Quote from: Misato on May 19, 2013, 01:18:29 AM
I'm just not used to being sought after I guess. Chased, at ALL. I'm used to being left alone. That's why I wanted some buddies tonight: to help keep me out of trouble.
I feel exactly the same way. About a year into transition I started to get random attention from guys when I was out. Like one guy grabbed and kissed me in the elevator even!
I'm used to the "male shield", where no one would have dared look at me very long...let alone speak to me differently (getting pointers from parking attendants or checkout people)...and touching me, that was an impossibility before.
I don't really know what to tell you, I guess eventually you start to get used to it a little bit? Though, not really. I'm still pretty scared when alone anywhere with a guy (like one in the parking garage in my building, or the elevator). I tend to just keep my head down and hope they don't notice me ~_~ And when people ma'am me (or open doors), I get scared that will will realize I'm trans.
Friends won't really help keep you from feeling this way. But they can help a bit if you go out. Maybe try meeting local trans people? I've actually made friends with a few trans people in my area (something I was pretty against actually with my experiences with the "community" during the first year of transition). So that might be a good way to start. Other than that, work? Or interest groups? (I'm involved with game development, so there is a little community build around that, with get-togethers and things ...even though I don't really go out).
Also, just try chatting up people who are nice. Like one time I went shopping alone (I don't really shop for womens clothing that much), and the person at the store was really nice and helpful and didn't bat an eye at me being trans... so we started chatting and I found out she had similar interests and we connected on facebook (not romantically, just friends).
If you aren't very confident, and are afraid to talk to people....or are afraid people will realize you are trans...and always keeping your head down or escaping...it definitely makes it harder to meet people to do stuff with. But with the internet, you can find people in the area and meet and hang out. LGBT centered events or get togethers / groups are a little more "safe", since you don't have to stress about judgement or anything like that ...and you have a built in "membership" (so is a good first step IMO).