Gobbie Dixon: Navigating Life as a Gender-Fluid Individual and Battling Mental Health Challenges
I feel like people are willing to abandon these boxes of he or she that we’ve been put in, because it doesn’t belong to me.
Imagine feeling like you don't fit into the body you were born with. For Gobbie Dixon, a 29-year-old writer and performer at Second City, this was a reality from a young age. In this episode of 'Mental Illness Happy Hour', Gobbie opens up to host Paul Gilmartin about their journey as a gender-fluid person. Growing up, Gobbie felt isolated, believing no one else shared their experience of not fitting into traditional gender norms.
This sense of alienation led to a suicide attempt at just 13 years old. Gobbie shares candidly about the anxiety they face using public restrooms and the dysphoria they experience during intimate moments. They reflect on what their younger self needed to hear and how validation and support could have made a difference. Throughout the conversation, Gobbie emphasizes the importance of therapy and support groups in their recovery.
They also discuss their 'Centered' web series, which highlights the stories of marginalized communities, aiming to foster greater understanding and acceptance. This episode is a heartfelt exploration of the challenges faced by non-binary individuals and the vital role of community and mental health support in overcoming them.