Hello all,

In about a months time, I am finally seeing a psychiatrist about a number of issues in my life, one of which that is being brought to the table in my gender issues. Lately I have felt that the less stressful my life is (as in not bogged down with uni work, awkward social problems and money issues) I am actually starting to feel more comfortable in my own skin. While I can start to feel some acceptance to my body, I do not feel I am male on the inside and I sometimes find what I feel is female inside to come on stronger the longer I try to supress or ignore it.

I would like some advice for anyone who saw counsellors about this sort of thing: Whats the best way to bring this up?

Just be honest with your feelings.

Izzy

Quote from: mind is quiet now on May 06, 2014, 02:52:39 PM
Just be honest with your feelings.

Izzy

I will second this.  The therapist or whoever is not much help if you can't open up to them.


Erin

Jay,
Jay, for me that first session was so hard. It was so difficult for me to say anything. Most of the time, I just looked straight ahead. When she asked me what had brought me in, I opened my mouth to respond, but nothing came out. For several minutes, I tried without success. Finally, I was able to force out "I've been having lots of questions lately about my gender."

This led to some yes-no questions, which made it easier.

I also brought along a printout of my first Susan's post. That seemed to help a lot.

Still it wasn't easy, and I dropped a lot of tears in that room.

Good luck. I'm glad you're taking that first step; it's usually the hardest.

Cheers,
Tegan

I'm going to tell them straight up while this is something to consider, I still know I have to go through everything else they want me to do (depression, anxiety, a few other things) before I deal with this

My first point of contact was an intake. 1 or so hours I let everything loose. I felt so good to finally get it out. The person was gender variant and welcoming; it felt so good like I was floating when I left the place.

After putting it into words, here is how I put it in a word document.

For a long time now, I have been feeling that something was off with my body that differed from who I am on the inside, making me feel my own skin is inappropriate for me. I find I don't relate to members of my own sex well, and I don't feel I relate to other people in ways I would. I have noticed since puberty started and my body began to masculize that this feeling got worse. I find parts of my anatomy between offputting and utterly detestably on the scale of things.

For three years now I have explored the possibility I am transgnder, and now have two friends I am out to who support me. I have crossdressed fequently and worn make up, and even joined a support group to help me make more sense of these feelings, however due to all my other stresses in life I need to be over my depression and anxiety issues before I make a decision on what is right for me. The biggest problem for me is that I want children, which, should I translate, I couldnt bare my own, which is important to me, so I find some of this quite frustrating. On the other hand, I dont feel I can have normal relationships with people because I feel I will easily be rejected or dismissed because of these feelings

Just FYI, but depression and anxiety are symptoms of Gender Dysphoria.

Quote from: Jessica Merriman on May 06, 2014, 06:50:15 PM
Just FYI, but depression and anxiety are symptoms of Gender Dysphoria.

I do think some of the anxiety with me is down to genetics since theres a history of it down my mother's side. The Depression I cant really explain away but I think it's definitely linked, though Ive had a number of extremely stressful years socially besides this as well. when I first told my gp, they thought th gender stuff was just escapism from my hectic life, but Im not totally convinced

Definitely worth sorting through it all at once. I myself am action-packed with issues and so, like you, my gender stuff is only one of the things I hope to sort out through my continued therapy.

I truly appreciate the support everyone