand that the main reason for this was puberty. The body produced hormones, and when my figure began to form, I did not want to look at myself. In eighth grade, I tried to act girly, but eventually came across a blog for transgender and non-binary people. His main idea was the following thought: "If you do not feel like a girl, then there is no need to call yourself a girl." This phrase quickly found a response in my soul. "
3 Consider whether your social role is appropriate for you. Many transgender people do not feel inclined towards the role they should play in society. Consider if you enjoy doing what you are asked to do with people of your biological gender. If you have to do something that people of your gender usually do, do you feel like you are doing the wrong thing?
- Pay attention to how you feel when you are in a company of people of the same gender as your biological gender. If you feel that you are not like others, or that you are only similar in appearance, you may have gender dysphoria.
4 Think about how you perceive your name and the pronoun by which you are spoken. How do you feel when someone speaks to you by pronoun? If you feel like this pronoun doesn't work for you, it might be worth changing it.
- If you feel uncomfortable when someone refers to you as “girl” or “boyfriend,” these words may not work for you.
- Think about how you feel when you are surrounded by people and someone calls you "ladies" or "gentlemen."
- Consider if your name seems inappropriate to you. If you find it appropriate, consider whether it feels masculine or feminine to you.
- How do you feel when someone accidentally calls you a pronoun of the opposite gender? If you're comfortable or pleasant, it could be a sign of transgender.
5 Look for signs of body dysphoria. Transgender people often feel that their body is wrong. Some people feel that they are locked inside their own body. If you have a constant desire to change your sex characteristics, you may have dysphoria.
- If the transition period shocks you or traumatizes you mentally, it could be a sign of dysphoria. Try to remember if the appearance of secondary sexual characteristics (voice changes, breast growth, shoulder enlargement, facial hair, the onset of menstruation) upset you?
- If you don't like looking in a mirror, taking pictures, or hiding your body under layers of clothing, you may have body dysphoria.
SPECIALIST'S ADVICE
Alex keller

Community Specialist Alex Keller is a transgender man. Actively works on wikiHow topics and articles dedicated to LGBT +.
Alex keller
Community Specialist
The transition period of puberty can be difficult. Trans man Alex Keller recalls: “I remember my first period in eighth grade. Everyone said how wonderful it was to be a beautiful young woman. But as soon as this happened, I almost fainted and burst into tears. This transitional period can truly be a traumatic experience. I want to hide it and pretend that nothing is happening, but it's impossible. "

Method 2 of 3: How to Get Support

1 Find a good therapist who specializes in gender. Many psychologists, psychotherapists and social workers work on gender issues. They will be able to help you and answer important questions.
- Look for someone who specializes in gender, gender dysphoria, and LGBT issues.
- If there is a gender health center in your city, go there and see if you can make an appointment with a psychotherapist.
- Search the internet for the right professional.
- Explore the forums and ask for the advice of a psychotherapist in your area.
- Ask your PCP to refer you to a psychotherapist. If you are in school, see a school psychologist; if at a college or university - to a psychologist at an educational institution.
2 Talk to people whose gender is different from your biological one and people who have doubts about their gender. Chat with people who have completed gender transition and people who are unsure about their gender. Look for a support group.You don't have to immediately declare that your gender is not biological. Say that you have doubts but are not ready to talk about yourself yet.
- Not all people will want to talk about their gender. Not everyone will like personal questions. Try to list your questions, and if people ask you questions, ask them answer questions.
- If you don't know if you can talk to a person, try texting or asking a question in private. You could put it this way: “I've been thinking a lot about my gender lately, and you seem to be the person who can answer some of my questions. If you have the time and desire, I would like to talk to you about it. I will understand if you refuse. "
3 Explore the information on the forums and in the public. There you can find people whose gender does not correspond to biological, and those who are not sure about their gender. Join a group on a social network or register on an anonymous forum. Do not post your personal data on the Internet.
- Go to the page of the Russian LGBT Network: https://vk.com/lgbtrussia.
- If you are a teenager, take a look at this page: https://vk.com/deti404_c
- Study information about the various LGBT organizations in your country.

Method 3 of 3: How to Know What You Want

1 Allow yourself to be binary trans. If you think you are transgender, try calling yourself a different gender. Try a weekend with a new gender. If you share your progress with a friend, therapist, or family member, let the person know about these plans and ask for support.
- Try using other pronouns. Think about how you feel when you call yourself another pronoun. If you feel like you are a woman in a man's body, try calling yourself “she,” and ask the person you are telling about yourself to do the same.
2 Consider non-binary. There are many other variations of gender besides male and female. You can be a gender-variable, age-gender, big-gender person, or someone else entirely. You don't have to squeeze yourself into narrow frames if they don't fit you.
- Unfortunately, in Russian there is no way to use gender-neutral pronouns, as, for example, in English (they / them for the singular).
- Remember not to rush into making a decision. You may decide that you do not want to make a decision at all. Don't let others pressure you.
SPECIALIST'S ADVICE
Alex keller
Community Specialist Alex Keller is a transgender man. Actively works on wikiHow topics and articles dedicated to LGBT +.
Alex keller
Community Specialist
It's perfectly normal not to rush. Alex Keller tells us: “At first I thought I was a gender fluid because I felt pretty feminine for a guy. After a while, I realized that I was still more comfortable as a man. However, there were days when more femininity manifested itself in me. And I came to the conclusion: I'm just a feminine guy. "
3 Express yourself with clothes. Experiment with clothes until you find a style that works for you. But if you really like some clothes, wear them. For example, if you were born a male but always wanted to wear dresses, allow yourself to do so. You will see the world differently when you can wear what you want.
- If you feel like a genderqueer, experiment with an androgynous look or mix things designed for different genders.
4 Think of other ways to express your gender. Whatever your gender, there are many ways to express it. Think about what you want and what will make you feel better. Discuss your options with a therapist if in doubt.
- Consider changing your name.
- Try asking other people to call you other pronouns (he, she).
- Tell other people about your gender if it feels safe to you.You can talk about the fact that you are trans or that you have doubts.
- Think about your body. Would you like it to be more feminine or masculine? You can trim or grow your hair, take hormones, have surgery on your upper or lower body, or do nothing.

Tips

Remember to pay attention to yourself. The transition can be quite difficult, so it's important to take time for yourself. Do what you love and get more rest. Take a warm bath, sign up for a massage, go for a long walk, or meditate.
If you are biologically a woman and you cannot wear men's jeans due to a different proportion of fat and muscle in the thigh area, try this: if you cannot button the fly, zip it up as high as possible, and then attach the dog to the button with a hair tie. ... You can insert a pin into the dog and fasten it to the elastic band. If the shirt covers the fly, there will be nothing wrong with that.
If you think you are transgender, act like someone of a different gender and try to explain it to others. If sometimes you feel like a guy and sometimes a girl, behave the way you feel at the moment.
Do not hurry. It takes time to realize your gender. Don't force yourself to make a decision too quickly.