It's official!

[Lauren5]

On a separate visit to psychiatry, I have been diagnosed with GID. The great part to know was that, according to the psychiatrist, she saw, from the way that I walked, sat down, my posture, my gestures, that I appeared feminine in all but my physical characteristics. I'm extremely happy to be passed this step, have an appointment with a gender therapist, and can't wait.
I was so excited that I thought I should share.

For any of you still waiting, still thinking about counselling, but are too afraid, try, try your best to get past it and try counselling. It'll make you feel so much better when someone can understand you as who you truly are, and won't judge you on it. It's even better when they recognise you, and use the proper pronoun for the first time, it feels just to uplifting. Please, try it. The result far outweighs the worry.

[Eva Marie]

Willow-

Let me be the first to officially say I'm happy that you found this out and that therapy is working for you! 

I agree 100% with what you said about therapy too.

~Eva

[Lauren5]

Thanks Eva.
I'm so happy I could hug absolutely everyone.
So I will!

[Bardoux]

On a separate visit to psychiatry, I have been diagnosed with GID. The great part to know was that, according to the psychiatrist, she saw, from the way that I walked, sat down, my posture, my gestures, that I appeared feminine in all but my physical characteristics. I'm extremely happy to be passed this step

Congratulations Willow!

It does get to me that one has to be feminine in order to be considered as a transgender or as a woman. What is this obsession with people only allowing the effeminate transwomen to transition and gate keep those that consider themselves less restricted by the gender binary. My sister is certainly not a girly girl, some of the girls I meet aren't all that feminine either, but i don't chalk them down as not being a woman.
I mean if she turned around to you and said you know what, contrary to all that you have told me about who you are, i just find your mannerisms, posture and the walk you walk to be not feminine enough??

[Kittenswithmittens]

That's awesome! Best way to start a weekend, so happy for you!!

[gennee]

It's really wonderful, Willow!

[Ciara]

Hi Willow,
That is wonderful news. It must mean so much to be recognised as a woman.
I am so happy for you.
Ciara.

[Lauren5]

Congratulations Willow!

It does get to me that one has to be feminine in order to be considered as a transgender or as a woman. What is this obsession with people only allowing the effeminate transwomen to transition and gate keep those that consider themselves less restricted by the gender binary. My sister is certainly not a girly girl, some of the girls I meet aren't all that feminine either, but i don't chalk them down as not being a woman.
I mean if she turned around to you and said you know what, contrary to all that you have told me about who you are, i just find your mannerisms, posture and the walk you walk to be not feminine enough??

I'd think, or at least I'd hope, that any competent psychologist or psychiatrist would be accepting of such fact. I doubt she would have told me that, if I wasn't expressing feminine body language, that I'm not female.
I'd compare my sister as well. She's actually rather "macho" for a woman. She doesn't really care for nail polish, is rather muscular, scares boys, and likes hockey. Heck, the women in the student section at hockey games, I've noticed, are the most vulgar, constantly banging on the glass and taunting the opposing goaltender. But I do agree, the less feminine a transwoman is, the more likely she is to be overlooked for transition, and it's rather unfortunate.

That's awesome! Best way to start a weekend, so happy for you!!

It's really great, especially after a dismal week. Last night, someone used the correct pronoun, for the very first time IRL. Overall it's been exciting, and I can't wait until the next destination on my journey.

It's really wonderful, Willow!

Thanks so much!

Hi Willow,
That is wonderful news. It must mean so much to be recognised as a woman.
I am so happy for you.
Ciara.

It feels amazing. It took a lot of courage to say it, but I'm glad I did. When leaving her office, it didn't get much better than her saying "have a great weekend, miss."

It was kind of strange, but completely made sense, that the psychologist asked me what my female name was shortly after discussing some aspects of my ->-bleeped-<- with her. I told her that I didn't have a specific one that piqued (I have a good list of 20) but did tell her Willow has been something that piqued my interest as of late, and told her the story. She then asked, if for now, if it was OK for her to call me by my birth name, which I accepted. I really like the way she's handling it all.

[Robin Mack]

Congratulations... sounds like you found a good, trustworthy therapist on the first pass, something many people find takes a time or two.  I got lucky, too, I think. 

