A list of TS traits from my therapist

[Rachael]

If you dont have any... you might still be trans... its not remotely definitive....

Dear me. this is what i feared... people seeing this as definitive and categorical and some test *sigh*
R >

[monica_mis]

seems that all but one or two describe me, and when I think that it has been like this all my life, it seems like I should have done something long ago. Maybe I wouldn't be at this point in my life and be so dissatisfied with my life..

[tekla]

Vaguely speaking, and on the average, I bet that it fits most people, regardless of TS. 

[Sandy]

Yes We have a primarily cope with the condition by shutting down all emotions
Yes We have an inability to discuss deep feelings with others
Yes We are very insecure
Yes We have very few, if any, close friends, prefers to spend time alone
Yes We exhibit extreme shyness at times
Yes We have a hatred of (and inattention to) our appearance
Yes We avoid pictures and videos of ourselves
No  We often have inattention to health issues
Yes We have extreme modesty about our sexuality and partial and full nudity
No  We often take on dangerous jobs or activities
Yes We often have well above average intelligence
Yes We immerse ourselves in activities or jobs that require intense concentration and highly technical vocations.
Yes We are extremely competitive or extremely non-competitive with no middle ground
Yes We are very imaginative daydreamers
Yes We display self destructive behavior
Yes We possess a tolerance for others, very unlikely to be racist, homophobic etc.
Yes We are anti-war and anti death penalty
Yes We have the need for more than usual privacy in our  lives
Yes We are very unlikely to fight or have a physical confrontation
No  We gave deep seated hatred of authority
Yes We have on and off battles with clinical depression
Yes We are easily able to place people by the sounds of their voice
Yes We are able to easily read peoples emotions
Yes We excel in reading and writing at an early age but have difficulty with mathematics
Yes We often have suicidal thoughts, plans or attempts

Hmmm...  Three out of twenty-five.  I think I am transsexual...

Though now that I've been full time for just over a year, and just recently completed my SRS, many of these symptoms, like suicide and depression, have disappeared.

So... Now that I've transitioned...

No  We have a primarily cope with the condition by shutting down all emotions
No  We have an inability to discuss deep feelings with others
No  We are very insecure
No  We have very few, if any, close friends, prefers to spend time alone
No  We exhibit extreme shyness at times
No  We have a hatred of (and inattention to) our appearance
No  We avoid pictures and videos of ourselves
No  We often have inattention to health issues
Yes We have extreme modesty about our sexuality and partial and full nudity
No  We often take on dangerous jobs or activities
Yes We often have well above average intelligence
Yes We immerse ourselves in activities or jobs that require intense concentration and highly technical vocations.
Yes We are extremely competitive or extremely non-competitive with no middle ground
Yes We are very imaginative daydreamers
No  We display self destructive behavior
Yes We possess a tolerance for others, very unlikely to be racist, homophobic etc.
Yes We are anti-war and anti death penalty
Yes We have the need for more than usual privacy in our  lives
Yes We are very unlikely to fight or have a physical confrontation
No  We gave deep seated hatred of authority
No  We have on and off battles with clinical depression
Yes We are easily able to place people by the sounds of their voice
Yes We are able to easily read peoples emotions
Yes We excel in reading and writing at an early age but have difficulty with mathematics
No  We often have suicidal thoughts, plans or attempts

Hmmm... Thirteen out of twenty-five.

I'm not a transsexual after all!

I've recently heard a couple things that I found interesting.  I'm sure you may have heard them too.  I think one of the quotes was from "Transamerica" which I have not seen.

"Transsexuality is one of the few mental diseases that can be cured by surgery."  I do feel cured.
"SRS has one of the highest success rates of any medical procedure."  Just about every transsexual I've ever heard about are happy with their decision to have the procedure.  Some may not be completely satisfied with the cosmetic or functional characteristics of the procedure, but do not regret having made the decision to go forward.

-Sandy (nope, I'm just an ordinary gal!)

[Just Mandy]

Hmmm... Thirteen out of twenty-five.

