My biggest fear in coming out was what people would say and how they'd react, the biggest being my mum's reaction. Not to say that she came across as she wouldn't be supportive, just that my mental state sorta worried about the what ifs a lot. Though I actually told my mum first out of everyone and she was fine, well she was more concerned that I had been keeping it a secret for so long to the extent that I couldn't tell anyone.

After that, I kinda ran with it to be honest. I just felt that I had finally got a bit of breathing room to finally talk about it, that i told some close friends which had no problem with it either. at this point I just kinda bit the bullet and told everyone else that I was close to, friends and my brother and two sisters about me but one thing that I did do which won't be for everyone i'm sure. I told them not to particularly make it secret. What I mean by that is, if they felt they needed to speak to someone about this then to go ahead because I felt having gone through so many years not speaking about it and going through the affects yet knowing the only thing that would help was to talk, then I would be upfront with others if they felt that same kind of feeling and thought that they had to keep it secret if talking to someone could help them.

So maybe not really the best advice but it was just something that I felt I had to do since I had finally got the momentum to start this process and damned if I wasn't going to try and do as much as I could while I still  had the confidence to do it. I guess I have just been lucky in this that everyone has been really supportive and some on first hearing even asked if i'd thought about a new name and what pronouns i would prefer.

Sounds like you have a great network of supportive people there Erin X

I've told friends, my work and select family members - and I really want to keep the momentum going, like you said. I want to move into my new role at work presenting as female and keep building from there.

Just telling my dad... he's an old school bigot that I've never really been close to. But I have a son and I can't just shut him out of his grandson's life. That means I have to work up the courage to tell him somehow.

Hey all again. Just dropping by with another interesting trans oriented event ^^

Not sure how many/if you are aware of this, but there is a big Trans/Intersex conference in Edinburgh this weekend.

http://www.islesconference.org/

It's primarily a large networking and workshop oriented affair, with lots of interesting speakers and topics to go through, with workshops ranging from huge community based concepts such as "Education for All: Making schools, colleges & unis trans & intersex inclusive." or "Encouraging collaboration & consensus building between trans groups." to far more personal opportunities for self growth like "Singing as ourselves." and "Peeling off the layers: Finding our own body confidence."

The tickets are free, and I reckon it will be a super interesting couple of days

If anybody else is coming, let me know ^^ I'm planning to be there on Saturday and Sunday (since Friday is focused primarily on business affairs).

As for other thread things, welcome to Erin and Bellatrix! If you need peeps to talk to or want to meet up I'm always doing things out in the community, so send me a message

Also Sandra, I could give you a hand with a video if you would like to make one? I have all the equipment to do it and editing etc is a cinch for me. Of course how you choose to come out is a deeply personal choice, so if you would rather do it another way that's fine, but don't let not being a 1337 video editing genius stop you from doing so in video format if that's how you really want to do it ^^

Hi all, I come bearing some scary news...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-29804901

Basically, a stupid person at Sandyford clinic has managed to leak the identity of 86 transgender people. I'm registered to Sandyford myself, as I registered there while I was choosing between there or Chalmer's street.

I'm pooping myself over this, but I thought you all should know so you could look into it as well - I'm not just fearmongering!

Call them on 0141 211 8130 between 8:30 and 16:30

Do you think it would be worthwhile to repost about this leak as a fresh forum topic to draw attention?

Umm... Hi, by the way, I'm in Scotland myself so had followed this thread.

J
X

Hi Jessica X

I'll start a thread about it, just to get maximum exposure. It's an exclusively Scottish issue, but we better make sure any other Scots girls (or guys) out there that may have registered with Sandyford find out.

Also, welcome to the thread honey! *mwah*

I also visited Dr Perring and found him most helpful in digging down deeply into my former 68 years as a male feeling female!  But travelling down to London as a pensioner became too expensive so I gave up for a while whilst still feeling I should do somthing positive.  I met up with a psychosexual counsellor in my local city (Lincoln - Relate - NHS funded) and after my first session asked my GP to refer me as an NHS patient.  Success!  Local Trust funds me...After a couple of months managed an appointment with the Gender Identity Clinic in Nottingham and after three sessions (over 6 months) and a chat with an endocrinologist, was prescribed HRT - only oestrogen as I was already on Finateride for prostate enlargement.  This took in total 18 months.  My oestrogen levels are monitored every three months and I have just been prescribed a testosterone blocker that will be injected as a pellet sub-cutaneously as my testosterone levels were still within (just) normal male levels.  (Yet to start.)
I started full RLE last Spetember after my wife moved away into her own home.  (We still talk and see each other although a 400 mile round trip)  I wear skirts and dresses at home buit jeans when out shopping - just as every other woman does, it seems!  I am a member of a number of amateur radio clubs, motor sports clubs and sailing clubs - and no-one turnds a hair when I introduce myself with my feminine name.  I have just spent a couple of days crewing a 72' yacht in the Solent / Channel and was treated normally with no counter reaction.
I have booked an appointment with Brian Musgrove (whose name appears elsewhere on this forum) for some light 'cosmetic' work around my eyes and ears and a brow lift.  At 71 I would love to look as a yopung girls - but my body would give it all away!
So - it's a long haul and I envy all you youngsters who have managed to start early, but when I was your age, treatment would have been electric therapy under the Mental Health Act of the time.  At least the NHS now regards gender dysphoria as a Medical issue, not a mental health one.

