Observer.Guardian.co.uk – Mariella Frostrup
The dilemma
My sister is a post-operative transsexual who had the op six years ago. She is almost 40 and lives alone. She has never felt happy in her own skin, and this has become more pronounced since the op. In her own words, she is a ‘freak’ and ‘not real’ and is very aware of people staring at her when she is out and about. She is on antidepressants, but they don’t help. She has a nonexistent social life because she is scared of people and their reaction to her, although she has had a loyal best friend for years. Over the past five years she’s got back in contact with Mum and as a family we are supportive, although our brother is still in denial about it. How can she stop feeling like a lesser person, and sort her life out? She wants to move nearer to me, which I fully support, to find a job, a house, etc. However, she is in a dark place, and motivating her to look for a job and to see that life can be exciting is difficult. She has a big birthday coming up and is depressed her life has not moved on, yet she is the one who has not moved it on. I have run out of advice and motivational support. I love her a great deal and only want her to be happy. What should I/she do?