The cost of being closeted
I came across this article this morning, and I felt like it strongly applies to many of us. I explained something similar to my wife when I decided finally to begin HRT, and she agreed it was for the best. Not trying to weaponize this or anything, I just think it helps explain very well what it's like for us feeling like we have to hide who we are. The article discusses it in the context that most people present a different version of themselves professionally than in private and that this costs us. This is something anyone can understand. I would argue we experience it more than that because we sometimes can't even stop pretending when we get home or outside of work.
Curious what others think: https://siliconcanals.com/sc-a-theres-a-specific-kind-of-exhaustion-that-comes-not-from-doing-too-much-but-from-performing-a-version-of-yourself-all-day-that-doesnt-actually-exist-the-tiredness-isnt-physical-its-the-distance-b/