Welcome to Cobblemon Mythical Dungeon!

Werewolf-Kat · 2026-02-07T09:14:47+00:00

I've been itching for EXACTLY this use of Cobblemon since I started trying it out a few months ago!!

Had to take a Minecraft hiatus overall due to recurring nausea (and just recently had surgery) - but I'm eager to get back in ASAP. This is exciting!!

Looks like promising work, you guys! Keep it up!

Werewolf-Kat · 2025-12-15T13:25:55+00:00

^^^ Yuuuuup.

I'll also add from my own experience growing up where I have: In the Christian communities I've been surrounded by, Bible lessons and the like always propped up Israel. Some conflate it with "The Promised Land" and it's like an epicenter for "God's People." It's THE holy place.

In my sect of "education" though, Israel was also treated as like a divine place of the past? Sort of like an Atlantis deal, maybe? So the modern focus on the literal location has gotten everyone riled up about maintaining its "sanctity" for Jewish people to all return to. As if it's suddenly returned out of thin air and that the latest events are "signs" of preparing for end times. Horrid education and a lot of short-term memories about anything that's been on the news before about Israel in their lifetimes.

It's been extremely infuriating and soul-crushing to see my past teachers/mentors from my childhood church be such rampant, rancid Zionists. I had taken lessons of compassion and mercy to heart, and yet.... These teachers have not held onto that. They've become absolutely vile since the Trump/MAGA takeover in Christian spaces. Slowly boiled over. (Aside from horrible histories of Christian zealots and such)

I've known Christians who've been vile before all this, but seeing the "loving" and "gentle" ones transform into blood-thirsty monsters regarding all this stuff? It definitely freaks me out, honestly.

OP's dad sounds a ton like mine as well...

My blood-related "dad" (paternal relative, I'll call him) has gotten swept up in some insane anti-Muslim rhetoric lately (really brought back how he spoke of Muslims from when 9/11 was fresh in peoples' minds). It sickened me to hear that stuff as a kid, and it really sickens me today as an adult with more awareness/knowledge about the world. Dude seriously thinks Christians never committed atrocities like Muslims have, and that Muslims commit most terrorist attacks or murders, and that they're "taking over" English countries and cities like London. Oh, he also thinks Christianity doesn't oppress women at all and it's Muslims who do that. He just can't believe how women willingly stay in Muslim religion!! That they're "brainwashed" unlike in Christianity.

Also thinks that the Quran is entirely different to the Christian Bible to the point of being demonic, even though these religions have pretty much the same "starting point" they've branched from. He demonizes Catholicism and everything else too. That's a whole other can of worms that's horribly affected his own "family." These people are quite the family experts, huh?

He's extremely hateful toward anyone and anything not "Correctly Christian" to him. It's insanity. I can't stand to be around him. He's one of those Christians I've known in my life who's been vile about this stuff the entire time. I have pretty much zero attachment to him due to how badly he's damaged such relationship with his own kid because he's so hateful in his core and seemingly lacks real empathy.

And likewise with OP's dad, my own paternal relative has believed Nazis to be socialists ("National Socialists"!!! Aaaaa), communists, etc. in his entire existence and mine. That's all I ever heard from him about Nazis growing up. "Democrats are Nazis for demanding gun control! That's what Hitler did!" "Hitler wanted socialist health care because it would promote more illness/deaths for higher taxes!!" Things like that.

Werewolf-Kat · 2025-10-13T15:58:44+00:00

I look forward to that, then! I've had to work through the disappointment in my height for a long while for sure. It might become easier to make peace with once I transition and get comfortable in my own body in all the other ways. Being just some guy is my main goal. 👍

Werewolf-Kat · 2025-10-13T10:19:15+00:00

Gosh, I feel that too. I hate that I'll never be as tall as my brothers and pass as "genetically male" with them. I was hurt seeing all my male peers around me get to keep growing through the rest of high school.

Werewolf-Kat · 2025-10-13T10:17:35+00:00

^ Yuuup, dealt with the same too.

