[PSY]

Hello, Max!

I'm sorry you didn't receive a response sooner. I guess you've gone back to school at this point. How was the first day and first week? If I had seen this sooner, I would have offered a few suggestions (which you may still be able to use). One would be to approach each teacher privately and tell them your preference. I have a friend who is in the process of transitioning, and she advocates for herself whenever she sees or hears something she doesn't like. I know that isn't easy to do, but based on what I've seen her go through, it's much tougher when you don't speak up for yourself. It begins to eat away at you, and school/work/etc. don't feel "right" or "safe".

I can understand that things must be especially rough right now, since you lost a number of friends due to the transition. Do you have an LGBT club at your school? Finding people who can truly empathize with what you're going through can be incredibly helpful. Also, since you're experiencing a great deal of anxiety, it might not hurt to speak to a school counselor or psychological professional. Is your father supportive of your transition? Your insurance may cover the cost of therapy. If not, there should be plenty of non-profit organizations that aim to provide support to members of the LGBT community.