How Do I Know I am Ready to Start Hormones?
Dr. Z addresses a question many people ask: How do I know when I'm ready or if it's the right time to start taking hormones? (This video is for adults who can make their own decisions.)
If you have severe dysphoria causing pain, It's easier to step into hormones when you have a pain point you want to alleviate. The "readiness" question then circles around whether your circumstances are ready (coming out to partner, moving to a safer environment, etc.).
If you DON'T have a pain point, this becomes much more confusing and difficult to figure out. Not everybody experiences gender dysphoria distress. Some want hormones arising from alignment with euphoric feelings they experience, not pain relief.
Essential questions to ask yourself: What is my goal with stepping into hormone treatment? What am I trying to achieve? What will hormones give me? How does this tell me about my relationship to gender and gender identity? Does it feel in alignment, affirming?
