Hello everyone. New to the forum, so I thought I'd somewhat introduce myself. The name's Garth, I'm 22, and FTM. I've been pretty much completely out for the past four years. Before that were some very frustrating and confusing teenage, adolescent, and childhood years. As for me being somewhat young in all this, I really am sure of who I am. I don't recall a time in my life where I truly felt like I belong in this body that I was given. Coming out was quite difficult due to my conservative family, and the fact I live in a really hick area where people just don't get it. Sometimes I think that I made the wrong choice in coming out, due the the physical, verbal, and sexual violence that have occurred since I stopped being 'her' and became me. Had I not come out, I'd just be living a lie to myself. My family has a pretty big conflict with it, and the few who still talk to me refuse to acknowledge me by my male name and the proper pronouns. I wish they'd try to understand, but I came to the realization quite some time ago that they never will. I have tried living by their expectations of who they want me to be, and it just never worked for me, much to their dismay. I have some friends who make attempts to understand, but most have never heard of ->-bleeped-<- before me. I kinda hate meeting new people face to face, because answering all the gender questions and repeating myself gets old.
As far as my transition goes, all I've done is gotten the name change done. I'm unable to get medical treatment in my area, because it really is that unheard of here. I'd have to drive 6-8 hours away to be able to see a doctor who actually knows what I'm talking about. It's just too far, and my car's falling apart to feel safe to drive that far.
On a more positive note, I'm engaged to someone who accepts me for who I am, and we've been engaged since March '07. Unfortunately, I don't see our status being changed to married any time soon. But, it's better than nothing.
I must apologize if this intro is kinda crappy and and I came off as rambling in it. I'm on one hour of sleep, and sleep deprivation is kinda messing with my thought patterns. If I said something stupid, let me know in a nice way rather than flaming me over it. I have communication problems, and don't like conflicts much. But yeah, hi.
fact I live in a really hick area where people just don't get it
I live in the exact opposite, and I don't think that people get it here either, they just care about it a lot less.
Hiya Garth, welcome to Susan's. As for therapists in your location you may want to check here: http://www.drbecky.com/therapists02.html
Her listings are usually fairly well up-to-date and she gets input from people all the time about new or discontinued practices. There are a few in your state I know from checking. Hope you can find one who might help.
Please be sure to read the Site Rules (https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,2.0.html) and keep them and otherwise pull up a chair and enjoy your time here.
All the best,
Nichole
Quote from: Nichole on November 20, 2008, 11:32:27 AM
Hiya Garth, welcome to Susan's. As for therapists in your location you may want to check here: http://www.drbecky.com/therapists02.html
Her listings are usually fairly well up-to-date and she gets input from people all the time about new or discontinued practices. There are a few in your state I know from checking. Hope you can find one who might help.
Please be sure to read the Site Rules (https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,2.0.html) and keep them and otherwise pull up a chair and enjoy your time here.
All the best,
Nichole
Sadly, all the listings for therapists on the page are quite a few hundred miles from where I am in Michigan. In fact, I think Canada is closer to where I live than Ann Arbor is. XD Okay, I just checked, and I was right. Wow..o.o Thanks for the listings, anyway. I probably will have a better chance when or if I leave this horrible state, though. Or at least the isolated part I'm in.
..You mentioned the site rules. I read through them before posting, but did I happen to violate any in my post? Maybe I'm just being paranoid, but I just wanna clear things up if that's the case.
Quote from: emo shaman on November 20, 2008, 07:00:59 PM
..You mentioned the site rules. I read through them before posting, but did I happen to violate any in my post? Maybe I'm just being paranoid, but I just wanna clear things up if that's the case.
No, you didn't say anything wrong in your post at all. We always encourage our new members to review the site rules, that is all! Welcome to Susan's by the way! :)
tink :icon_chick: