How to Cope with the Wait?

[Pluvia]

I'm a pre-everything 19-year old trans girl. The wait to start HRT is so agonizing that even though I'm in the trans community I tend to avoid the topic of it. I hate talking about it, because it just reminds me of how long I will have to wait. I live in Sweden. The rule here is that after you've started talking to a specialized team on GI and transitioning, you have to wait at least 9 months to start HRT. Well, I don't even have the referral yet. Everyday I wake up and I think "not this again". I have little joy left in my life and my desire to live is quite low, and isn't increasing. I have suicidal thoughts very often.

And please don't say it gets better soon. I know that things getting better is the most likely scenario. But soon? No. Months or years isn't soon.

I'm in therapy and psychiatry and I'm getting medicine and stuff and working on some techniques to cope with anxiety and so on.

But I'm just overwhelmed. How in the world do I cope with waiting for HRT?

[Laura_7]

Well you could try a few changes to hair and clothing styles... grow your hair out, and keep it in a ponytail if necessary...
https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,194266.0.html

you could start training your voice, it also takes months, but its just a few minutes at most daily in the beginning:
https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,190936.msg1701516.html#msg1701516

I'd say its a process... you could do a few things now, and have some patience...
are there a few other things you like to do and could bring you in contact with your female and nurturing side ?
Like cooking... being creative, sewing... making clothes yourself...
gardening...


hugs

[Sapphire87]

For me it was having my friend who i had first told to talk to about all of it, even just to vent it out to let it out. As well we would go out on weekends to the gay bar where i live just to get out as female once in a while. She would help with makeup and everything.

It helped make the long 8 months go by quicker than if I had done nothing and it made it more bearable. There were many times where all I did was sit with her on the couch and cry but it was just being there with her that helped.

[CrysC]

If you can start hair removal that takes a long time.  Growing your hair out is good.  Doing the proper exercises to improve you figure is another long term item. 
In the end, I'm jealous that you were able to realize who you are at 19 and can do something about it in the near future.  That's so awesome.  It may seem like a long time but, it could be far worse/longer.
Good luck Pluvia.  Be of good cheer. Anticipate it like the coming of Christmas, a holiday or some other such thing.   

[Batmanlovr]

I understand how the long wait feels soo agonizing, I too have to wait to start my transition due to cause of my recent move all my illegal documentations such as birth certificate and insurance stuff is all the way back where I was born, and waiting on those is going to take about 3-5 months. and the therapist I found in on the main land so I have to wait till I can get some money to ride the boat in which could also take a while as well. I know the feeling of wanting to get it done as fast as possible trust me, but just think how satisfied you will be once it all starts, some things are better taken slow then rushed into, don't lose faith and hang in there girl!

[Mariah]

Why you are waiting their are many things you do. Work on documents. Hair removal, clothing, and all sorts of things while you are in that waiting game. I know that is what I did. Hugs
Mariah