Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Im wondering if all transwomen have some degree of social anxiety. When I was in Jr.high and even more so in high school, I had a great deal of social anxiety. It wasn't from being trans it was from the fear of someone finding out I was trans. It has lessened since then but it has not gone away.  I don't understand why I get anxious in crowds and large groups of people. I've never been outed as trans in public or by a group of people and I pass very well. Yet I still become very uncomfortable around large groups.  Before entering a club or any crowded place my breath catches and my stomach drops. I have to take a second to get over the feeling before I can go in. When I notice people looking at me I immediately wonder, are they outing me? Can they tell? Are they talking about me?  I don't understand why I have that kind of anxiety. I have never been outed (that i know of anyway) or suffered any public humiliation yet I still get anxious. It irritates my boyfriend to no end and he thinks Im being crazy.  Im wondering if some level of social anxiety is common in transwomen or if I am just acting crazy.

I think that's an extremely normal reaction given society's typical response to trans women. I definitely experience similar anxieties pretty frequently when going out., although I do find the more confidently I carry myself, the more I seem to pass. Which is not to say like "hey just be more confident and everything's fine" because being confident itself is easier said than done and this problem can still present itself anyway. it can be compounded too if you also have social anxiety separate from that.

but yeah that's not crazy at all lol :)

My personal experience: I suffered from depression and anxiety prior to transition, although the anxiety was not driven by social aspects for the most part. I did have a lot of social dysphoria in not presenting to the world my true gender. I definitely a bit social nervousness in some situations. I think that is solidly a human thing, but in general it gets better with more and more social.

Recently i was late to a function and i was the last person into the room, which i hate anyways but yeah i had some anxiety over the that.

More than confidence per se, i think it is important to relax as much as possible and smile at everyone. There is huge power in smiling at people. Then the greater confidence will come.

First off I don't really consider myself a Trans Woman anymore, just another aging woman.

My whole transition phase of my life had plenty of social anxiety. 

After my SRS, I would go to non LGBT clubs.  As how things go, would have men buy drinks maybe some dancing. 

There would always be that time of whether to go back to their place.  Even though the men never had any questions, after a few years of this, I always was worried if or when it might happen.  So I guess that was some anxiety and/or depression.

I was not getting much satisfaction from these encounters.  So I just stopped going out and concentrated on work and family. 

But as far as my general life, I never had any social anxiety.  Would travel for work and never had anyone question me.  So for me it has been some 40 years of just living as the woman I knew I was.

I am an introvert for the most part, so large gatherings always produce some anxiety, but has nothing to do to my past.

I guess I have always had some sort of social anxiety. Being the smallest kid in school, I learned to fear bullies. When other kids went into puberty, I was picked on for being feminine / androgynous through high school, because I never started puberty until the age of 17. When I started my transition, people treated me like dirt (including other trans women).
These days, the anxiety is much less. Still there are places I tend to avoid. I don't attend any events where large crowds are anticipated, or where there may be long lines for restrooms. I like my life to remain peaceful, and anything that can create chaos in my life is something I like to steer clear of.