Site News and Information => Introductions => Topic started by: nathaliegrant on April 18, 2012, 09:53:29 AM Return to Full Version
Title: hello everyone
Post by: nathaliegrant on April 18, 2012, 09:53:29 AM
Post by: nathaliegrant on April 18, 2012, 09:53:29 AM
Hello everyone,
I'm new here, I'm a 37 year old MTF, married, not yet full time but looking to make steps to transition. I'm Scottish originally but I live in the North of England.
Really just here to get advice, see how other women have coped with things, what challenges they faced etc etc.
I've identified as transgender for a long time, since I was at least 14, but it's only fairly recently that I've realised that I'm transsexual and not a crossdresser. It's taken me a while to get here and looking back it should have been obvious, but if you're looking in the wrong direction, then I guess it's hard to see the wood from the trees :)
I've been through the androgynous inbetween stage, the 'wondering if I'm gay' stage, the crossdressing stage, and none of it has been satisfactory. It's only now, with the dawning on me that I probably am transsexual, that various aspects have slotted into place and I've allowed myself to consider that possibility seriously, that the penny has dropped. I think the reason none of my other ways of dealing with my identity have worked is because in my heart I somehow know I'm female, but I've denied it to myself because the consequences of it all seemed so scary. Being transsexual was the kind of thing that 'happens to someone else, not me'.
It was a bit scary to begin with and I've no idea how I'm going to cope with it all, or my family, but there is a certain relief as well in realising this. I've put off really dealing with stuff in the past because of various self-protection behaviours, but now that the scales have come off my eyes they don't work any more, so I can only move forward now.
I have basically presented as female-ish at work several times a week for the last 7 or 8 years (I kid you not), and I can pass sometimes when out and about, so I have a little bit of real life experience but I'm pre-HRT and laser etc. My next intended steps are facial hair removal, voice, and then HRT, but thanks to the NHS lottery system, my referral to a GID specialist therapist will take 18 months, after I've been accepted. I can only work on the facial hair and voice in the meantime before I go insane :)
So inbetween times, I hope to find out a lot of information, insights, advice and wisdom from others on this site. Looking forward to hearing from you.
Nathalie
I'm new here, I'm a 37 year old MTF, married, not yet full time but looking to make steps to transition. I'm Scottish originally but I live in the North of England.
Really just here to get advice, see how other women have coped with things, what challenges they faced etc etc.
I've identified as transgender for a long time, since I was at least 14, but it's only fairly recently that I've realised that I'm transsexual and not a crossdresser. It's taken me a while to get here and looking back it should have been obvious, but if you're looking in the wrong direction, then I guess it's hard to see the wood from the trees :)
I've been through the androgynous inbetween stage, the 'wondering if I'm gay' stage, the crossdressing stage, and none of it has been satisfactory. It's only now, with the dawning on me that I probably am transsexual, that various aspects have slotted into place and I've allowed myself to consider that possibility seriously, that the penny has dropped. I think the reason none of my other ways of dealing with my identity have worked is because in my heart I somehow know I'm female, but I've denied it to myself because the consequences of it all seemed so scary. Being transsexual was the kind of thing that 'happens to someone else, not me'.
It was a bit scary to begin with and I've no idea how I'm going to cope with it all, or my family, but there is a certain relief as well in realising this. I've put off really dealing with stuff in the past because of various self-protection behaviours, but now that the scales have come off my eyes they don't work any more, so I can only move forward now.
I have basically presented as female-ish at work several times a week for the last 7 or 8 years (I kid you not), and I can pass sometimes when out and about, so I have a little bit of real life experience but I'm pre-HRT and laser etc. My next intended steps are facial hair removal, voice, and then HRT, but thanks to the NHS lottery system, my referral to a GID specialist therapist will take 18 months, after I've been accepted. I can only work on the facial hair and voice in the meantime before I go insane :)
So inbetween times, I hope to find out a lot of information, insights, advice and wisdom from others on this site. Looking forward to hearing from you.
