16-Nov-2021, 02:44 PM
Hi Tom, thank you putting this list together. This absolutely describes my 15 year old son except maybe 21/22. He is very smart/gifted but very, very immature for his age and is very resistant to growing up. He seems to have no interest in sex or any attraction - main focus is on gender identity - claims may be bi but isn't really attracted to anyone. Right now he wants to grow hair long and often will not cut his fingernails. He is very socially awkward and shy which has been worse with puberty. Now he even has a hard time ordering food at a restaurant or very intimated to order a coffee on his own. He also has a hard time making friends with both boys or girls. Has a tendency to overly follow the rules that makes it difficult to have fun with other kids of the same age. Also often corrects family members or friends, likes to be right and doesn't take teasing very well. Has difficult time being light-hearted and not so serious. Lately he only wears the same thing everyday - rotates with three or four different hoodies. Ever since he was young he would also get into something like rainbow loom bracelets, Harry Potter, Legos, origami, video games, etc. and had to master it and know everything about it only to lose complete interest in it afterwards. He is also very quiet and prefers time alone. But he is also very loving, kind, slow to anger, and accepting, especially for anyone different. He has preferred many girl things when he was a kid and was never interested in sports or boy scouts. But he has never expressed wanting to be a girl, dressing as a girl, wearing make up, or taking his sister's things.
My husband and I feel he is looking for answer to his social anxiety and that maybe he could be highly functioning but on the spectrum. And that he is being influence being online and having trans online friends, especially through the covid time. And this could be something again he want to master but could lose interest if doesn't answer underlying issues.
But we feel completely isolated, like we can't talk to anyone or get help for him with a therapist. I'm sure any therapist would validate this as trans without exploring other potential issues. Our goal is for him to first try to be happy and content without any medical or surgical intervention.
Glad to find this forum and hear from others experiencing same issues.
My husband and I feel he is looking for answer to his social anxiety and that maybe he could be highly functioning but on the spectrum. And that he is being influence being online and having trans online friends, especially through the covid time. And this could be something again he want to master but could lose interest if doesn't answer underlying issues.
But we feel completely isolated, like we can't talk to anyone or get help for him with a therapist. I'm sure any therapist would validate this as trans without exploring other potential issues. Our goal is for him to first try to be happy and content without any medical or surgical intervention.
Glad to find this forum and hear from others experiencing same issues.