Hi there Rafiki, welcome to the thread X

You've certainly got an active social life there, I'm housebound compared to you!

I've been away for a few days getting things together and moving forward on my own here - I'm full time now, and I've told my parents. I'm still shaking and about to go have a hot bubble bath and a glass of wine!

I just decided to tell them face to face, otherwise I'd keep putting it off. And - as everyone but me expected - it went well. It's going to take time to sink in to both of them, but they're both of the opinion that what makes me happy and stops me killing myself is a good thing, and they accept me.

My father did ask me not to 'camp it up' around him, I think he expects me to rock up in a miniskirt and suspenders next time I see him! He's the one I'm scared of the reaction of, and I will have to work to not be so 'overt' around him to start with. It took me a long time to come to terms with myself because of the point of view I'd inherited from him (I used to consider 'transsexual' a dirty word, and tried anything to claim I wasn't like that) he will accept me, but I'm going to have to understand that it will take him longer than anyone else to truly come to terms with it. Hoodies and baggy jeans when I'm at my parent's for the foreseeable future.

But I've done it. Now my life can actually begin. Next step is to get my ears pierced and to resist the urge to jump straight into self-medding.

I have a fortune cookie fortune on my desk that I've  had for about two weeks - it says 'All your hard work will soon be paid off'. I don't believe in fate so I've worked this week to make it come true myself. It's time to do something for me, and really start to live my life.

I hope everyone's week has been as productive and uplifting, love you all X

Ears pierced! I went for something rather subtle, but I love it X

Quote from: Sandra_Dickinson on November 03, 2014, 05:38:08 PM


Ears pierced! I went for something rather subtle, but I love it X

Looks good. Simple but effective

I love piercings, I guess when HRT starts I'll need to take out my nipple piercings though :s

Love that profile pic Bellatrix! Looking gorgeous X

Quote from: Sandra_Dickinson on November 03, 2014, 05:38:08 PM


Ears pierced! I went for something rather subtle, but I love it X

Aww, we got basically the same piercing on basically the same day. ^^''

Ooo, nice! ^^  I got mine done three weeks ago and it's basically the same, too.  Silver studs.

Also, Sandra, I'm so glad to hear your coming out to your work and your parents has gone well!  I know how much of a relief it must feel to have that out the way.    As for your Dad's reaction... I got a similar reaction when I first told my family... sort of like, "You're not gonna turn up in a dress next week, are you?"  My family have been supportive but awkward for months but I think (I hope) they're starting to relax and accept just a little more. I hope things go smoothly for you from now on. 


Can I also say hi and welcome to the other Scottish girls who've posted since I was last here (Bellatrix, Erin, Jessica).  I can't believe there are three of us from Tayside here now!  Or maybe I can, given what I was told about the numbers going through local assessment (about 2 per month).  But either way, it's nice to meet you all, and Rafiki too.


Hope things are going well for all of you.

Yeah! There is a surprising number of tayside trans peeps ^^

We should really get some form of support group up and running >.>

I can barely run my own life at the moment & I'm not the most social butterfly-y type, so I'd likely be both horrible and willfully negligent at organising anything (and it would stress me out terribly :p).  But I would totally be up for meeting!  I'm sure Kitty would too, assuming SOs were welcome. ^^

Sorry to ask, can any of you girls recommend a private gender counsellor in Edinburgh(shire)?

Tried to post this before but something went wrong. If a dupe appears sorry in advance

X

Dr Lyndsey Myskow

http://your-gp.com/services/sexual-health-gender-clinic/gender-dysphoria/

Thanks hon.
I was kind of thinking a counsellor around the £50-75hr mark rather than a physician at £230/hr though

Quote from: Jessica_S on November 18, 2014, 10:50:47 AM
Thanks hon.
I was kind of thinking a counsellor around the £50-75hr mark rather than a physician at £230/hr though

That's about the going rate for a GD therapist if you go private; although Dr. Curtis may be a bit cheaper after the first consultation, but you've got to fact in the train ride to London.

Quote from: Jessica_S on November 18, 2014, 10:50:47 AM
Thanks hon.
I was kind of thinking a counsellor around the £50-75hr mark rather than a physician at £230/hr though

True, but when it comes to this nothing is going to be cheap, and if it is cheap I would think twice about it.

If you were looking for an ongoing service I'm sure that there would be discounts for block booking etc, best bet is to give them a ring and talk it over with them. Any counselor will be be able to talk to you about the issues, however, for a specialist, especially in such a specific area its a small fortune I'm afraid, I guess it just depends how much detail and past experience you want from them.