I'm not a transsexual after all!

That's because you are a women now

Which makes sense... this was a list of traits that a transsexual might present with prior to
transition.

Amanda

[Eyie]

I hope it's alright to post something on a topic so old I randomly came across it on one of my various searches. I know this is just a simple list and not something to be viewed as something to define you without a doubt as being trans but I still found this very interesting nonetheless. This list just so accurately describes me to a t and I always thought I was such a unique person lol. It really calmed me in a way though to just read about so many people who were just like me when I always felt so alone in being who I was. I don't want to go rambling on but I thought I might just bump it for maybe some newbies like me to see and perhaps also bring some understanding or relief.

[Rachel]

Welcome to Susan's, hugs.

Reading, writing and math were all difficult for me. I had to really study and apply myself. What helped me in math was to visualize what was happening, then I was able to excel. Reading and writing took practice but I do very well with each now. The rest of the survey was made for me. Now that I am transitioning things are shifting a bit. 

[Hannah Samira]

I hope it's alright to post something on a topic so old I randomly came across it on one of my various searches. I know this is just a simple list and not something to be viewed as something to define you without a doubt as being trans but I still found this very interesting nonetheless. This list just so accurately describes me to a t and I always thought I was such a unique person lol. It really calmed me in a way though to just read about so many people who were just like me when I always felt so alone in being who I was. I don't want to go rambling on but I thought I might just bump it for maybe some newbies like me to see and perhaps also bring some understanding or relief.

Thank you for doing this, otherwise I might never have found it!!
I have about 20 of these traits. Some of these are traits that my family has always wondered where they stemmed from since neither of my parents have them so that's interesting!! xxx

[Eyie]

Cynthia what you said about things shifting a bit after transition was one of the things that really inspired and calmed me reading this post. A few others had mentioned similar outcomes and it gives me hope for not feeling so anxious and depressed all the time.

[Charley Bea(EmeraldP)]

Based on the list in the original post I would say I line up with upto 96% of the list.

[Sammy]

Awww, tnx for bringing this up -quite an old but still fun read . Ok, I would have picked any fight easily, but the rest was pretty much true... at least pre-HRT.

[zog]

I assume this is for life before getting on with it and doing stuff about things, so I'm thinking back before the time I had ever realized I was trans.

We have a primarily cope with the condition by shutting down all emotions
Yes. I was almost machine-like at times. I'm still quite reserved about showing my emotions, because it's a hard behavioural thing to break, but I'm much more open now than I used to be.

We have an inability to discuss deep feelings with others
It depended on the person. If I trusted someone, I was all game. If not, no way. These days I'm extremely, maybe even a bit too, open with everyone, even strangers.

We are very insecure
Oh yes. Still am.

We have very few, if any, close friends, prefers to spend time alone
I used to only have one close friend at a time. This has changed drastically.

We exhibit extreme shyness at times
Quite.

We have a hatred of (and inattention to) our appearance
I'm glad there's very little to no photos of me from my teen years, I was a mess in every sense of the word.

We avoid pictures and videos of ourselves
Ah. Yes. These days I don't mind, even though I'm very early in.

We often have inattention to health issues
Well, I was suicidal for a number of years. That has the tendency to stop worrying about little health worries. Fortunately I didn't do any major harm while ignoring everything and am basically healthy.

We have extreme modesty about our sexuality and partial and full nudity
Extreme. Extreme! EXTREME!!

We often take on dangerous jobs or activities
Nah, I've never done that. Unless the suicide attempts count. I don't think they do, though.

We often have well above average intelligence
I don't speculate about my traits. It's impossible to tell.

We immerse ourselves in activities or jobs that require intense concentration and highly technical vocations.
Indeed. Mostly through hobbies, though. My jobs haven't been that intense.

We are extremely competitive or extremely non-competitive with no middle ground
I think I'm about average on this. I don't usually care, but in the heat of the moment I can get carried away. But not to any kind of noticeable level.

We are very imaginative daydreamers
I can't hear you in my castle made up of clouds floating in the infinite gases of Jupiter.

We display self destructive behavior
Besides being suicidal, I did abuse my body with extreme excess sugar intake as I didn't really get into drinking or smoking.

We possess a tolerance for others, very unlikely to be racist, homophobic etc.
I used to be somewhat homophobic while I was completely at a loss as to what or who I was during my teen years. Not proud of it, but it passed once I became comfortable with myself.

We are anti-war and anti death penalty
Surely that's just being a human being? (No political arguments, please.)

We have the need for more than usual privacy in our  lives
It depends. On one hand yes, but on the other hand I like to perform and I do talk about myself and my transition openly. But on some other issues I'm extremely private. So it's hard to tell what would count as "usual" privacy.

We are very unlikely to fight or have a physical confrontation
I've never been in a fight, so I guess that's true.

We gave deep seated hatred of authority
Nope, not at all.

We have on and off battles with clinical depression
I've been on psych meds for 15, 16 years. But I've been able to cut most of them since starting HRT.

We are easily able to place people by the sounds of their voice
I'm a sound engineer and a radio host, so I guess it doesn't really count when I say yes. I've been trained for it.

We are able to easily read peoples emotions
Before HRT, no. Quite the opposite. After, seems so.

We excel in reading and writing at an early age but have difficulty with mathematics
True on the bit about reading and writing. But not so true on the bit with mathematics. I'm painfully average in it.

We often have suicidal thoughts, plans or attempts
Countless thoughts, dozens of plans and three (pathetic) attempts. Hooray!


Well, I didn't score 100%, so I guess I can't be trans after all. I'm expecting the police to come and take my hormones very soon. Because that's how psychology works!

But in all seriousness, seems like a pretty representative set of common themes.

[Myarkstir]

Wow, I'm a lot of these except for about three or four of them.


Anna

Same here.

Not suicidal ever
No tendancies toward dangerous activity or jobs.

[OreSama]

I have about eight of them.  I think the main reason I'm not suicidal is because I don't want to die in a woman's body, which is kind of messed up :/

[RockerGirl]

I have about 95% of them. Every time I see something like this it hammers home the fact that I need to get to therapy. I've never been suicidal in the sense of taking my own life, I couldn't do that. But I enlisted in the military so I could get killed as I believed that would be better than dealing with being transgendered and I could go out with some honor. But despite my best efforts, here I am so I think I'm being forced to deal with this lol:o

[Dee Marshall]

I have about 17. I like motorcycles, small airplanes and long walks... off of short piers.

[Just Shelly]

I must of missed the one that said "we" are human....basically this list is saying most trans are introverted. Which isn't the norm also.

I'm sorry but whatever therapist or whoever came up with this list is a quack.

Many people, young, old, black, white, female, male, adolescent, Asian, gay, straight, poor, rich......could answer yes to many of these traits!

The only trait 100% noticeable in transgendered people...or "we" is that we all know we never felt like the gender we were born. Period!!

[Carlita]

The only trait 100% noticeable in transgendered people...or "we" is that we all know we never felt like the gender we were born. Period!!

Actually, I'm not sure that's true of an awful lot of transsexuals, particularly late or non-transitioners. Speaking for myself, a lot of the characteristics on the list are spot-on, but equally, I've never doubted that I have strong male personality/behaviour traits, as well as female/trans ones, and I have often 'felt like a man'. To be precise I feel like someone who was born, raised and socialised male, and who can play the male role to the satisfaction of those around him - and who, for example, absolutely feels like a father to his children ... but who, at the same time, feels profoundly ill-at-ease with that male image and dreamed of becoming a woman, freed from a man's body ...

