I'm privileged.

[JMJW]

I just thought of how fortunate I am despite some of the difficulties of dysphoria.

- I have one of the five gender clinics in the UK in my home town.
- I live in a country with free health care.
- I just found there's make up and beauty day courses delivered by professionals just a haif hour bus drive away, in an area I used to live.
- A short walk away from there there's a laser hair removal place that's partnered with the NHS.
- Best friend knows and my mother and grandmother are supportive enough on this issue.
- I did find a support group I can go to that's accessible.
- Time is still on my side at 32.
-  I don't hold onto the "I don't have the face for it" excuse anymore.
- Yesterday for the first time I bought women's clothes in public and the anxieties about it really are all in the mind.

It breaks my heart to hear of trans suicides because I believe that life doesn't constantly beat you down, it finds a balance. So when things turn around, it just might be amazing.

[Josilyn]

It sounds like you have a lot going for you for your journey.  I hope you are able to utilize all those resources.

[warlockmaker]

Wonderful, wellcome to those of us that see the positives in life. Sadly, so many dont have the opportunity yet, and sadly can be quite cynical to those that are positive. Keep up the positives. I live my life.

[Raell]

Awesome that you are seeing things in such a positive light!

You are still young and know what to do to put things right.

I am only androgyne, but two close M to F friends are starting to transition.
Unlike you, they waited until they were in their 60s to do anything about it, and both now have to cope with religious, Republican families, angry wives, disapproving children, judgmental churches, and having to change jobs.

Both have had decades of irreversible physical changes from testosterone, so might find transitioning more challenging than you will.

[Sophia Sage]

Time is definitely on your side!  And you definitely have a lovely face.  Getting through all this in one piece definitely takes this kind of positive attitude.  So much of transition takes getting over ourselves -- as you say, it's all in the mind -- and the more confident we are in who we are, well, that rubs off.

I'd suggest finding an nearby electrologist -- get recommendations from your support group. Laser may not deliver the results you want.

[becky.rw]

If I had to choose the best systemic trans path, it'd be the UK's especially for younger adults who've not gotten locked into tons of pretransition committments.    Yes its more than a little slow, but the plan of care they have seems very much intent on taking a non-transitioned trans-X person and getting them into a life that is as near indistinguishable from justplanole-X as reasonably quickly and safely as possible.

While speed and access need improvement I'll grant, yall really should be proud of what yall built over there for trans care.