1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
Okay. This is going to be a big one.

In mid-2019, I went into therapy properly for my issues. Through that therapy, we determined that I suffered from depression with an anxiety disorder. Talk helped, but it was also recommended that I start a medication regimen.

Cymbalta was recommended for three reasons:
1) it’s good for those things without a lot of side effects
2) it doesn’t do that much to mess with your blood sugar (important for a diabetic)
3) it also helps with chronic pain, like diabetic neuropathy (which thankfully I do not have) and my arthritic knee

It helped. A LOT. People noticed quickly, and so did I. But it did have an unintended side effect.

For some people, when serious mental health issues are addressed, things under them begin to bubble up and present themselves, and those need to be dealt with. Sometimes these are memories, and sometimes these are underlying situations that brought the mental health issues. And sometimes, it’s both.

I started digging in deeper and finding memories I’d shoved down, and feelings I’d repressed, and ideas I’d pushed myself to forget. And as they came back, I had to deal with them.

As of this past Tuesday, I took the first step in accepting them back into me. I began hormone replacement therapy. I’ve let some people know already (and a few others have been invaluable as sources of information). Tomorrow I’m going to do the name change on here, but for today, I’m going to be in this little limbo so as to not confuse people much.

Hello. I’m Genevieve, but you can call me Jen if that’s easier. I use she and her. And I’m happy to meet you.

One last thing: if you want to tell me I need more therapy, or what I feel is wrong, or I’m a sicko or a pervert, it’s probably easier to find the unfollow button. And I will have no problems at all blocking people if needed.

Thank you for reading, and I hope you have a good day.