Hello there, quick intro.

My name is Sam Edwards and I am 23 years old living in the UK. I have recently come out to my parents (in the form of a letter) explaining about how I have always identified as a girl. Thankfully they were very very supportive.

I have been to see the GP twice and given him the letter now he has referred me onto a mental health team for assessment whether or not I am considered transgender. The only problem is about 6 months ago I had a suicidal episode (an issue seperate from this) and one of the question he asked was you dont have any mental issues now causing you to think like this? I said to him adamantly that this had been going on far far longer than before this issue.

The psychiatrist I am seeing is the same one I was with back then and I am worried she might think this is just a mental issue than the real deal. I am 100% certain and feel great since coming out but now have this dread of being blocked out by the doctors and having to access the less legal routes of obtaining hormones etc if at all.  Someone suggested than I 'dress up' for the occassion meaning that I should dress as a female however I'm not stereotypical in the fact I dont have a huge amount of intrest in looking super feminine? If anything I actually consider myself a tomboy and the only thing I can think of doing on that front is wearing brighter colors.

Any advice?

Hi Sam, Welcome to Susan's. I'm glad you have started down your path to discovery your gender identity. I have no doubt that it's a huge wait off your shoulders having come out to your doctor and parents already. I look forward to seeing you around the site. Good luck and Hugs.

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I'm also in the UK and it's not necessary now to go to a mental team, all you do is ask your gp to send you to a gender identity clinic (can be anyone in the country you'd like). GPs don't tend to have a lot of experience with trans patients so you may have to be adamant that it is the right procedure. A gender therapist will be qualified enough to know whether you're trans or not and will separate suicidal thoughts from actual trans feelings and will know that gender expression and identity are two different things. Sorry if by mental health team you did mean a gic and I'm just blathering on, a few trans people seem to still think that you have to see a general psychiatrist and then go to a gic and I'd hate for you to waste your time. Btw, I'm 21 and just recently came out to my dad, it's nice to know that not everyone transitions early, good luck

okay thanks mariah but need advice for this situation

I know you do and Sam I wish I had those answers for you. Others will be along who are more familiar with how things work in UK. Just because someone was previously suicidal doesn't mean they will block you from anything. A good number of people coming intro transition have had suicidal thoughts. It's actually very common so the odds of you being blocked for that reason is actually very low. Elis gave you a great answer as to what your next step should be. Hugs
Mariah

Quote from: Elis on May 01, 2015, 04:54:42 PM
I'm also in the UK and it's not necessary now to go to a mental team, all you do is ask your gp to send you to a gender identity clinic (can be anyone in the country you'd like). GPs don't tend to have a lot of experience with trans patients so you may have to be adamant that it is the right procedure. A gender therapist will be qualified enough to know whether you're trans or not and will separate suicidal thoughts from actual trans feelings and will know that gender expression and identity are two different things. Sorry if by mental health team you did mean a gic and I'm just blathering on, a few trans people seem to still think that you have to see a general psychiatrist and then go to a gic and I'd hate for you to waste your time. Btw, I'm 21 and just recently came out to my dad, it's nice to know that not everyone transitions early, good luck

Quote from: Elis on May 01, 2015, 04:54:42 PM
I'm also in the UK and it's not necessary now to go to a mental team, all you do is ask your gp to send you to a gender identity clinic (can be anyone in the country you'd like). GPs don't tend to have a lot of experience with trans patients so you may have to be adamant that it is the right procedure. A gender therapist will be qualified enough to know whether you're trans or not and will separate suicidal thoughts from actual trans feelings. Sorry if by mental health team you did mean a gic and I'm just blathering on, a few trans people seem to still think that you have to see a general psychiatrist and then go to a gic and I'd hate for you to waste your time. Btw, I'm 21 and just recently came out to my dad, it's nice to know that not everyone transitions early, good luck

Thank you for your post. Unfortunately it was the GP who referred me to mental health for an assessment, after he said they can refer me to a gender clinic.

Can I refer myself to a gender clinic?

You can only refer yourself to a gic if you go private. To me this sounds like a gp who isn't familiar with the new procedure of immediately referring you to a gic to see a gender therapist. I'd ask him directly to refer you to a gic and if he still says that he'll only refer you to a general mental health place, find another gp.

Quote from: Elis on May 01, 2015, 05:06:57 PM
You can only refer yourself to a gic if you go private. To me this sounds like a gp who isn't familiar with the new procedure of immediately referring you to a gic to see a gender therapist. I'd ask him directly to refer you to a gic and if he still says that he'll only refer you to a general mental health place, find another gp.

According to him and the NHS site this is the usual way to do it?

Hmm, I'm just going by other trans people's uk experiences that I've heard of through the years. I also just checked the NHS website again and under treatment for adults it's said you should be referred to a GIC http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Gender-dysphoria/Pages/Treatment.aspx. Sorry for the confusion :/

Quote from: Elis on May 01, 2015, 05:28:05 PM
Hmm, I'm just going by other trans people's uk experiences that I've heard of through the years. I also just checked the NHS website again and under treatment for adults it's said you should be referred to a GIC http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Gender-dysphoria/Pages/Treatment.aspx. Sorry for the confusion :/

Thank you for that, I will rebook to see another Gp, btw you seem really nice

Thank you, if you need any more advice feel free to PM me

Quote from: Elis on May 01, 2015, 05:41:10 PM
Thank you, if you need any more advice feel free to PM me

It wont let me view your profile 

can you skype me, are we allowed to share it? (just text)

You just need to reach 15 posts for most features to be available to you. Hugs
Mariah

Quote from: Skylar1992 on May 01, 2015, 05:44:24 PM
It wont let me view your profile 

can you skype me, are we allowed to share it? (just text)

Here might be a bit more information:
https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,167137.msg1451262.html#msg1451262

hugs

Quote from: Skylar1992 on May 01, 2015, 05:44:24 PM
It wont let me view your profile 

can you skype me, are we allowed to share it? (just text)

Oh . I checked out your profile (hope you don't mind) and says you have ten posts, just 5 more to go until we can PM each other