Natalie Kitroeff

anxiety and I'll get panic attacks sometimes.

And when I feel that way, it's when I'm feeling out of body.

I just don't like that feeling.

And so I asked her like, how often do you feel this way?

And she says, I've felt this way since I can remember.

Wow.

And I just thought, holy cow.

Like I cannot imagine spending my entire life feeling like that.

And, um, it was at that point that I was like, would you be more comfortable going by she, her pronouns?

And she said, yes.

It was just like the sigh of relief.

And then I said, why didn't you tell us?

Like, I mean, you know, we love you and support you.

And she said, it's just an awkward conversation to have.

Right.

You know, to kind of sit your parents down and say like, okay, this is it.

Like just to name it was too awkward.

With everything that was happening with her, you know, the self-harm, was there a moment when, for example, you thought maybe there's something other than gender dysphoria going on?

Like maybe there are other mental health issues that cross your mind?

I generally not applied to this particular conversation.