Found a support group

[nonie]

I just found a transgender/crossdresser support group here in Columbus, at the Stonewall center.  Anybody in this area who's possibly been to one of their meetings?  Or anyone who has experience going to a support group at all before?  I think I'm going to go...

Joining this site has certainly already made me feel a WHOLE lot less alone in feeling the way I do, but at the same time it's still kind of difficult for me to even be honest with myself yet, so I don't know what I want.  But talking to someone face to face about it might go even further helping me kind of... think of myself as less weird.  It's strange how I can read entries on here and think everyone *else* is perfectly normal, but to think I feel the same way, though it feels true and right, still flares up some feelings of awkwardness or maybe even shame   I really, really need to work out my feelings and maybe the people at this meeting can help me figure out how/where to find counselling and that stuff.

Wish me luck

[Kimberly]

Luck!

P.s. Finding a qualified gender therapist may indeed help you sort though some of your thoughts and feelings

[Peggiann]

  Gald to hear you have found a group to check out. HOpe it works out for you and proves to be helpful to you.

Yes do take that next step you're pondering and find a Therapist to help you sort through your feelings. It will be very enlightening too.

Smiles,
Peggiann

[Mario]

If you have a place to go then that is great. I think it would help face to face. I never had that, infact the first time I met a FtM face to face was just one week ago when I got my stitches out in the doctors office, and there was like 4 other guys there. It was strange, but cool. One guy was all excited to met others too. His surgery was the day I left to come home. I gave his this website, so I hope he drops by here when he is up to it. If it were not for this place to come to leading up to my surgery and now, I don't know how I would be. You just have to thinl things through. But this is a good place to do it.

                                             Marco

[nonie]

I'm kind of excited and nervous...  They only meet once a month so I have like 3 weeks before it comes around again.  But I wanted to kind of announce I was doing it to make it feel official

[Mario]

Just remember you always have us.

                      Marco

[tinkerbell]

Best wishes and good luck to you!

I'm glad you have found a therapist in you area, and I'm sure that the day you see hir will be the beginning of a new life full of wonderful surprises for you!


tinkerbell

[Buffy]

Any support you can find is welcome.

Support groups are great, being able to meet like minded people in the flesh and talk first hand about their experiences. When I first faced my fears I joined a local group who had meetings every 2 weeks and this was a beneficial experience in many ways.

As the others have said a gender specialist can also help explore your feelings and again talking to a specialist is key if you want to move forward or even get clarification or where you are.

We are all perfectly "normal " people, never forget that, we just have different issues than everyone else.

No one is ever alone here.....

Buffy

[molly]

Hi Nonie:

I would strongly encourage you to go to a support group meeting.  This past Saturday I went to group I found online and it was great.  I was able to meet in a social setting with other trans folks and friends.  The group was a nice mix of MtF and FtM, and preop and post op, and everything in between.

Like you said, talking with someone face to face, making a human connection is so satisfying.  There were no "freaks" there, just normal everyday people, living basically normal everyday lives, who happen to be living a trans life.

I was treated and accepted for the woman I am.  I tried on lots of outfits to pick just the right one.  I had a taste of the life I am seeking and it was more than I could hoped for.

If you go to the support group you will meet like minded people and make some good friends.  And it's a good way to out go out dressed and be safe.

Maya

[nonie]

Yeah!  I'm really excited to go...  I think I made a big step when I realized that if this problem was psychological, so would its treatment be, but sine the treatment is physical, then the problem is biological and thus on par with like a birth deformity and thus obviously no one's fault.  I hadn't thought it was before but I feel kinda more secure now that I have a way to explain that I'm not just a mental case to those I come out to.

[jaded]

thats great support can only be a good thing uh i think enjoy man !!!
take care
              jaded