The Crisis of Identity

I am 38. Detransitioning after years on HRT. I can only say thank you God for saving me from the pit.

Imagine spending thousands seeing a therapist when you could just go talk to an Orthodox priest.

I am a 25 year old detransitioning woman. I decided to stop feeding into my trans-identity less than a year after I had amputated my breasts and 3 years on hormones. I thought that amputating my breasts and distancing myself from everything that was naturally feminine about my body, would make me feel happy and free.. It did not, instead I just felt more broken and lonely than ever before. I realized that we only get one life on this earth, and this body is the single most precious gift I have.. One, healthy, perfectly made vessel through which I get to experience all that life has to offer, but instead of cherishing it, I was punishing it. I had to work very hard to deconstruct the internal, mental and emotional system of ideas that led me to pursue transition in the first place. It was difficult, but certainly worth the time, pain and effort. 4 years have passed since I first began de-transitioning and I feel good. I converted and became a catholic 2 months ago, I'm getting married in two months, I have good friends who pray for me and look out for me. I never thought I would heal from all the damage I caused to myself, but here we are. All praise be to God. Guard your children from harmful infuences and teach them how to resist and use reason when they encounter dangerous ideas.

My daughter was raised in a rural place and we had no internet, she watched two movies a week and no tv. She was only exposed to the internet and video games when she was 10. She is 14 now and can see the world so much more clearly than other teenagers her age. She says the kids her age think all the stuff online is normal because they were exposed so young. She remembers just spending time in nature.

I did social media fasts during Lent this year and last, and it was massively helpful. It showed me how dependent I was on instant entertainment and distraction. In a week or so, I was so much more peaceful and productive. When I returned, I could see how social media jerked my emotions around. As I type this, maybe I feel a nudge to do a social media fast now.

The same thing with plastic surgery, I was a victim of an ideology of beauty, ultimately reining my health. Sold as a standard of beauty, but in the back and behind all the cameras, there are thousands of women suffering from the consequences of these demonic force.

Catholic here but I'm loving the straight forward logic and reason coming from the orthodox church. Keep preaching God's reasoning, it clicks for those truly seeking the truth in a world of lies. 🙏🏻🌹

I had to break up with my girlfriend because she wants to transition, I love her but it hurts to see her not only destroy her body but rebel against God and contort the natural order.

Im a nurse, years ago while elderly patient was dying, i held her hand, she whispered to me im worried if i will go to heaven, i told her just believe in Jesus jesus, you will. She smiled.

I live in Grand Rapids Michigan. About an hour and a half away is the monastery that Fr. Roman Braga served in until his repose. I was maybe 15 or 16 on my first visit for one of their “work days” where the community comes together and helps the nuns take care of outside tasks. I remember standing next to a pond with a circle of men talking when I saw a small man draped in black make his way towards us. He joined our circle, would occasionally speak very quietly & gently. But the thing I will never forget is what I felt in that moment. I felt his love. That’s probably the best way to describe an indescribable feeling. His face shined when he spoke. Time slowed down, my attention was solely fixed on this gentle quiet man. I’ve heard someone describe being next to a Saint by saying they “were making the grass grow” and I like that phrase. I’ve visited Holy Dormition Monastery many times since it holds a special place in my family’s heart. Even when you said his name in the video I got excited & had to comment. Thank you for this video, I enjoyed the topic very much. God bless you Fr. Paul & Memory Eternal to Fr. Roman ☦️

I'm a highschool student who's 17, an Orthodox catechumen living in the Philippines.. all I can say is, thank you Fr. Paul Truebenbach and Roots of Orthodoxy for your words and your opinions that helped me motivate even further into the Orthodox Faith, Lord knows when I will truly witness the Divine Liturgy and get baptized into the faith.. praying for the Philippines to have an Orthodox church in my hometown, God bless! ☦️

"If we are to know ourselves, we must first know God. And that's why self-knowledge is so difficult" - this is absolutely true!

We are so back

I don't think I am a Christian, but my heart is open. I very much enjoyed the wisdom of Fr. Paul's words. Thank you for sharing. Especially about truth & love.

I woke up at 3PM today and, for some reason, I have a lot of motivation to pray, read the bible, go to church, read the lives of the saints, etc.

“Tolerance is the virtue of the man without conviction.” —GK Chesterton I am a Roman Catholic, and I thoroughly enjoy the wisdom I have heard here. Thank you for expanding my knowledge!

Seek first the Kingdom of God & His righteousness... ✝️

Memory Eternal, Fr. Roman. ❤️☦️ Thank you, Fr. Paul.

The members of your church are blessed to have a priest like you .Thank you for your videos

Thank you. Those last words are something we need to consider always. When people look in at Christians and see us bickering and angry just like the rest of the world we are not serving God. How can we be the light of the world if we don't live a different Way than what the world has to offer?