1. The "disguise" of a transitioned identity
Many detransitioners say that even when they passed perfectly, they felt like imposters. "I am someone who passed very well... It's a way to be always on the outside looking in, feeling fraudulent, trying to move the goalposts and trying to legitimate bad choices." – L82Desist source [citation:dd709224-982b-ploader-94a4e895f013]
The constant upkeep of the new role—manners, voice, clothing, hormones—felt like a performance rather than a release.
2. Authenticity redefined
After detransition, authenticity is no longer "looking like the other sex" but "telling the truth about your body." "Authenticity isn't pretending toen male, it's accurately describing myself as a female who would rather be male, and then working on accepting and appreciating my actual body for what it is." – trialeerror [source](https://