Ok, so I'm absolutely terrified of people seeing me as a "freak" or "weirdo" because I'm trans. I know it's inevitable but I just don't know how to overcome it.  I've had this form of social anxiety (being seen as a freak, abnormal, etc) since a teen.  However, I've heard a few people say that they were the same before they started HRT, which seemed to make their social anxiety vanish, and they became confident enough to transition socially. I'm wondering how common this is, and is it simply because their brain works better on oestrogen?

It works differently for everyone. Some overcome their social anxiety, some don't and for some it becomes worse. The thing is not to see HRT as a possible way out of social anxiety and work on why it is there to begin with and ways to overcome it. The core principle is to stop caring what others think about you and gain confidence to be yourself - the trick is in how you can do that in a way that works for you.

We all have been raised with the idea to conform and everybody has nerves when they first appear in public. The best way to deal with them is to go safe places first. For me it was my therapy group. You might visit family or friends or go some place where there are few people and nobody knows you. After a few outings, you will be able to deal with locations that are more likely to cause discomfort. It's pretty much teaching your brain that nothing is going to happen to you so you don't need to worry. My hormone levels were constant all the way through the transition period and the hormones didn't change how I felt. What did change how I felt was social acceptance.

I express in the gayborhood which is safe, electrolysis and home when my daughter is not around. I will start expressing at work next week, which has me nervous. For me, adding something a little at a time helps. There are some things that just are uncomfortable but will be ok after you do it a few times.

I am out at work 100% as of last Friday and Monday I will express. This took me over 3 years. It sounds like a lot in a week but nothing in 3 years. Everyone is different and there is no schedule or right or wrong way.