Thank you for replying! I have briefly discussed finding a support group or seeing a therapist with my mother. At that time, we lived in a place with very little support for the LGBT+ community and support we did find would not allow minors. To be honest, I have been too scared to mention the subject again. Now we have health insurance though, so maybe I'll be able to work up the nerve to request it.

I had friends where I use to live that supported me and, though we still talk, it's very different from having someone right by my side. They would call me Lucas and by male pronouns, though I would ignore them if we were in public. I am very scared of what people will do if they find out that I am transgender.

My sister supports me as well, at least in some ways, though she has a lot of misunderstanding over what it means to be trans. For example, she thinks that I'm not transgender yet as I have not had any surgery. She is a lot more confident than me and tells me I just need to be myself and not care what others think. There have been several times she has outed me in front of people I do not know or trust yet, without regard to my concerns, and I don't know how to get it through to her that she shouldn't do this. Every time she outs me, it takes away my opportunity to decide when or if to tell someone and to properly explain to them my perspective. Even if it ends up going well (as in the person doesn't care and it is forgotten about) it leaves a bitter taste.

Also, I do not use a binder. I used to shove ACE bandages into my backpack, wrap myself in the school's bathroom, and then take it off before I walked home. My family found them one day; however, and threw them away. My mom told me that they would cause too much damage. I don't know what to do about this, either. I don't want to go against my family's wishes and I know ACE bandages can be damaging if worn for too long, but wearing them made me feel happy and comfortable. The only thing uncomfortable was my fear of others finding out.