What triggered your 'early' transition?

[Terra]

Umm, here's my story...

When I was 12 I was trying to define what it was I was feeling. I grew up on Sherlock Holmes and so I adopted the thought, "eliminate the possibilities, whatever is left, no matter how improbable, must be the truth," I stumbled on the description of the surgery, and this lead to further research. It was like a light bulb over my head, this was the answer.

I think I got off lucky, my Dad never beat me to badly over this, even when he found the dresses. But both parents stuck their head in the sand and hoped it would go away. My mother, a doctor, told me noone would even talk to me about this until I was 21. This lead to 9 years of hiding and trying to fit in instead of of getting me help. I'd always been seeing therapists since I was 5 and the one time I came out to one, the next day my dad is screaming and throwing stuff over me wanting to be a woman. He says it was a coincidence. *shrugs*

I think the final straw would be going through the military training, and being stationed on a labor and delivery ward in D.C.  It was probably that that finally got me seeking final answers as to who I was. I honestly half expected the therapist to say I was crazy and it was something else. I half wanted him to. But He told me that what I told him was what alot of transsexuals had told him over the years. I had GID.

I finally broke down from depression and got help when I found myself with a pair of safety scissors wondering if I could kill myself with them. I didn't want to dishonor my family and had volunteered 7 times for Iraq, never got sent. I guess that was me trying to commit suicide, at least then my family would be taken care of from my life insurance. Never got sent, I guess they saw me as to eager. I guess at this point I figured that either I commit suicide  or I try my hardest to live as a woman and live a long life.

That was 2 years ago, now I'm getting ready to go full time here in Wyoming in the town infamous for the Matthew Shepherd killing. I've lost family and friends, we all have, but I think once I come out i'll be able to make better ones. Thanks to the wonderful and supportive people on this forum I got the streangth to go on.

Anyways, that's my story.

[Berliegh]

The statistics show for themselves, less people transitioned in the 1970's / 80's compared to now.....why? because medication is more readily available and the internet now exists where you can buy it from the internet. The world had changed over the last 30 years, there is more public knowledge and less prejudice  about gender dysphoria and there are readily available contacts on the internet to book appointments etc..

I have no doubt in my mind that all the people classed as 'Late transitioners' would be early transitioners if they were born in the 1980's instead of being born in the 1950's or 1960's...

[Rachael]

possibly, 20-20 hindsight is a lovely option...
MAYBE  there would ahve been more early now, but there are still people who transition older even now. so its not entirely the case. and the 70% atempted suicide rate in teens, and 50% sucess rate shows a lot of ts youths just take the long drop and a quick stop option...
i tried several times, im now a statisic (yay) then again, im by far not the most dysphoric... there are some who come out in thier early teens and before. but dysphoria is dysphoria at the end of the day, all this thread is for, is to find out what made young transitioners do it now. theres an older one too. its not to debate why there are more early now, or why we can. thats for another topic.
this is simply feelings, dealing with family, schools etc. some QUITE useful info id expect for transitioning youths...
R

[melissa90299]

The statistics show for themselves, less people transitioned in the 1970's / 80's compared to now.....why? because medication is more readily available and the internet now exists where you can buy it from the internet. The world had changed over the last 30 years, there is more public knowledge and less prejudice  about gender dysphoria and there are readily available contacts on the internet to book appointments etc..

I have no doubt in my mind that all the people classed as 'Late transitioners' would be early transitioners if they were born in the 1980's instead of being born in the 1950's or 1960's...

Well, I can't say "all" but I can say that this  dichotomy between so called early and late transitioners, at this particular time in history, has almost nothing to do with the wishes and intent of the transitioners and almost everything to do with the relatively easy access to transition now compared with the near impossibility to transition then.

Wow! That was quite a run-on sentence!

[Rachael]

i do somewhat agree... internet am win
but again, not for this topic, if we want to discuss this, maybe another topic?
R

[Fer]

Re: What triggered your early transition?

Strangely as it may sound.  It was the realisation that I was the ghost of a woman without a body

[seldom]

Re: What triggered your early transition?

Strangely as it may sound.  It was the realisation that I was the ghost of a woman without a body

Wow.  That describes how I felt exactly.

I am not sure where I fall with regards to early/late continuum.  I don't feel I fall into late because I am not over 40, and cannot relate to the experiences of those over 40 AT ALL. 

I am not sure I am early because I started transitioning at 28.  So who knows. 

[Rachael]

well the primary transexual, secondery transexual boarder is 32.... without starting that old chestnut roasting again ><
R

[katia]

I am not sure where I fall with regards to early/late continuum.  I don't feel I fall into late because I am not over 40, and cannot relate to the experiences of those over 40 AT ALL. 

I am not sure I am early because I started transitioning at 28.  So who knows. 

your transition would be considered 'early' by most [if not all] therapists

[Berliegh]

The statistics show for themselves, less people transitioned in the 1970's / 80's compared to now.....why? because medication is more readily available and the internet now exists where you can buy it from the internet. The world had changed over the last 30 years, there is more public knowledge and less prejudice  about gender dysphoria and there are readily available contacts on the internet to book appointments etc..

I have no doubt in my mind that all the people classed as 'Late transitioners' would be early transitioners if they were born in the 1980's instead of being born in the 1950's or 1960's...

Well, I can't say "all" but I can say that this  dichotomy between so called early and late transitioners, at this particular time in history, has almost nothing to do with the wishes and intent of the transitioners and almost everything to do with the relatively easy access to transition now compared with the near impossibility to transition then.

Wow! That was quite a run-on sentence!

