What Happens When Pandora Box of Dysphoria is Opened?
Once you let the cat out of the bag—once you become aware that you have gender dysphoria—can you put it back? For older adults who suddenly realize they have gender dysphoria later in life (35 and up), this question feels urgent and terrifying. You have established careers, relationships, maybe children or grandchildren. What happens when a gender crisis hits in the middle of all of that?
Dr. Z walks through what actually happens when Pandora's box opens—why it opens in the first place, the universal freak-out moment that happens to everyone, and the three most common things people do immediately after this realization. She discusses whether denial works, what happens when you try to stuff it back down, and why people reach out to professionals hoping to hear specific answers.
Watch to find out Dr. Z's professional opinion on whether you can close Pandora's box once it opens, what happens when you try, and what your actual options are for moving forward when you can't unknow what you've just learned about yourself.
