do you socialize as your transitioning or are you on your own

[Janae]

That would be a no for me, I've become somewhat of a recluse. I don't really feel like getting close to anyone I'm just not comfortable being in the early inbetween stages. I cut off all friends and really only deal with my mother. It get's lonely but I can't be around people in that way until I'm far enough along where I', comfortable.

[Cindy]

My post got eaten (hate that) try again.

Transition is an ideal time to start new stuff, join new clubs, amateur theater, art,  anything you have an interest in. Lots of other lonely people there who want to meet interesting people. Everyone is lonely, our new lives are a time to face that and start a new life.

I hated it ( I loved hiding in my little shoebox, where I was safe), but I forced myself, and suddenly I had friends. People who wanted to meet me, they didn't care that I looked like a guy in a dress and a voice of a Liverpudlian fog horn. They wanted to meet other lonely people. They sure as hell met one. They opened to me and through my terrors I opened to them.

And now? I have friends that I trust, they know the raw me. The ones who wanted to be friends accepted me warts and all.

And I carry a sack full of warts.

[Jill E]

I've noticed I've become more social & actually craving social environments since starting HRT / coming out (did both at the same time; excl. work). I doubt it's hormone related, but I'm certainly feeling more comfortable with myself.

[Eva Marie]

Transition is an ideal time to start new stuff, join new clubs, amateur theater, art,  anything you have an interest in. Lots of other lonely people there who want to meet interesting people. Everyone is lonely, our new lives are a time to face that and start a new life.

I hated it ( I loved hiding in my little shoebox, where I was safe), but I forced myself, and suddenly I had friends.

Well said Cindy.

I know that I didn't want to transition just to settle back into the old, dull, drab way I'd been living.

[stephaniec]

My post got eaten (hate that) try again.

Transition is an ideal time to start new stuff, join new clubs, amateur theater, art,  anything you have an interest in. Lots of other lonely people there who want to meet interesting people. Everyone is lonely, our new lives are a time to face that and start a new life.

I hated it ( I loved hiding in my little shoebox, where I was safe), but I forced myself, and suddenly I had friends. People who wanted to meet me, they didn't care that I looked like a guy in a dress and a voice of a Liverpudlian fog horn. They wanted to meet other lonely people. They sure as hell met one. They opened to me and through my terrors I opened to them.

And now? I have friends that I trust, they know the raw me. The ones who wanted to be friends accepted me warts and all.

And I carry a sack full of warts.

My posts get eaten all the time. The site waits for me to write a very lengthy post and snatches it, I'm out all the time , but most my time is spent on the computer in a coffee house. I have met a lot of people this way. It kind of helps me transition because as I slowly change I can see peoples reactions. so far so good , nothing terrible has happened . The only thing so far that is awkward is trying to hide my polished nails from people I know that don't know I'm transitioning, and also my breasts sticking out.

[stephaniec]

thanks it gets very annoying

[Jerri]

well for me pretransition is a mere fog of a memory I was a total isolationist and drunk, who never left my boundies. I am back to attending church on sundays, have a standing saturday luncheon with the girls. do not do much clubing as am still avoiding booze maybe after sugery I will be confident and will try some night outings but for nnow much more social but mainly day light stuff.
Jerri

[allisonsteph]

I have been living full time for four months now and I am actually quite surprised at how much I have been socializing. I thought for sure that when I started down this path that I would lock myself away in my apartment for six months and have no interaction with the outside world. That hasn't been the case at all. I've lost touch with a couple of people but have become closer to others since coming out of the closet and starting transition.

[Dee]

I had always been social in spite of feeling terribly lonely. But as far as transition, I feel like my unique living situation (5 bro- dude, but still artsy type roommates) forced me to continue being social. When my bell went off summer '12, I really fell into a spin where I just totally withdrew from the world, even if I was surrounded by my friends. But they persisted to include me in whatever they were doing, and I'll be forever thankful they did. It took a little while, but now I'm turning back into the bouncy, excited person I've always been inside!

And Cindy, I love you every time you post, and the words you use are most insightful, whether here or on any forum.