That was really my point Melissa and I agree with you. Rachael is wrong to say it's all to do with coming out early. I came out at 13 but it didn't speed up my transitional process. In those days (1970's) we were more likely to get a good belt around the ear and told those worlds 'we'll straighten you out boy'..........I stuck to my guns from my 13th birthday onwards with a female image and very long gorls hairstyle but trying to get on hormones at 13 in the mid 1970's wasn't so easy....

It makes me angry that young transitioners are not able to aknowledge what is was like growing up during the 1970's and the social climate change and differences towards gender dysphoria now...

[Jordan]

To start I am 20 years Old, and what is causing me to write here right now, is all of you.  I plan to be living as much like myself by the time I turn 21 which is in 8 mos.

This site with all of you has helped me so much and I thank all of you, for being you!

You are all so beautiful and to be honest I would not even consider it if I didn't think it was possible to pass, but you have shown me.

Stay sexy ladies hopefully I will be joining you ASAP.

with Love,

Jordan

[Rachael]

im not wrong berleigh, coming out early helps, it just depends on how much effort you put in...
remember ive not even seen the nhs yet. yet im full time, on hrt, and transitioning well. im waiting 5 more years to see them. something about taking the initiative.... so the nhs messing around is no excuse tbh.
R

[Cire]

Being in a wonderful relationship and sorting out my life triggered it.

That broke down the walls of denial and the dissasociation that I had. No feelings, not living within myself. The more I started to feel and live in my body, the more that pain came back. Couldn't deny it for long, and I had to begin.

[melissa90299]

The statistics show for themselves, less people transitioned in the 1970's / 80's compared to now.....why? because medication is more readily available and the internet now exists where you can buy it from the internet. The world had changed over the last 30 years, there is more public knowledge and less prejudice  about gender dysphoria and there are readily available contacts on the internet to book appointments etc..

I have no doubt in my mind that all the people classed as 'Late transitioners' would be early transitioners if they were born in the 1980's instead of being born in the 1950's or 1960's...

Well, I can't say "all" but I can say that this  dichotomy between so called early and late transitioners, at this particular time in history, has almost nothing to do with the wishes and intent of the transitioners and almost everything to do with the relatively easy access to transition now compared with the near impossibility to transition then.

Wow! That was quite a run-on sentence!

That was really my point Melissa and I agree with you. Rachael is wrong to say it's all to do with coming out early. I came out at 13 but it didn't speed up my transitional process. In those days (1970's) we were more likely to get a good belt around the ear and told those worlds 'we'll straighten you out boy'..........I stuck to my guns from my 13th birthday onwards with a female image and very long gorls hairstyle but trying to get on hormones at 13 in the mid 1970's wasn't so easy....

For me, it was impossible to "come out early" as the process of transitioning did not exist.  There was a scandalous case of one woman who went to Sweden to have a sex change.

It makes me angry that young transitioners are not able to aknowledge what is was like growing up during the 1970's and the social climate change and differences towards gender dysphoria now...

The ignorance of others should not make you angry. They are the ones who are going to have to suffer the costs of going through life with no perspective of history and a self-centered idea about how it all works. I know I was like that and it took me years to discover that the whole world doesn't revolve around me. At least not all the time.

[Rachael]

look, young transitioners, and i know you mean me mainly by this. DO accept what hte 70s were like, you tell us enough! so you didnt transition in your teens? so what? you have now. your still a woman... the big dealio here seems to be jelousy.... this topic is for young transitioners to talk about transition at a young age, i dont care if you came out early, but didnt transition till your 30s-40s, thats not a young transition is it? the issues are different, and this topic is to discuss those issues. I constantly see this issue coming up, of older transitioners winging and whineing about the young not understanding them. no, we dont, were a different generation. that alone regardless of trans means we dont 'get you' like you get each other. i wish Melissa and Berleigh would stop moaning in this topic... it surmounts to trolling, as you have no useful imput to the topic content other than crying about us not understanding you. Take it somewhere else please.
R

[Berliegh]

look, young transitioners, and i know you mean me mainly by this. DO accept what hte 70s were like, you tell us enough! so you didnt transition in your teens? so what? you have now. your still a woman... the big dealio here seems to be jelousy.... this topic is for young transitioners to talk about transition at a young age, i dont care if you came out early, but didnt transition till your 30s-40s, thats not a young transition is it? the issues are different, and this topic is to discuss those issues. I constantly see this issue coming up, of older transitioners winging and whineing about the young not understanding them. no, we dont, were a different generation. that alone regardless of trans means we dont 'get you' like you get each other. i wish Melissa and Berleigh would stop moaning in this topic... it surmounts to trolling, as you have no useful imput to the topic content other than crying about us not understanding you. Take it somewhere else please.
R

I'm surprised you would have a dig at me Rachael. I started HRT at 24! a year after you started HRT....now I don't call that late transitioning....

.....and both Melissa's points and my own are very valid to the social climate changes that have happened over the last 20 or 30 years...

I also don't like the topic segragation of older and younger transsexuals seen on this forum. I also don't have a problem with older transitioners even if I don't understand why they do leave it so late....but I except it.

[Rachael]

i started hrt at 20....
R

[Berliegh]

i started hrt at 20....
R

.......ok 4 years difference then!

[Rachael]

well if you transitioned so early, please quit bitching about young people not understanding you.... its getting a wee bit old.
R

[Berliegh]

well if you transitioned so early, please quit bitching about young people not understanding you.... its getting a wee bit old.
R

I have never 'bitched' about young transitioners......in fact if you bother to look through my posts you will see that I found it hard to understand older transitioners more than younger one's......The only thing I've 'bitched' about is the time it takes for someone to transition through the NHS.....which could also effect you as well if you take that route...

You seem to be want an arguement with people all the time Rachael...