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Putting life on hold until coming out/transitioning?

Started by Dennise, December 30, 2008, 11:06:48 PM

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Dennise

Hey everyone,

I've posted a bit here before, but am still going through a LOT of questioning.  I love reading everyone's replies on all the threads, on all the facets of transgenderness.  What I'm wondering is how people have gone through their initial questioning in the past?

I'll start off by saying that I'm not sure if I will ever feel the real urge to transition at all.  I know I'm interested in cross-dressing and sometimes want to be feminine and womanly, but then other times feel somewhat content as a man

The thing is, I feel like my life has been put on hold for a few years now, and now more than ever, because I feel like I don't know who or what to present myself as.  I don't "feel"  these feelings that supposedly lead me to be able to choose who or what I really am with some confidence and integrity.  While I have plenty of confidence out in public, and am outgoing and social, I feel that a lot of it is kind of fake... in reality I have zero confidence because I don't know who/what I am...

When thinking about and planning for my future, I don't seem to have confidence for anything, like every new person I meet is just another person I'm going to have to come out to once I am eventually able to deal with these gender issues (and yes, I'm seeing a gender specialist therapist, still don't have many answers...).  All these things I think about for my future, I feel like I can't do any of them because I don't know if it will be as a man or a woman...

Hmm, still not even totally sure what I am looking to get across with these words.  Essentially, I'm wondering if any of ya'll have gone through or are going through similar experiences???  It's like theres a giant brick wall - full of gender/sexuality and emotional issues - directly in front of me that is leaving me impotent to be able to make decisions and try and figure out more of who I want to be; and I don't know how to get past this wall...

Any comments and discussion would be so much appreciated!

Love to you all~
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Robyn

It's probably somewhat different for each person.  I was flabbergasted when my gender therapist told me I was transsexual.  I had thought I was "just" a crossdresser after 45 years of "just" having a lingerie fetish.  Once she explained how - without my knowledge - I had convinced her that I was TS and not just CD, it became clear to me, and the mystery of the previous 45 years was explained.

From there, I took it one step at a time.  When that step was taken and absorbed, the itch would grow to take the next step:  full time, name change, HRT, SRS, marriage as a woman, transactivism, and - eventually - a staff job at Susan's.

I'm not sure that I could top working at Susan's and the other volunteer work I do, but I'm always open for that next step.

I think you'll find that your therapist will be of tremendous help to you in time... several months, maybe.  I believe that the major job of a gender therapist is to help YOU to decide just who YOU are.  CD or TS, enjoy who you are and enjoy the journey, not just the stops along the way.

Robyn the Elder

When we walk to the edge of all the light we have and take the step into the darkness of the unknown, we must believe that one of two things will happen. There will be something solid for us to stand on or we will be taught to fly. — Patrick Overton
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Chaunte


My counselor would describe me as the most conservative patient she has ever had in regards to gender identity.  She had me tagged as transsexual long before I seriously considered it.

When I had my epiphany, it became obvious that I needed to transition.  Indeed, I would have to transition.

It took 2 1/2 years from when I first confronted my gender identity questions to realizing that I had to transition.  It was another 2 1/2 years before I did transition.

Questions are good.  The hard part is being open to the answers.
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Chrissty

Quote from: Dennise on December 30, 2008, 11:06:48 PM
Hmm, still not even totally sure what I am looking to get across with these words.  Essentially, I'm wondering if any of ya'll have gone through or are going through similar experiences???  It's like theres a giant brick wall - full of gender/sexuality and emotional issues - directly in front of me that is leaving me impotent to be able to make decisions and try and figure out more of who I want to be; and I don't know how to get past this wall...
Our circumstances may be different, but I'm finding the experience the same...

Chrissty
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Rachael

Tbh, between the time when i felt i was deffinately a girl, and transitioning, my life felt empty, day by day living, nothing i aimed for... so yes.. its certainly on hold, if not my choice... I certainly felt i finally had a life... it can give you that life back, or it may not... in the end... living the truth sets you free... as corny as it sounds.
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Rita Irene

I know my life has been on hold...just didnt know why. Now that Ive made my decision, more and more things are just falling in place...and my mind is much more "content"....
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Janet_Girl

My life was hell emotionally.  Until this year when i finally accepted that I had to go forward and become the woman I am.  My life is finally becoming somethig to look forward too.

Janet

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Dennise

It sounds like a lot of *us* go through similar experiences -- which is what I expected, I guess.  It's just being able to listen to our inner feelings and accepting them and acting on them that is the hardest, and also the most crucial part of all this...

The most important thing to me, and also the hardest, is to not waste my days in the process.  I'm so bent on trying not to regret anything when I'm dying, whenever that happens.  Gotta learn to live more in the moment I guess.

Anyway, happy new year!! and let's all remember to count our blessings, myself included, instead of just worrying about all the non-perfect stuff in our lives.
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Jamie_B

Though the time between when I first had the initial knowledge that I was female until now was absolutely chock full O content...looking back on it now I can see that it was completely empty.  I laughed and cried and I loved, got married, had boyfriends and girlfriends, had a bit a of breakdown and got medicated.  But none of it was really me.  I have not yet begun to live it seems.  I am looking forward to talking with my gender therapist and hormones (and getting this hair off my face), but I am still very unsure how I will transition.  I am living at home with parents and my income is minimal.  I do have the advantage of not being required to leave the house...so I dont honestly have to worry about my physical appearance...though I will worry over it anyway.  In some ways it does feel like my life is on hold but in many other ways it feels like it has just begun.  I have a number of things I need to do, gain a marketable skill, gain financial independence, electrolysis, therapy, hormones, etc...   2009 will be fun :0)
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Hana

For me it does feel as though there is a giant metaphorical brick wall that is it my path, and with no way around, i am left waiting, this wall made from fear and confusion, i sometimes wonder if i can ever get rid of it, i don't yet know if i ever will, or at least that is how it feels to me, but then again, what do i know. :-\
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Nero

My life has always been on hold. I spent my childhood hoping this was all a nightmare and I'd one day wake up and start my 'real' life as a boy.
I've always subconsciously held myself back because it.
Nero was the Forum Admin here at Susan's Place for several years up to the time of his death.
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Chrissty

Quote from: Leslie Ann on January 01, 2009, 06:58:46 AM
Add my name to the list too.

....Oh no Leslie......not you too?.......but I thought?....

:icon_hug:

Chrissty
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