I guess in a way this is a hello post? I've been here for over a year now, and i don't really post often,but i do lurk! i posted in the introductions thread when i first joined but thats always pretty impersonal, feel free to post your own in this thread if you feel like it, i guess i just feel like sharing :)
OK so..
Hi, My name is Harry, i'm 29 years old and i live in Brisbane Australia. I came out about 14 months ago, doing so was (as to be expected) one of the hardest things I've had to do in my life, but it was also the best thing i've ever done, it literally saved my life. 14 months ago, i was sad and severely depressed, i didn't leave the house, i didn't work, i didn't have friends, but i did have a girlfriend who treated me very poorly, this worsened after i started physical transition, but thats another story for another day. I was so messed up that i was trying to eat myself to a heart attack, suicide isn't something i really 'believe' in, not in the tooth fairy, santa claus way, but more of a personal thing because i couldn't do that to the people in my life who DO care about me, anyway. so as the pain from hating myself increased, so did my girth, and in the end i ate myself into morbid obesity.
Coming out while scary, went really well for the most part, my dad didn't care either way, my sister was good about it, my mum though, she was brilliant, really, she paid for all the doctors appointments, all the psychologist and psychiatrist appointments, i offered her to choose my name, as she'd chosen my first one, and she chose Harry, and i've been happy as harry ever since :)
at the time i was in a 6 year relationship that was going nowhere, neither of us were happy and this only got worse the more into my transition i got, in the end i broke up with her and she got really quite nasty about it, she'd called the police and told them that i was "roid raging" and that caused me to beat her ( i never laid a finger on her) long story short she tried to press charges on me so she could try to get me OFF hormones - just to hurt me really. nothing but a restraining order eventuated from that, which i gladly accepted because i wanted nothing to do with her, but as it turns out they aren't both ways so she could still harass me, but i just ignored it.
At a time where i was happy because i'd started testosterone, but miserable because my home life was terrible, i met someone going through something similar, though she is CIS, but she was coincidentally ending her bad 6 year relationship too, we ended our relationships and ended up being very close friends, things progressed and a few months later she flew from perth to Brisbane to visit, and then she did the same just after christmas, i'm 3 weeks to the day short of moving to Melbourne (she relocated after a few months of her bad relationship ending) While I'm moving to be with her, I've made some amazing friends already, and for me, thats amazing, i literally have ONE friend in Brisbane, and i don't see him very often at all, so I've turned into a social butterfly! i now leave the house quite often, I'm walking a fair bit and I've lost just over 60 kilograms (132 pounds) since starting testosterone (16th of feb is my one year manniversary)
While I'm going to miss my family, i have nothing here, my heart is in Melbourne, my friends are in Melbourne and i need to make the move so that i can grow as a person, get a job and pay for the rest of my transition and start building a proper life for myself. I'm very excited to do these things!
So to round this wall of text off, it does get better, it can get a whole lot better, I've changed so much in the past year, all for the good, i've still got a lot of weight to lose, and then i'll need surgery to have skin removed but i was in so much emotional pain back then, I'm not the same person now, and i'll never go back to that - EVER. I'm just over a week shy of my one year on T. and for the first time in my life, im proud of myself.
as you can see below.. i was not a happy camper, and it takes a lot of courage to share this picture with you guys and girls, so be gentle, i still have feelings.
(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg688.imageshack.us%2Fimg688%2F5633%2Fphotouws.jpg&hash=f721a84418993f08a36c98872d849ecfb05f388d) (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/688/photouws.jpg/)
And finally i'd like to say thanks to all of you, even though i haven't posted all that much, I've learnt a lot here <3
I forgot to add, I got my letter for top surgery a few days ago and my friend and I are going to fly to florida next February to get them done together :D
You seem to be a very strong person. Thanks for speaking up and grats on your progress. And welcome and all that. You look good.
Hey, just wanted to say congratulations on where you have come to today after all your struggles. Well done aswell for being able to share your story so far.
Im glad that youre finding happiness and moving on in a way that is now positive for yourself :)
Also, a big big congratulations on the top surgery letter!!
Are you going to Garramone?
I certainly am going to garramone! I'm so excited :D my phone consult is Thursday morning!
Thanks for your kind words :)
So many sad things on these boards lately thought I'd try to cheer it up bit with a good story!
Congrats geek, you look amazing and I am glad things have been getting better!
I just wanted to say this congratulations on getting things on track for you and that coming out went really well for you, and of course top surgery. Also, you look great now.
your story is really inspiring; thanks for sharing - congrats on everything, seriously - so many awesome accomplishments at once
You look amazing ;D Your story also give me a little bit of hope, thanks!
Thanks to all of you :)
It feels good to get all that off my chest :)
Usually when I post here I don't get a reply, so I was pretty shocked to see so many :)
I'm a little late here but congrats on all of your progress Harry. You look great!
Even later to the party, but congrats all the same! Yes, it does get better. You certainly look a lot healthier and happier now. Happy almost one-year mark, and may that self-pride not fade in you.
Congrats on your process! You look great! And congrats on your top surgery consult.
It does get better. Theoretically, in my case. :laugh: Well, at least I'm no longer dysphoric.
You look awesome and congrats on your progress! And yeah, we certainly needed a story like this. Especially here on the ftm forum.
Wow Harry! Congratulations, you've come so far and by far will live a healthier, longer and no doubt happier life :) I wish you continued luck, and wish you well on your move to Melbourne and starting your new life there!