[Hideyoshi]

We have a primarily cope with the condition by shutting down all emotions
We have an inability to discuss deep feelings with others
We are very insecure
We have very few, if any, close friends, prefers to spend time alone
We exhibit extreme shyness at times
We have a hatred of our appearance
We avoid pictures and videos of ourselves
We often have inattention to health issues(I am very much in tune with my health, pre and post HRT)
We have extreme modesty about our sexuality and partial and full nudity
We often take on dangerous jobs or activities(I avoided those jobs to preserve my body)
We often have well above average intelligence(no room for humility here? )
We immerse ourselves in activities or jobs that require intense concentration and highly technical vocations.
We are extremely competitive or extremely non-competitive with no middle ground
We are very imaginative daydreamers
We display self destructive behavior
We possess a tolerance for others, very unlikely to be racist, homophobic etc.
We are anti-war and anti death penalty
We have the need for more than usual privacy in our  lives
We are very unlikely to fight or have a physical confrontation
We have deep seated hatred of authority(Authority giveth, and authority taketh away)
We have on and off battles with clinical depression
We are easily able to place people by the sounds of their voice
We are able to easily read peoples emotions
We excel in reading and writing at an early age but have difficulty with mathematics(I don't have difficulty with math)
We often have suicidal thoughts, plans or attempts

^^^me

Things have waned since starting HRT, though. I feel different about pictures, and I'm nowhere NEAR as competitive as I used to be.

The only trait 100% noticeable in transgendered people...or "we" is that we all know we never felt like the gender we were born. Period!!

This isn't true for me. I didn't realize it until I was 20.

[GenTechJ]

We have a primarily cope with the condition by shutting down all emotions
For me, to an extant. I never fully shut down but I kept my feminine side well hidden (or so I thought based on me coming out)
We have an inability to discuss deep feelings with others
Never had this problem, but I'm picky with those I form a close friendship with
We are very insecure
Yes
We have very few, if any, close friends, prefers to spend time alone
No, and yes. I have a few close friends, but I'm still a hermit.
We exhibit extreme shyness at times
Yes
We have a hatred of (and inattention to) our appearance
Yes
We avoid pictures and videos of ourselves
Meh, not so much, I have never minded friends and family capturing a moment of fun for the ages
We often have inattention to health issues
Depending on the issues, yes
We have extreme modesty about our sexuality and partial and full nudity
No, I've always been quite open about my sexuality. Coming out as bi was easier than coming out as transgender
We often take on dangerous jobs or activities
Very much yes
We often have well above average intelligence
Not sure how I feel about this one, as one of my best friends said I'm "The smartest dumbass I know. You're so incredibly intelligent and you make the worst decisions"
We immerse ourselves in activities or jobs that require intense concentration and highly technical vocations.
I blame this one on my ADD, I'm on the over-focus end of that spectrum
We are extremely competitive or extremely non-competitive with no middle ground
Yes
We are very imaginative daydreamers
OMG 100% yes. I can daydream while having a full conversation with a person while enjoying said conversation
We display self destructive behavior
Yes
We possess a tolerance for others, very unlikely to be racist, homophobic etc.
For me yes, but as a blanket statement no. I have met a few in transition who were very racist
We are anti-war and anti death penalty
Yes, but I still fully support my troops and the military. Military family and joined the military myself.
We have the need for more than usual privacy in our  lives
Yes
We are very unlikely to fight or have a physical confrontation
I do always try to avoid physicality if it's not of a good sort
We gave deep seated hatred of authority
Yes and no. I still show respect for my superiors and alway cooperate with any public service officials, even when I feel upset
We have on and off battles with clinical depression
I haven't been diagnosed as clinically depressed, but I do deal with it at times
We are easily able to place people by the sounds of their voice
Yes
We are able to easily read peoples emotions
Depends on the person
We excel in reading and writing at an early age but have difficulty with mathematics
Hmmmm, I struggle with some math but I'm good at computers. Math is a huge part of me getting my diploma. I'd say this is 50/50
We often have suicidal thoughts, plans or attempts
No. It has crossed my mind a couple times, especially when boot camp got a bit too much for me mentally, but I've always had a unique mindset on suicide in that I only support it in certain situations. I personally break down, but will NEVER give up.

And every person is unique. This is as bad as an online personality test. It means nothing, even non TS people could say yes to everything on this list and still feel quite comfortable with their gender. I don't want to sound like a jerk, but this list is bs.