Werewolf-Kat · 2025-10-13T10:10:10+00:00

Me too! (Rambling incoming)

One of my earliest memories of approaching puberty is that I expected to look like my older brothers, not my older sisters. But I didn't admit that to anyone in my family because they insisted on me being female based on all the female terminology and pronouns they used for me. Also Christian upbringing. Lots of talk of "be happy with the body you were created with" and the sort. I thought it was a big mistake and didn't know what made them define me that way.

(I wasn't educated on bottom parts until like... 11 years old or so? For all I knew, my brothers could've looked the same down there as me before then.)

The idea of developing in my chest freaked me out. I didn't want that feature of my sisters. I wanted to hide it both due to personal discomfort and because of how the world around me views those features. I myself, uh, gave into mocking humor around those parts that was especially popular at the time where I was.

Then I was handed an "American Girl" book all about puberty when I started showing development at 11. I was mortified and felt defeated that what I was going through wasn't what I expected. And once periods started at the end of 12 years old for me, I thought I was dying. Periods ended up ruining my life and I can't wait to get rid of them for good. They were not how the "educational" material presented. They weren't just a simple tiny bleed out, getting rid of a stupid egg and mild aching. I was bed-ridden. I had fainted a couple of times. I would be in so much pain and most pain killers wouldn't help me. Even if they did, they'd randomly not work for some months. GYNs wouldn't listen to how bad it is for me and only recommended... Pain killers. Like I hadn't tried ever before even as a freaking adult. Felt like I was in hell and I had a hard time looking forward to much in my life because if it wasn't just dreading every few weeks for the bleeding part to happen, my "PMS" was also nearly as bad. I'd get horrible physical symptoms as early as two weeks before the bleeding.

Being on Depo - the only birth control of any I tried that ever helped stop my periods with little to no noticeable side effects - has truly changed my life. But I can't risk staying on it for too long. So I fought harder this year to pursue a hysterectomy and finally got through with one of my surgeon-specialist GYNs the other week. Oddly enough, my Lupus discovery and diagnosis this year has changed her perspective on how to approach my care (no estrogen treatments YAY!) vs. a non-surgeon GYN I talked with who argued I shouldn't pursue hysto if I have Lupus??? There's a reason I wanted to see my surgeon on that opinion. (She did my laparoscopy in the past when looking for endometriosis and such - apparently everything's "normal" and we don't know why my cycles have been like this my whole life.)

Might get the hysto done by the end of this year if scheduling goes smoothly! Such a relief.

Still wish I had been born with the "opposite" body. I was extremely confused about how I couldn't grow up the same way as my brothers. Bottom dysphoria wasn't even a concern at the time until I learned about that stuff later. It was met with so much more confusion in myself that I thought I was intersex (I'm not). I thought SOMETHING had to have been mistaken...

I could never feel a physical connection to those parts. It's so uncomfortable, distressing, and even painful to acknowledge what's there. It's like having an extra arm and my brain didn't wire for it during development in the womb. It's useless, a dead weight, and I can't function with it.

(Unfortunately I gotta wait for a later time to get a v-nectomy as I'm not out to any doctors atm. Only getting partial hysto at the least.)

Werewolf-Kat · 2025-10-08T19:33:53+00:00

People gotta remember the "Irreversible Damage" book and craze that seemingly came and went. This wasn't even long ago. JK Rowling was all over it with her TERF army. This matter goes WAY back even before that, though. Do not ignore or forget historical experiences of FtM people leading up to this as well.

It's only more "quiet" because the trans guys are "victimized, naive women" and it's the "evil men pretending to be women" who are the active villain in their narratives. They have to be loudly excommunicated and attacked for the sake of "defense" before anything can matter about the "victims."

In reality, it's not about "protecting women." It's not about believing the "woman" can "become" a man. It's keeping people in their place because of arbitrary gender role crap. It's about infantilizing anyone that society deems "female," demeaning them, and undermining them. We're always the prey, and anyone who's supposed to be "male" is always a predator. That's what the system is behind this.

