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Finally reached out for help

Started by CallMeKatie, January 20, 2018, 02:47:02 AM

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CallMeKatie

It's been about three years since I've started to question my gender in a heavy way.
I've mulled it over, ignored it, suppressed it, obsessively though about it and attempted to do my best to look female when I can

Last night I reached out to an online free gender GP who will give advice and if needed  (it will be) pass on details to my GP so I don't walk into my doctors and freak out.

I've taken this first step and I am genuinely scared.
Scared for when I pursue this that my entire world will collapse around me.
It's so difficult as looking male doesnt make me down, I just know I need to look female.

Is it normal to be this nervous/scared early on?
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Jessica

Kate, from what I have gathered with myself and numerous others here, it is very common.  Many of us have had the same history of realization, suppression then acceptance.  Acceptance for us can mean various things, but usually it involves change.  Humans typically don't like upheavals in their personal lives and when change is required it can throw all you know out of whack.  This brings on anxiety for many and that is scary.  It took several months before my nerves settled down once I started HT.  I'm feeling pretty good, albeit along with being more emotional for different reasons.
I'm in your boat too when it comes to your comment "it's so difficult as looking male doesn't make me down, I just know I need to look female".  Through counseling it's becoming less difficult for me.

Hugs, Jessica

"If you go out looking for friends, you are going to find they are very scarce.  If you go out to be a friend, you'll find them everywhere."


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DawnOday

Is it normal to be this nervous/scared early on?   Absolutely. It's like space exploration. Checking out the unknown and not sure you are going to return. Knowledge is key to lightening the load. The more you know the easier. There is a wealth of information here in our wiki's and links. The forums are for people like us who have questions. Why is this desire so exhausting. Why is there so much hate surrounding us. Why all the confusion. All that roiling of emotions. I don't know why I feel this way and always have. I have my suspicions. Communicating with people going through the same process as we are, keeps us sane. No, you are not alone and no, you are not the only one that is nervous. Therapy and support will help immensely. Support meetings put you in contact with like minded individuals. The biggest piece of advice I have is to be honest with the counselor and yourself and everything will sort itself out.  3, 2, 1 liftoff. Let the exploration begin. What a great universe we live in, that we would risk so much.
Dawn Oday

It just feels right   :icon_hug: :icon_hug: :icon_kiss: :icon_kiss: :icon_kiss:

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First indication I was different- 1956 kindergarten
First crossdress - Asked mother to dress me in sisters costumes  Age 7
First revelation - 1982 to my present wife
First time telling the truth in therapy June 15, 2016
Start HRT Aug 2016
First public appearance 5/15/17



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KathyLauren

OMG, feeling scared is so totally normal that it would be weird if you didn't.  Especially early on.

Congrats on taking the first step!
2015-07-04 Awakening; 2015-11-15 Out to self; 2016-06-22 Out to wife; 2016-10-27 First time presenting in public; 2017-01-20 Started HRT!!; 2017-04-20 Out publicly; 2017-07-10 Legal name change; 2019-02-15 Approval for GRS; 2019-08-02 Official gender change; 2020-03-11 GRS; 2020-09-17 New birth certificate
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VickyS

Quote from: CallMeKate on January 20, 2018, 02:47:02 AM
It's been about three years since I've started to question my gender in a heavy way.
I've mulled it over, ignored it, suppressed it, obsessively though about it and attempted to do my best to look female when I can

I've taken this first step and I am genuinely scared.
Scared for when I pursue this that my entire world will collapse around me.
It's so difficult as looking male doesnt make me down, I just know I need to look female.

Is it normal to be this nervous/scared early on?

This is where I am.  The mulled it over, ignored it, suppressed it, obsessively though about it and attempted to do my best to look female when I can stage is totally my story too.

I am terrified of the future but I know how I feel inside and my 'outside' doesn't match it.

My problem is that if I think I can't possibly move forward and start to transition even in a small way it sends me into a deep depression as I don't want to live pretending to be a man any more.  It's just too exhausting. 

I'm so glad you are seeking professional help.  It's the first step outside your own head and a very important one.  You should be very proud of yourself, as we are of you.  Well done sister!

Vicky xx
Came out to self: mid Oct 17                   Last haircut: 3rd Nov 17       
Came out to wife: 17th Jan 18                 Therapy started: 1st Mar 18
Electrolysis started: 10th Apr 18              Referred to GIC: 16th May 18
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CallMeKatie

Thank you all :)

I haven't received a reply yet then I remember it is a free service and it is a Saturday.

I woke up this morning heart racing and a very real feel of fear in my chest. All I've done is emailed an online GP without giving any info except an email address.

I feel much better about it tonight as I think my workmates are finally clocking on that I am changing.

I thought the concealer and occasional mascara would do it but nope, then I figured my ever growing hair might give them a clue but nope.
What did it was my false nails. A girl I work with was very impressed and asked if I get them manicured, I made up an excuse saying they are fake to stop me biting my own (which they do) and then suddenly everyone knew about my nails haha

They seem to think I am gay which is quite amusing but nobody acted any different to me after noticing the nails so it's given me great courage for my eventual coming out.

Finally VickyS, you and I seem to be very similar at where we are. I'd private message you but I don't think I have the privileges yet :/
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Sephirah

Sweetie, any big change is scary. It takes people out of their comfort zone and into the unknown. It would be a bit strange if it wasn't scary. There's a whole lot of thoughts racing through the mind. "Once this is out there, it's out there and I have to deal with it!", "What will people think?", "What if they don't understand?".