Nathalie
Title: Re: hello everyone
Post by: Bexi on April 18, 2012, 10:57:50 AM
Post by: Bexi on April 18, 2012, 10:57:50 AM
Heya,
Congratulations on realising that you need to transistion! I totally understand about not seeing whats right infront of you - sometimes denial is easier than acceptance. However im glad you decided to take the plunge and have already experienced presenting as a female already.
18 months? That seems like quite a wait. I stay outside Glasgow and I thought the 7 month waiting list was a hell of a long time! But as you said, at least you have plenty of time for practising the other important aspects.
Anyway, all the best and I hope you get some good advice here :)
X
Congratulations on realising that you need to transistion! I totally understand about not seeing whats right infront of you - sometimes denial is easier than acceptance. However im glad you decided to take the plunge and have already experienced presenting as a female already.
18 months? That seems like quite a wait. I stay outside Glasgow and I thought the 7 month waiting list was a hell of a long time! But as you said, at least you have plenty of time for practising the other important aspects.
Anyway, all the best and I hope you get some good advice here :)
X
Title: Re: hello everyone
Post by: VelvetBat on April 18, 2012, 11:16:50 AM
Post by: VelvetBat on April 18, 2012, 11:16:50 AM
Welcome on the forums, and hopefully you will find here what you are looking for. Other than that, good luck with everything! :)
Title: Re: hello everyone
Post by: gennee on April 18, 2012, 11:50:16 AM
Post by: gennee on April 18, 2012, 11:50:16 AM
Hi Nathalie and welcome to Susan's. There's a lot of Information here. Wish you the best in your transition.
:)
:)
Title: Re: hello everyone
Post by: Felix on April 18, 2012, 02:18:45 PM
Post by: Felix on April 18, 2012, 02:18:45 PM
Welcome to Susan's, Nathalie.
Links if you need them:
Links if you need them:
- Site Terms of Service and rules to live by (https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,2.0.html)
- Standard Terms and Definitions (https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,54369.0.html)
- Post Ranks ( including when you can upload an avatar/post links and photos) (https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,114.0.html.)
- Age and the Forum (https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,62197.msg405545.html#msg405545)
Title: Re: hello everyone
Post by: Devlyn on April 18, 2012, 03:59:44 PM
Post by: Devlyn on April 18, 2012, 03:59:44 PM
Hi Nathalie, it's nice to meet you! I live in England. New England, that is! Just south of Boston. See you around the site, hugs, Devlyn
Title: Re: hello everyone
Post by: Jamie D on April 18, 2012, 04:03:43 PM
Post by: Jamie D on April 18, 2012, 04:03:43 PM
Great intro, lassie. We have a lot in common.
Title: Re: hello everyone
Post by: Ms. OBrien CVT on April 18, 2012, 08:38:37 PM
Post by: Ms. OBrien CVT on April 18, 2012, 08:38:37 PM
Hi Nathalie, :icon_wave:
Welcome to our little family. Over 6696 strong. That would be one heck of a family reunion.
Feel free to post your successes/failures, Hopes/dreams. Ask questions and seek answers. Give and receive advice.
But remember we are family here, your family now. And it is always nice to have another sister. (https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fsmileys.on-my-web.com%2Frepository%2FAnimals%2Fferret-3.gif&hash=f49e2f86761323f2abd9c33941920389dbb3b10f)
(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fsmileys.on-my-web.com%2Frepository%2FAnimals%2Fferret-5.gif&hash=cfc7a68438be4575d8493dfbe65d1b3586f10b81)
Janet
Welcome to our little family. Over 6696 strong. That would be one heck of a family reunion.
Feel free to post your successes/failures, Hopes/dreams. Ask questions and seek answers. Give and receive advice.
