Listening and learning from all the different people who are or have transitioned it seems the "world they transition out of" as that unique environment that they are transitioning inside of, strongly determines what they will experience as they transition.
As an example, in my life no one was shocked and many expected me to transition because I have lived inside the LGBT world along with being one of those "weird theatre artist types". I never fit into any mold or could be defined. Always odd, different and a misfit and spent more time in gay bars than straight bars and bent gender roles into every twisted shape imaginable so that I could finally breath.
I'm not religious even though very spiritual and do not have close ties to family. I carefully avoided having relations with anyone "invested in keeping me from changing" because I always struggled with the pull of gender dysphoria. (toward my natural and actual gender identity).
Because I always felt trapped and caged I avoided attachment bonds with others to "keep a path of escape open" even before I understood what I was trying to escape.
I did not care what people thought unless I was concerned for my physical or financial survival.
I cannot imagine the additional layers of trauma that being married or having restrictive complicated social ties must add to the already substantial burden of transitioning.
I doubt I would have survived what I have seen many go through here on this forum. I'm simply not that strong of an individual and probably would have suicided out to cope with the impossible and insurmountable.
To understand what lies ahead look at the world you are transitioning "inside of"
This could be where you live. The religion you or your family practices. Your age. Your standing in the community. How conservative this community is. How strongly you care about protecting others emotionally from the consequences of your actions.
The hormones, electro and surgery is the easy part. It's the people aspect including how they affect your career that in my opinion makes transitioning difficult for most.
I never had this difficulty. All my problems were the ones I made inside my own mind. No one and nothing was holding me back other than myself.
