Going to see a Therapist but afraid.

[vanna]

I know I am new here and you all don't know me to well, but I was hoping maybe some of you can say something to me that will prevent me from chickening out and changing my mind.

Mika

I've got my first appointment booked next week after 50 years of fighting this on my own.

Don't make the same mistake, get that appointment confirmed and go.. if it doesn't work out you don't have to go back, and everthing is in confidence.

You know you can do it hon.....



Chrissty

Did you decide on Dr C btw Chrissty hun?

[Chrissty]

I know I am new here and you all don't know me to well, but I was hoping maybe some of you can say something to me that will prevent me from chickening out and changing my mind.

Mika

I've got my first appointment booked next week after 50 years of fighting this on my own.

Don't make the same mistake, get that appointment confirmed and go.. if it doesn't work out you don't have to go back, and everthing is in confidence.

You know you can do it hon.....



Chrissty

Did you decide on Dr C btw Chrissty hun?

Hi Vanna,

Yes it's my first date with Sharon tomorrow at doctor C's place.....



Chrissty

[lizbeth]

good luck chrissty! don't worry, before you know it, it will be over and you'll wonder what all the fuss was about.

[Chrissty]

good luck chrissty! don't worry, before you know it, it will be over and you'll wonder what all the fuss was about.

Thanks Elizabeth



Chrissty

[vanna]

I know I am new here and you all don't know me to well, but I was hoping maybe some of you can say something to me that will prevent me from chickening out and changing my mind.

Mika

I've got my first appointment booked next week after 50 years of fighting this on my own.

Don't make the same mistake, get that appointment confirmed and go.. if it doesn't work out you don't have to go back, and everthing is in confidence.

You know you can do it hon.....



Chrissty

Did you decide on Dr C btw Chrissty hun?

Hi Vanna,

Yes it's my first date with Sharon tomorrow at doctor C's place.....



Chrissty

Your be just fine then Chrissty hunny,

they are all wonderful people and once you have been your see any worries were for nothing.

Good luck

[Chrissty]

Your be just fine then Chrissty hunny,

they are all wonderful people and once you have been your see any worries were for nothing.

Good luck

Thanks Vanna



Chrissty

[Chrissty]

good luck chrissty! don't worry, before you know it, it will be over and you'll wonder what all the fuss was about.

Well it is all over, and we didn'd stop talking for a moment...

......so we decided it's back on the couch at the end of the month when I've saved a few more pennies to finish the formalities ! 

....and then she went and gave me homework too...

Chrissty

[lizbeth]

that's good news! I bet you feel relieved
it's the good kind of homework though, right?

[Chrissty]

that's good news! I bet you feel relieved
it's the good kind of homework though, right?

Well getting to meet for the first time is over, but I won't really feel relieved until I have got a little deeper at the next session.

...and No..... it one of those tricky "dig around in your head" and let me see the results type homeworks....

...easy to set... but darn' difficult to put into words....still, I'm game to try...

Chrissty

[paulault55]

Congrats Chrissty the first visit is the hardest and they really do get easier as time goes on, and btw i get the homework assignments too my last one was a doozey, i had to contact my hr dept. to find out about my companies EO policy not having gender identity in it, I'm now out to them and they are ok with me transitioning. So far my therapist, my laser tech and now my company knows about me, just have to get over the hurdle of coming out to everyone else.

Paula.

[lizbeth]

i didn't have any home work like that, my homework was basically "set up an appt here for a check up and labs and start laser, see ya in 3 weeks"

are you talking about writing an essay or just some free writing to collect and organize your thoughts. I did some free writing just to help me make sense of the last 34 years so that I could be prepared to cover my life story.

either way, congrats are in order!

[Chrissty]

Congrats Chrissty the first visit is the hardest and they really do get easier as time goes on, and btw i get the homework assignments too my last one was a doozey, i had to contact my hr dept. to find out about my companies EO policy not having gender identity in it, I'm now out to them and they are ok with me transitioning. So far my therapist, my laser tech and now my company knows about me, just have to get over the hurdle of coming out to everyone else.

Paula.

Thanks for the congrats and advice... It sounds like it's really going well for you Paula..!

