Becoming one\u2019s full self is something every human being aspires to achieve at some point in their life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For Trevor Barrett, 22, becoming his full self was a challenging yet rewarding experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Barrett first knew he was transgender when he was 5 years old when his mother asked him what he wanted to be when he grew up. He responded with \u201cI want to be a man.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When Barrett was 16, he came out to his friends as a transgender male. Four years after that, he came out to his family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTwo of my siblings don\u2019t fully support me,\u201d Barrett said. \u201cBut other than that, everyone else has been amazing.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Barrett mentioned that the scariest part of his transition was coming out to his mother. He casually came out to her five months after he started testosterone by showing her the bottle of it. His mother was, and still is, very supportive of him. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Aside from the fear of coming out to his family, Barrett said one of the worst parts of transitioning was having to go through physical and mental changes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMainly just trying to conform my body to what I wanted it to be was the worst part,\u201d Barrett stated. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Before Barrett got top surgery, he wore a binder for his chest. Barrett expressed how he loved the look of binding, but its physical effects, such as rib or lung pain, were hard to deal with most of the time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Once he started testosterone, Barrett experienced a decrease in his mental health. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI had depression, BPD, and anxiety to start off with,\u201d he said. \u201cOnce I started testosterone, my ADHD and OCD came to light.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Barrett mentioned that going through his legal name change has been a lengthy and difficult process. He is still waiting on his new social security card after a month and a half. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Because Barrett\u2019s name isn\u2019t completely legally changed, he still experiences people using his dead name sometimes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Barrett believes that several things need to change when it comes to transitioning in today\u2019s society. He wants better healthcare for transgender people, more help for transgender youth, and more on board and experienced doctors. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTransitioning in today\u2019s society is so much easier than it was in the past,\u201d Barrett commented. \u201cHowever, we still have a long way to go.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Becoming one\u2019s full self is something every human being aspires to achieve at some point in their life. For Trevor Barrett, 22, becoming his full self was a challenging yet rewarding experience. Barrett first knew he was transgender when he was 5 years old when his mother asked him what he wanted to be when … Continue reading The Trevor Barrett Story<\/span>