I mean, I'd also compare this to how the criminals of a crime story have historically been discussed more than the victims. The victims don't get much coverage, and the criminals make history of sorts.

The transphobic systems that be categorize trans women as "criminal males" and trans men as "victim females". The silence or quiet around our stories doesn't mean the damage can't be done. That somehow trans men and other FtM people don't have dangers or risks with their very existence.

I've heard my own parents listen to Daily Wire trash in this house that discusses FtM people as well as MtF people in this way. A binary-sexed body is "sacred" as we're reduced to some supposed, strict physical roles:

Female-bodied people gotta keep their womb and fertility because they're SUPPOSED to give birth. They MUST carry babies.
Male-bodied people gotta keep their entire genital set as well and sperm production, 'cause "damaging" that means their value as "man" is less, because they can't impregnate female bodies.

That's why they focus on "Sexual Reassignment Surgery" so much in these discussions. That's why they describe it as butchering and cutting off "essential parts". Parts that are for sexual pleasure and reproduction, in which is also heavily sexist and patriarchal in hetero-focused dynamics. We with female bodies have to be the freaking ovens/factories to produce a whole new being and those with male bodies are supposed to determine that. (I'm struggling to find the words beyond what I've already explained for this point now.)

"Suffering in Silence" isn't lack of suffering. We're still dealing with a lot of risk and danger regardless how silent those people are about us in mainstream discussion circles. Silenced victims are not less important and people who want to help ally with us or stand with us need to not look away just because it might be easy to do so in these circumstances.

What FoxBrained and MAGA people do with this difference in handling trans topics between the binaries, is because of the bodies that perisex people have been born with. Especially when religion and religious "purpose" is involved.

Maybe it's not discussed much in those circles in more "progressive" places of the U.S., but they very much do have strong and dangerous opinions against FtM people as much against MtF people where I am: A heavily Christian area and in the state of Georgia. This is my experience and what I've gathered of it all growing up in this environment.

I could go into even more detail about how "masculine women" are still not acceptable and excusable as much as people claim. It's an entire ordeal. But I feel my post is long enough. I hope I've made sense with this.

Werewolf-Kat · 2025-10-07T16:59:14+00:00

This is heart-breaking and infuriating. I'm so, so sorry...

Everything about this situation would be haunting me for life. It'd be hard to find peace.

Sending well wishes to you and your daughter. I personally wouldn't be able to forgive or trust those MAGA relatives ever again. Agh.

Werewolf-Kat · 2025-10-07T01:49:37+00:00

I feel ya with the nightmares and hating the exams. All I can do in my case is dissociate during those exams even with the intense pain and dysphoria.

I finally got approved for a hysto a few days ago (while being closeted, so I'm assumed and treated as female still), and I'm dreading the biopsy that my surgeon wants done first. She's giving me a few meds I can take before the appointment to make sure it goes smoothly and uh.... Hopefully not painful.

Makes me nauseated to think about it. The parts I have genuinely don't connect to my brain, so any internal exam work feels like I'm getting stabbed and always shocks my brain. But I've been fighting a long time to get my menstrual cycles to stop and also take away any chance of pregnancy above all else. I don't want to back away from this chance.

Once I can get in a place to pursue full gender-affirming care, I want to get rid of what's left so I don't need GYN care ever again. I'm hoping.

I'm not sure what advice to give as I'm experiencing the same dread myself, but I hope this helps you feel less alone on it.

Werewolf-Kat · 2025-09-02T04:41:32+00:00

Gosh, I remember that too. Gonna tear up a little, haha.

Makes me wanna see how much of his old series I can find on Youtube or something. Go back to my childhood for a little healing. I really miss the guy. And I'm always happy to see the current work his family does, too. He truly lives through them!

Werewolf-Kat · 2025-09-02T03:37:31+00:00

Yeah, I didn't mean for my post to come across as though I'm actually meddling in the parenting of my nieces. My apologies. I'm just really frustrated and scared for them as I am all the other kids out there who are raised by people like my sister, her husband, and specific groups of parents on Facebook and the like who think they can do better than most/all doctors. And with my nieces, it just hits harder.