It's scary because a big part of it isn't how we feel. It's how other people will feel. We already know how we feel. It's putting a degree of trust into other people to not be jerks. And yeah, that's a big thing.

Believe it or not, though, the first step is often the hardest. It's the one which keeps a lot of people from realising themselves. That first step can often feel like standing on the edge of a cliff and looking at your parachute, thinking "If I jump, are you going to open?"

It's one thing to know yourself, it's another to get that out there to the wider world. To make it real. But you've taken that step, sweetie. Be very, very proud of yourself. You've done something which takes a huge amount of guts and self-belief to be able to do.

If you can do that, you can go the rest of the way.

I believe in you. Keep going. *big hugs*
Natura nihil frustra facit.

"You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection." ~ Buddha.

If you're dealing with self esteem issues, maybe click here. There may be something you find useful. :)
Above all... remember: you are beautiful, you are valuable, and you have a shining spark of magnificence within you. Don't let anyone take that from you. Embrace who you are. <3
  •  

Morgan78

Quote from: CallMeKate on January 20, 2018, 01:58:46 PM
Thank you all :)

I haven't received a reply yet then I remember it is a free service and it is a Saturday.

I woke up this morning heart racing and a very real feel of fear in my chest. All I've done is emailed an online GP without giving any info except an email address.

I feel much better about it tonight as I think my workmates are finally clocking on that I am changing.

I thought the concealer and occasional mascara would do it but nope, then I figured my ever growing hair might give them a clue but nope.
What did it was my false nails. A girl I work with was very impressed and asked if I get them manicured, I made up an excuse saying they are fake to stop me biting my own (which they do) and then suddenly everyone knew about my nails haha

They seem to think I am gay which is quite amusing but nobody acted any different to me after noticing the nails so it's given me great courage for my eventual coming out.

Finally VickyS, you and I seem to be very similar at where we are. I'd private message you but I don't think I have the privileges yet :/

This sounds similar to my experience. Over the last few months, I slowly changed my personal appearance, except I'm FTM so I cut my long hair short and slowly went from a short femme style to a masculine style, started wearing men's pants and shoes, etc. I'm currently giving off a definite butch vibe at this point, which thankfully has been well received by my employees. I haven't even managed to turn away potential employees during interviews yet. It gives me hope that my transition at work will go smoothly when the time comes, but the thought of going public is still both exciting and terrifying at the same time. I've been assured by others who have gone through transition that this is 100% normal.

It didn't occur to me until I had an emotional breakdown a week ago and accepted myself as a trans male that I wasn't suppressing my dysphoria as well as I thought I had been. I had previously been identifying as genderfluid, but my true identity as a male has been slowly forcing his way out for probably 6 or so months. I honestly couldn't be happier with how it happened, as a slow fade is easier for people (myself included) to accept than a sudden 180 degree change.
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VickyS

Quote from: CallMeKate on January 20, 2018, 01:58:46 PM
Finally VickyS, you and I seem to be very similar at where we are. I'd private message you but I don't think I have the privileges yet :/
Kate,
We do seem to be at a similar stage.  I think you can PM after 15 posts.  Could a mod confirm?
Came out to self: mid Oct 17                   Last haircut: 3rd Nov 17       
Came out to wife: 17th Jan 18                 Therapy started: 1st Mar 18
Electrolysis started: 10th Apr 18              Referred to GIC: 16th May 18
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Sephirah

Quote from: VickyS on January 20, 2018, 04:54:29 PM
Kate,
We do seem to be at a similar stage.  I think you can PM after 15 posts.  Could a mod confirm?

Indeed, you can PM after making 15 posts on the forums. This thread gives more information on post ranks. :)
Natura nihil frustra facit.

"You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection." ~ Buddha.

If you're dealing with self esteem issues, maybe click here. There may be something you find useful. :)
Above all... remember: you are beautiful, you are valuable, and you have a shining spark of magnificence within you. Don't let anyone take that from you. Embrace who you are. <3
  •  

Jessica_Rose

You are as normal as the rest of us! I was scared to death about starting HRT, but I knew I could not continue down the path I was on. I still have a long journey, but I can definitely see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Before I started my journey if someone had suggested I was transgender I would have laughed at them. The realization of what had been causing my decades of anger was sudden. Once I started HRT I was frightened about the day I would come out. When I finally did come out to someone about seven months after I started it was like a whole new world opened up for me. Now I look forward to the day when I am out to the world and can live my life as I have always wanted.

You may lose a few friends who were really just acquaintances, but you will find out who your true friends are along with making new ones. Being scared about making such a big change is normal, it is up to you to figure out if the benefits outweigh the risks.
Journal thread - Jessica's Rose Garden
National Coming Out Day video - Coming Out
GCS - GCS and BA w/Dr. Ley
GCS II - GCS II and FFS w/Dr. Ley
FFS II - Jaw and chin surgery w/Dr. Ley
Hair - Hair Restoration
23Mar2017 - HRT / 16Feb2018 - Full Time! / 21Feb2019 - GCS / 26July2019 - GCS II / 13Oct2020 - FFS II
"It is never too late to be what you might have been." - George Eliot
  • skype:Jessica_Rose?call
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