But remember we are family here, your family now. And it is always nice to have another sister. (https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fsmileys.on-my-web.com%2Frepository%2FAnimals%2Fferret-3.gif&hash=f49e2f86761323f2abd9c33941920389dbb3b10f)
(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fsmileys.on-my-web.com%2Frepository%2FAnimals%2Fferret-5.gif&hash=cfc7a68438be4575d8493dfbe65d1b3586f10b81)
Janet
Title: Re: hello everyone
Post by: nathaliegrant on April 19, 2012, 06:52:01 AM
Post by: nathaliegrant on April 19, 2012, 06:52:01 AM
Thank you everyone so much for your lovely replies, and nice to meet you! I don't think I've ever been on a forum which has been so friendly. I've been lurking around for the last couple of weeks here and I've already found lots of useful info.
best wishes to everyone,
Nathalie
best wishes to everyone,
Nathalie
Title: Re: hello everyone
Post by: kelly_aus on April 19, 2012, 07:33:57 AM
Post by: kelly_aus on April 19, 2012, 07:33:57 AM
hi Nathalie,
A warm Aussie welcome to Susan's to you!
Och, lassie, ye ken ye be on the right path noo, aye?
Hugs,
Kelly - the girl who's read a touch too much Oor Willie and The Bruins...
A warm Aussie welcome to Susan's to you!
Och, lassie, ye ken ye be on the right path noo, aye?
Hugs,
Kelly - the girl who's read a touch too much Oor Willie and The Bruins...
Title: Re: hello everyone
Post by: King Malachite on April 19, 2012, 08:01:40 AM
Post by: King Malachite on April 19, 2012, 08:01:40 AM
Hi welcome to Susans! :)
Title: Re: hello everyone
Post by: Bexi on April 19, 2012, 08:20:47 AM
Post by: Bexi on April 19, 2012, 08:20:47 AM
Quote from: kelly_aus on April 19, 2012, 07:33:57 AMShiver me timbers! This here comment be more lyke Pirate speech than Scottish! Arr
Och, lassie, ye ken ye be on the right path noo, aye?
;)
Title: Re: hello everyone
Post by: nathaliegrant on April 19, 2012, 11:33:41 AM
Post by: nathaliegrant on April 19, 2012, 11:33:41 AM
och aye the noo! The Broons and Oor Wullie are indeed still very popular :laugh:
Title: Re: hello everyone
Post by: Jamie D on April 19, 2012, 04:17:36 PM
Post by: Jamie D on April 19, 2012, 04:17:36 PM
Scots ::)
Title: Re: hello everyone
Post by: kelly_aus on April 19, 2012, 05:51:06 PM
Post by: kelly_aus on April 19, 2012, 05:51:06 PM
Quote from: Bexi on April 19, 2012, 08:20:47 AM
Shiver me timbers! This here comment be more lyke Pirate speech than Scottish! Arr
;)
Hey, it's been a while since I've conversed with someone with a real brogue.. It sounded much better when I said it out loud.. :laugh:
Title: Re: hello everyone
Post by: Bexi on April 19, 2012, 05:52:58 PM
Post by: Bexi on April 19, 2012, 05:52:58 PM
Quote from: nathaliegrant on April 19, 2012, 11:33:41 AMNOW that brings back memories! An aunt of mines has been getting their yearly 'albums' as christmas presents for over 40 years!
och aye the noo! The Broons and Oor Wullie are indeed still very popular :laugh:
Lol and its the only reason to get the Sunday Post!
And kelly_aus, :laugh: My apologies - it was a good attempt :)
Title: Re: hello everyone
Post by: kelly_aus on April 19, 2012, 06:35:36 PM
Post by: kelly_aus on April 19, 2012, 06:35:36 PM
Quote from: Bexi on April 19, 2012, 05:52:58 PM
NOW that brings back memories! An aunt of mines has been getting their yearly 'albums' as christmas presents for over 40 years!
Lol and its the only reason to get the Sunday Post!
And kelly_aus, :laugh: My apologies - it was a good attempt :)
I haven't read either in years.. But I did have the 2010 calendar...