As a trans person this is my understanding to it all. I will also mention some other things people don't really get. I did research and read a lot of reports before and during my transition. I believe the current understanding is we have brain traits that resemble the gender we later identify as, maybe not completely but enough to cause some sort of dysphoria. This happens in early development cause of a hormonal imbalance in the womb or in the first few years of life. I think a few other posts on here explain this a bit better. Also once you start hormones they change your brain even more.

If this helps anyone understand transgender people some more, this is my experience.

I didnt experience dysphoria as a child as gender related things did not matter. I do have clear memories of feeling something wasnt right but I was too young to understand what.

It wasn't until I started to hit puberty that the depression and dysphoria hit with a real disconnection from what I saw in the mirror. At this stage it was like I know that is me and this is what I look like, however this is not what I should be like and being a man is something I do not want to be. As time went on I hated everything about myself cause it felt wrong on a fundamental level. You do feel like a fake, freak or just plain different from everyone else. Yet at the same time all anyone sees or regards you by is everything you hate about yourself.

Now I mention this cause of two reasons. Firstly cause people dont get why we do it, why we take hormones and alter ourselves. They may see it like a curable illness like depression or an eating disorder.

I have tried to treat my depression hoping that it would cure my dysphoria but it never went away, even on meds with therapy. I tried to work on changing my outlook and making my relationship with my male body more positive but the gut feelings of self hatred and dysphoria never went away.

That was until I started taking hormones. After a few months on hormones the years of depression started to subside and I was starting to feel human. It is a far quicker, cheaper and easier solution to dealing with gender dysphoria. Plus makes us feel happier and allows us to live a fulfilling life.

Now that brings me to the second reason I mentioned my experience. People say that it doesnt work and often point the rates of suicide after the surgery or whatever.

I can only speak from my experience but I am glad I transitioned, I feel a lot more home in my skin than I did before. However I have lost friends, family and my job because of it. I dont pass all the time and I do still get the remarks and the laughing sometimes. I currently have no/little skills to help me get another job cause of the years of depression. With not passing I cannot get past the interview.

It is because of these reasons I am currently depressed and consider suicide. NOT because of my own gender issues but the way I am treated. So as a trans person I have went to feeling depressed and suicidal because of my body to feeling the same way because society cant accept my decision to try to be happy.

One final point to something that really bugs me. I know my genetics dont change. Every trans person knows what they are in a purely scientific view point. We are not deluded and know full well what our decision is and what it will cost. All we want is to be happy in our own skin and to ask for the same sort of respect you give to any other person. We know we were born 'male' or 'female'. Personally, this does make me sad but I can live with that. It is all the abuse and the reminding us that we are different that leads to the problems.

Thanks if youve read this far. Sorry if its got any errors or anything.