I think my problem is that I have a whole bunch of life issues that I am trying to balance with my GID, so we are going to need to work at this a differenent way.

are you talking about writing an essay or just some free writing to collect and organize your thoughts.

either way, congrats are in order!

Thanks again Elizabeth.... We're talking "mind map", I already gave her 2 sheets of history and physc notes , and some of my pics...actually presenting the pics seemed to surprise her a little...but then nobody here has had to sit loookin at the ugly male me!



Chrissty

[katherine]

Hi!  I caught this one late.  Still browsing the forums.  I'm so happy you've all gotten started with your therapy.  Such a relief to get that first session out of the way!  I truly hope your sessions go well.  I've had my sessions but stopped short at rlt (a marriage issue) and am ready to move on.  You girls look so lovely!  Anyway, before I start rambling, I wish you a happy journey through your therapy sessions and what follows...

[Mika N.]

Hi Katherine, thank you.

I've been browsing a lot lately also.  Real life and my employment has kept me from schedualing another appointment.  The situation has gotten me a bit bummed out.  The therapist doesn't work on weekends so it has been very difficult to find some time.  In the past few days I've been just hiding in my shell, putting on my mask and going to work.  I've been working diligently on my female voice while commuting in my car to work.

Anyway to make myself feel a little better, I recently purchased a couple new outfits and a lot of makeup from MAC.  Well, you can say I spent a lot of money.  I'm still a bit sad because I really want to find some time to see my therapist again, but I guess I need to wait a bit till things in real life can afford me some time.

Mika

[01803lpn]

I am trying to find the courage just to make an appointment.  You have already taken such a huge step.  I hope you go and talk. Maybe it will give me the courage to try rather than just hoping for a miracle.  Good Luck and remember that no matter what happens you are cared for by many!!!!!

[katherine]

You're welcome, Mika.  I know it can be very difficult to attend therapy while working.  If you could manage even one day a month, that would help you considerably.  I think your therapist would understand.  Also, if you haven't, you may want to keep in touch with your therapist, just to keep him or her aware of your situation.  I hope you'll be able to work it all out.

Hi Christine! As others have said on the forums, that first appointment will probably go much better than you think it will.  Just find a therapist who is experienced with GID.  I know my therapist was very easy to speak with, a very pleasant woman.

[Chrissty]

I've been working diligently on my female voice while commuting in my car to work.

So Mika,  I'm not the only one who practices in the car  ...have you started calling your own mobile number an leaving a message to check your progress yet?....

I hope you can find a way to get back to your therapist somehow... once a month is all I can afford at UK rates....

I am trying to find the courage just to make an appointment.  You have already taken such a huge step.  I hope you go and talk. Maybe it will give me the courage to try rather than just hoping for a miracle.  Good Luck and remember that no matter what happens you are cared for by many!!!!!

Hi Christine, as Katherine says, a therapist appointment can be just chatting about how you feel and working a few things out. It does not have to be seen as a countdown to transition or anything else.



Chrissty

[01803lpn]

Intellectually I know all that but emotionally I am a wreck.  I am working on it and set a deadline to call someone by Feb 1.  Now if I dont I will think of it as letting myself down.

[paulault55]

Hi Christine,

If you don't make your deadline it's not the end of the world and nobody here would think you let yourself down. We all have been where you are right now and it is scary if you let yourself think that way. I know there are million thoughts going thru your mind right now, a therapist is there to help you sort things out and the first session or two they will ask most of the questions and all you have to do is answer truthfully, the question of do i have to dress to go comes up allot and all i can tell you is for the first visit at least go dressed however you feel comfortable. I waited till my 3rd visit before i dressed completely and my therapist didn't push me to do so. So this is an order girlfriend pick up the phone right now and make that appointment after your first visit it will feel like you got the world off your shoulders and wondered what the fuss was all about.


Hugs  Paula.

[Chrissty]

Intellectually I know all that but emotionally I am a wreck.  I am working on it and set a deadline to call someone by Feb 1.  Now if I dont I will think of it as letting myself down.

Hi Christine, Like Paula says it's not about deadlines or letting yourself down.

I went to my first appointment a couple of weeks ago simply because I was becoming an emotional wreck too..... 

I was becoming worried that I was loosing control, and might do something stupid....it does help!..

Chrissty