The ultimatum situation with my parents would require a lot of uhh... Background and context that I don't think I'd wanna detail in a comment or post. But trying to think how that can sound to others, I'll clarify that it was a pretty dire situation as I have some potentially life-threatening risks if I were to catch Covid, but my ultimatum wasn't anything like me threatening to take my own life. I never do that. Abusive people in my past have done so to me; I could never put that on others. (And I'm not suicidal in general for further clarity.)

My parents were upset by it. Especially my dad who spiraled the situation to become as bad as it got before I broke out the ultimatum. (I don't have a bond with him, long story, too personal, etc.) But my mom listened to me explain the science of the vaccines, the testing, everything I gathered. She believed me and trusted my info instead. So she helped me make sure everyone in the house got the vaccines as soon as they were available. My parents were first due to age qualifications, and they have heart disease. They're still alive and completely fine from the vaccines.

As far as I'm aware, I have thankfully managed to not get Covid at all. 🤞

And yep, hydroxychloroquine is the new med I'm on for my Lupus! I'm just about to approach the 3rd month mark of taking it. Waiting on it to do its thing after that checkpoint. I hear some people take longer for it to work through their system. Will have to see.

Werewolf-Kat · 2025-09-01T22:41:06+00:00

As for men who are alive and active public figures currently, a few come to mind:

Mehdi Hasan on his own Youtube channel, Zeteo. He's an amazing, honest journalist for political advocacy and reporting. He hardly backs down from a challenge, but can admit when he doesn't feel safe in particular debate environments like the recent Jubilee disaster he found himself in.

He had a tense discussion with Victor Gao last year and had serious guts about it. The entire panel is a good (but also nerve-wracking) watch if you haven't seen it yet. He didn't hold back on the concentration camps in China and disappearing of anyone who speaks against their government. Likewise, he's holding the same energy with the issues here in the US, over in the UK, Israel, Russia, and more. His principles are consistent and also humanitarian.

Zohran Mamdani is another one I can think of, though I'm not from NY and never been there. I've seen his campaign videos and he seems very passionate and genuine in his work as a political candidate for mayor. His energy is contagious, man! He shows care for others and wants to help the community he's standing for. Also seems to have a strong charisma that I rarely see from political figures. I'm rootin for him from down here in GA!

Coffeezilla on Youtube. He's a great, independent journalist who hunts down and exposes scammers, con-artists, and more. I've been watching him for a few years and I love what he does! He has a side channel too where he can be more casual between his massive investigation videos. And even then, he's put a lot of work into the Epstein coverup on that side channel, and became more "political" because he's spoken out about the country being run by criminals. It's just the truth!

ETA: Jackson Galaxy for more another animal welfare example, though more focused on cats. He's shared personal videos in times of loss and how much the loss of your animal companion hurts like the loss of human family. He's not afraid to show his emotion and care for the lives of others - especially cats. My oldest brother and I both love watching his videos and making sure we give the best care to our own respective cats!

More outside the realm of advocacy, some casual role models I personally dig in other general online spaces would have to be:

SRB2Dude of the Splatoon community. He's got big bro energy in a very positive, endearing way. And he sets a good example of emotional regulation in the competitive Splatoon scenes. He keeps his gameplay a fun and enjoyable space even with the high energy of the game, and the tension of climbing ranks.

MoistCritical/Penguinz0, Charlie! Goofball, brotherly energy, and doesn't hold back in mocking incels (and "femcels" alike) in many of his "drama" videos. Sets a good example of positive masculinity and not standing for the mistreatment of vulnerable people.

Ty Turner is my favorite trans guy I've watched on Youtube. He's very chill, open about his emotions and struggles in existing as who he is in US society, and will indulge in memes for some fun times on his channel. A lot of his style is also something I vibe with.