*hug*

And Willow is a beautiful, lyrical, and quite poetic name. 

[Lauren5]

Congratulations... sounds like you found a good, trustworthy therapist on the first pass, something many people find takes a time or two.  I got lucky, too, I think. 

*hug*

And Willow is a beautiful, lyrical, and quite poetic name. 

Well, I'll only see her twice more (once next week when I go to get bloodwork done to see if I can go on hormones) and as a follow up. I still haven't met the gender therapist yet.
Overall, the university health system has been very helpful, even though it didn't start out exactly how I wanted it (the gender therapist is the 5th person I'll see in this chain) but it's working and I have to do little effort in terms of seeking.

[Sammy]

Congratulations on Your first big step . Still lots of big and small steps ahead, but You totally are going to make it Keep that mood and spirit

[Lauren5]

Congratulations on Your first big step . Still lots of big and small steps ahead, but You totally are going to make it Keep that mood and spirit

To be honest, I think the bloodwork might be the fourth biggest step in everything, behind transitioning to FT, telling parents, and getting me on to the operating table for SRS. I'm severely tryphanophobic; the only reason I didn't resist when I had my appendectomy was I didn't have the strength in me to. Here, I have to convince myself, that if hormones are to come, I need to have this done.
Fortunately, I'll have the psychiatrist next to me the whole time, to hypnotize me or something, I guess.

It's just another stupid double standard in our moronic society in my opinion. The sad thing is that I've heard some transwomen actually buy it.

Why? I have no idea.

It's extremely sad. Not truly appliccable to me, as I see myself as rather feminine, but there are still some "masculine" things you're not going to take away from me, like my love of (association) football and hockey, and my knowledge of science and technology. I know several women who are more technologically inclined than me, like the high school senior who pretty much only takes classes at my university who is in my astronomy class. She's in calc 4, while I'm in calc 2 and struggling. She's brilliant overall. But still a woman nonetheless.

[Ms Grace]

Congratulations Willow!

It does get to me that one has to be feminine in order to be considered as a transgender or as a woman. What is this obsession with people only allowing the effeminate transwomen to transition and gate keep those that consider themselves less restricted by the gender binary. My sister is certainly not a girly girl, some of the girls I meet aren't all that feminine either, but i don't chalk them down as not being a woman.
I mean if she turned around to you and said you know what, contrary to all that you have told me about who you are, i just find your mannerisms, posture and the walk you walk to be not feminine enough??

I so agree with this!

And congrats Willow!

[Amelia Pond]

Congratulations Willow! I'm really happy for you! 

*BIG HUGS*

Amy

[Gina Taylor]

Congratulations Willow! I'm really so happy for you! I know that this is what you've been waiting for, and now you can begin to move forward!

[Lauren5]

Thanks again to everyone! Bloodwork is scheduled for the 23rd, follow up at psychaiatry on the 31st, still no date for the gender therapist though. I'll likely make that appointment on Tuesday.

[Lauren5]

Great news Willow, I'm happy for you!

I don't want to pop your bubble but I think some details do merit mentioning for the sake of others reading this thread.  I'm not disputing the diagnosis, but there are other factors in diagnosis beyond physical mannerisms and presentation.  Many TGs have spent a lifetime learning how to hide there inner self, it's not always apparent based on external features.  If diagnosis was based solely on that, many homosexual and effeminate cis men would wind up in SRS, saying to themselves "How did I get here?"

To be honest, I never really noticed my feminine mannerisms, and I'm very excited to know I have them to match with my personality. It's not the only thing that makes me feel feminine. Overall, I feel like a woman, not the man who's body I was born into.

Sorry, I'm not sure if you're're trying to warn me that mannerisms aren't everything and to think about it, are telling others just because they have feminine mannerisms doesn't mean necessarily they're MtF, or something entirely different. This sedative is messing with my mind as well. Sorry for the confusion.

[LordKAT]

Happy for you.

[Lauren5]

Sorry, I guess I didn't say it well.  My words were meant more for others who might also be reading this and wondering about themselves.  Go with what your health care professionals, and your heart, are telling you about yourself.

Naw, I don't think it's you, it's probably just these meds.
But yeah, what you feel inside is the most important part. Go with your heart