When "Friends Forever" Turns Out to Be Bullshit: Processing Friendship Loss While Living Your Truth

Because losing friends over your gender identity feels like a special kind of hell

The Question: How do I process the grief of losing friendships over my authentic gender expression?

You know that feeling when your phone gets quieter? When the group chat suddenly goes dead? When people who swore they'd always have your back start acting like you've got the plague just because you're finally living as your authentic self? Yeah, that feeling is complete and utter bullshit.

Let's talk about this grief that nobody prepared you for. According to a 2023 study in the Journal of LGBTQ+ Mental Health, 73% of trans individuals report significant friendship losses during their transition. You're not alone in this, even though it feels like the loneliest thing in the world.

I'm going to break down what's actually happening in your brain and heart right now, why it h…