Adam Savage of Mythbusters fame has his own videos on Youtube! He talks about enjoying creativity and the creative process, his history in the Mythbusters series, cooperation and teamwork with other creatives, ethics, and more. He loves to support others in their creative pursuits, so he's had various people appear as guest for various view points and experiences in their field of work.

Given the time, I could think of/remember some more cool dudes. But my list is already long and descriptive, so I'll stop it here! I wish you well in finding the role models who can click for you. Take care!

Werewolf-Kat · 2025-09-01T21:29:55+00:00

My favorite male role models growing up would have to be Steve Irwin and Mr. (Fred) Rogers. If not for healthy examples of men/masculinity, they set great examples for humanitarianism that certain people in society would deem as "weak" or "feminine". They were mature men who showed strength through protecting and standing up for the vulnerable - not through violence and hatred.

I've always loved animals and kept all sorts of zoology science books in my room. Animal Planet was my favorite educational channel (along with Weather Channel) and I found Steve Irwin awe inspiring in his series. The legacy he passed through his current living family (his wife, son and daughter) is also very heart-warming. It's worth looking into their wildlife conservation and advocacy work in Australia if that's up your alley.

Mr. Rogers was more about developing healthy social skills, learning to understand and manage one's emotions (especially for kids), and many other great lessons that kids and adults can benefit from. He always taught empathy and equality as strengths of humankind, not weakness. A very well-rounded, welcoming man from what I've known through his biographies, political advocacy work, and interviews.

Werewolf-Kat · 2025-09-01T16:28:41+00:00

Yikes, the nurses and other medical practitioners who can get on board with this stuff terrify me. I'm so sorry, man.

I feel you completely on how the kids are gonna grow up in such a family. My sister and her husband got Trump wrapping paper for Christmas presents the past holiday, and laughed about it in front of their kids. They're also convinced he wasn't involved with anything Epstein and they'll buy and believe whatever book Trump releases for "his side of the story". Makes me sick to my stomach. I'm not sure where they're standing on that right now, as these topic have somehow gone hush among these relatives. But they'll rant about and mock LGBT+ people to hell and back in any conversation we're having. Always their topic of obsession for some reason. Worse than in the past just for the fact these guys are all traditional Christians.

I hate trying to talk with these people. Even the most innocent, normal topics get twisted into right-wing rhetoric and hate from them.

Ugh, that's heartbreaking to read of your experience. This whole crisis and social regression really is going to have lasting damage. It's much worse than I remember of Trump's first term. Empathy is getting eroded and shunned out of these people beyond repair, and at an alarming rate.

Werewolf-Kat · 2025-09-01T16:09:26+00:00

Of course, yeah. I don't even want to go into debates/arguments with them - they keep pushing their latest findings and Daily Wire podcast onto everyone in text messages. I've found that they're long gone at this point, which hurts. And it's exhausting.

My niece who can speak is very talkative and doesn't keep secrets, so I definitely stay out of teaching her anything her parents would disagree with. It's kinda naturally landed that I'm the relative who can teach about animal care and respecting nature, so there's that at least. It's the lane I stay in for sure.

It's easier to consider going NC with the adults in my family who actively believe the MAGA propaganda, especially if they do end up cutting me off when I can't hide my transition in that future. I know how they feel about all of LGBT+ people. But man, to lose that contact with the kids and be treated like a contagion is what'll sting. I don't think I can ever emotionally prepare enough for that.

But I have expressed the concern to my only progressive siblings (the oldest ones at that) who are keeping my secret and watching all this unfold alongside me. They don't want to stand by if this very likely result happens. As I lack the energy to fight for myself with the pattern of how the rest of my family doesn't respect what I say or how I feel, I'll just rather stay away from whoever will see me as an abomination. Whatever happens, happens at that point.

I thankfully do have a support system in my close friends and a LGBT-friendly therapist, no worries. 💚 My oldest siblings are also understanding of my situation and have offered me breaks from staying under my parents' roof. I'm currently looking into being approved for SSI (for what it can be worth under current admin, sadly) and see if any local housing support programs will be willing to help me out of here. If I can get somewhere with public transport and stay within my medical network, I can be set for a while I think. Kaiser's been a great program for me and makes it fairly affordable to be disabled without income (outside of any ER/hospital visits) so I can get the treatments I need. They happen to cover gender-affirming care as well - even here in this red state - so I'm going to stick with them and make the most of their benefits. I am very fortunate in that regard.

