Makes a lot of sense now.....

I've (25 F) always known that having Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia is why I am the way that I am. Known since I was 7. Always knowing that my body not balancing the production of testosterone and estrogen the way it should is going to affect things, the older I get. Guess I just didn't realize to what extent or how much higher the testosterone was. How much it plays a role in my everyday life. Especially the older I'm getting , The more prevalent comments I'm hearing and getting told are:

My client told me I sound like a man.

My coworker assumed I was non-binary.

• Called to return a lost dog, guy pulled a face and looked a little stunned when he pulled up. Said, " sorry I was expecting a man, from what I heard on the phone". All I could say was "nah I'm sorry that was me"

• A girl I was seeing stated, "you're confusing, I've never really dealt with an androgynous person."

•Had someone else ask me why I dress the way I do, stated " I just wear whatever I find comfortable or feel like for the day"

•A friend of the girl I've been talking to asked me if this was a trans safe house, which threw me for a loop as I had talked to this person 2x prior and even reassured them when asked that I'm an open minding and understanding person. When I asked her to clarify what they meant when the called ended, she said, "They thought you were trans." I asked if I really come off that way. She replied, "You give off chick with a dick energy fs.

Honestly, I couldn't help but chuckle then at the responses, but now I'm chuckling less and less. As much as I pride myself in being self aware, I'm also realizing that I'm really not. As I'm just beginning to understand and notice this more and more. It's making me realize why my clients talk to me the way they do, why I'm just expected to be the protector of any situations. The shocked or uncomfortable expressions someone gets meeting me for the first time, after speaking over the phone for a bit.

I had always just assumed that having the condition just meant my body was producing 50-50 as my doctor said kind of breaking it down for me. But I ran with that, instead of realizing that there's differences and fluctuations. I didn't realize it's also common to have the T be higher than 50-50.

My self esteem hasn't been too bad in years, it's not like I'm necessarily ashamed, I think moreso, the overwhelming feeling of things and past interactions making a lot of sense or getting treated the way that I do. I guess while I know about my condition, I never fully registered or processed it truly having that much of an impact on my life. Now the new pondering questions, is my voice going to continue to deepen the older I gets? Is there anything I can do persay. Anything I should be prepared for as I get older?