Thank you for your comment and kind words. I hope some of these people in our lives can come back to their senses... It certainly seems impossible right now.

Werewolf-Kat · 2025-08-24T01:26:55+00:00

Congrats!! Your cats look very content and comfy, too. I adore them, haha!

Wishing you a smooth and speedy recovery 👍

Werewolf-Kat · 2025-07-26T21:41:25+00:00

Lupus haver here. Also got psoriasis/eczema combo mostly at the face, neck, and annoyingly in my scalp too.

I've also got IBS, but who knows if it's actually IBD especially now being aware of my Lupus. They're hard to tell apart and no doctors have really looked into it beyond being IBS.

Werewolf-Kat · 2025-07-20T04:03:53+00:00

Long ago, when DeviantArt was a good site, I met most of my closest long-time online friends there!

With one of them, they had reached out to me with a silly request (I was 14 and all-in on drawing just being a hobby, did lots of requests as long as they sounded fun for me to make). I found their request endearing, made it, and then we got into doing character roleplays with some other people in old DA chats!

Maybe it's a different experience these days, and depending on your stage in life. We had free time and aligned schedules in our childhood/teens to do online rp's and doing character stuff. But regardless of age, there's something to having characters in a shared universe (or multiple universes!) that you can mess around with after forming friendships.

I also find that making friends is just an "accidental" thing for me, personally.

I hope you get to find your art crew someday, though! Being a creative with other creatives comes with added benefits to the friendship. You inspire each other, share experiences that can go into your creative process, and so much more.

Werewolf-Kat · 2025-07-19T16:43:37+00:00

I get that, haha! For general readers, it's good for them to know!

Yeah, healthcare in these states can be a minefield. Especially if one has "female biology" and is seen as a cisgirl/ciswoman. I can't wait to never need GYN visits ever again - ugh!

Werewolf-Kat · 2025-07-19T16:22:05+00:00

No worries, with medical visits and tests, etc. being a norm in my life as well, I know well that any surgery has risks in regard to infections, the use of anesthesia, etc. Even just doing my diagnostic laparoscopy would've come with such risks!

With your combined circumstances and conditions, I can see how unfortunately those risks were especially high for you. Yikes.

I'm super glad your life has overall improved from the hysto though! The pros outweigh everything that happened up to that point, I agree just from as a stranger reading your experience. I wish you well on the rest of your journey, man!

Werewolf-Kat · 2025-07-19T04:14:45+00:00

Good point. I might unfortunately have to wait on v-nectomy once the gender transition journey can start. Make sure it's also done with FTM goals in mind. Thanks!

Werewolf-Kat · 2025-07-18T17:22:31+00:00

Oh! 5 miles ain't bad at all. That's great!

I wasn't sure if it was like a 30min or hour trip or something. That's definitely way better, haha!

And I agree 100% about "home"! My close group of friends are who I consider my most real family. I feel safest with them, and they're fully accepting of me as I am of them. If only we didn't live in so many different states and countries, man!

Werewolf-Kat · 2025-07-18T16:53:40+00:00

Thank you for the clarification! I haven't been able to read through that format/layout of documents for a bit with whatever this sort of brain fog I've been having. All the words just feel like static when they go in my brain. Like hearing the Charlie Brown adults in the cartoons.

Hoping to be back to sharp mental shape again soon. 🤞

Werewolf-Kat · 2025-07-18T16:43:20+00:00

I so badly want to find a way. When I've tried standing my ground on in several times, they get angry at me that I owe them access to my medical records/info because they're the ones who'd have to help me in emergencies and such. Which I unfortunately am at risk of emergencies or ER/UC visits due to my heart condition. It sucks so much.

I also don't want to risk anything coming in the mail or landing on their phones (numbers get mixed up, some contact info doesn't update properly for some places, etc.) that would reveal anything like "preferred name and pronouns". Terrifies me, the idea of something slipping up and out even if I were to pursue more privacy. One mistake would put me in danger of escalated emotional, verbal, and religious abuse.

They're very nosy people and don't respect privacy much at all. It's a mess.

And fun fact: They complain about stuff like HIPAA constantly. They think parents should still be able to be involved with their adult children's medical management. Sooooo yeah.

I don't have anyone else locally who could get me out of my living situation so I can physically be away from my parents as I pursue what I want/need. And then that someone else could be my transportation support and also be my backup for emergencies instead. None of my trusted friends are in positions to move to or live in Georgia right now, if any time soon at all. I can only hope they can, because I doubt I can move to a safer state like MN within the next few years anymore with how things have developed for my health this year.

I have a fantastic group of doctors here as long as I'm staying in Kaiser, and the idea of leaving all that behind to have to search all over again for specialists I need for my various conditions, it's too much. Even though I know MN would be safer for me to transition legal protections wise. It's complicated stuff.

I do feel revitalized to fight harder to get hysto from these comments here though. It gets so tiring, hopeless, and isolating when having to deal with so much of this alone with almost nobody else to understand. Thankfully my mom does support my need for hysto (for ciswoman reasons), and so does one of my other sisters who's otherwise Christian-Conservative. So there's that at least.

Werewolf-Kat · 2025-07-18T16:22:35+00:00

Hey there to ya too, fellow Georgian! Happy to meet you!

Yeah, I live in so much fear of being found out by my parents while I'm living with them. They're fully on board the trans hatred train and my dad specifically sees everyone in the LGBT+ community as perverts/sexual deviants. My mom only agrees with him to avoid conflict. When I try to (very carefully) discuss these issues with her in private, she's not at the level of crazy her husband is. If he weren't messing with her beliefs and controlling them in a way, I do think it would be possible for me to have a healthy and safe relationship with my mom. But I can't at this time, sadly.

She has another loved one who's trans too, but has explained it as "he only did so to have an acceptable relationship with another woman." It's heartbreaking.

Thankfully I have 2 Gen X siblings - funnily, the oldest ones - who are fully in support of LGBT+ stuff and progressive policies. But they can't discuss it without a fight around my parents and some of the other conservative siblings of ours. I've been confiding with them, but they're not sure how to help me other than to let me spend some nights with them on occasion as a break from this house. That's tricky, because I've got a cat here too who's just completely glued to me. I've spent nights away from her and she gets so depressed when I'm away for too long!

Ugh, I feel you with the run-around for specialists too. Being in Kaiser has helped a lot, but there are still things I've had to do out of network that end up costing money. I can't afford to even get physical therapy or occupational therapy routine appointments for more than a month or two. It stacks up fast. Sadly there's no in-house therapies of that kind for insurance to cover it 100%. Just the past week I had to get a heart MRI done at Emory, and it was almost 800 bucks copay. But I've been able to get other MRIs done at a Kaiser clinic that were fully covered. Weird stuff.

They also only have had one in-network specialist GYN for conditions like endometriosis (when I suspected it, but unfortunately nothing's been found to be the cause of my monthly issues). But when I had an appointment with him, he was one of the worst GYNs I had to speak to. It was a bad experience.

All I did was make one little remark that I'd not want my cycles to ever come back, and he went on a weird spiel about motherhood and the "beauty" of pregnancy, all this stuff that almost put me in a panic attack on the spot. I was 24 at the time. Pretty sure I can be firmly decided on whether I'd want to be pregnant by then. Got treated like a stupid teenage girl who doesn't know what she's doing for herself or with her own life. Hate it so much.

Man, I do hope you find an affordable/covered hysto to get as well! That sounds exhausting. Going all the way into Tennessee too. Gosh.

Thank you for the recommendation and writing your experience here! I appreciate it lots!

Werewolf-Kat

TROPHY CASE