Has your social life changed at all since the actual start of transition. The taking of hormones and living properly or just living in proper attire without necessarily stating hormones. Has friends changed much or dating or parties or other social activities. For me it's just more of  willingness to think of doing  things. For a long time I just  shut myself away and worked on things that I'm planning on publishing at some point. I never did anything socially except working . I'm making plans to break free of the solitude a lot more often. I still haven't conquered the social dilemma , but I'm far more closer than I was pre HRT. It's a quite different realm to continuously present female. My social life isn't much , but I have far more hope than I ever did. I needed to cut all past ties with people because it just didn't give me the freedom I needed to create a new life.

I'm more outgoing and I am once again hanging out more with women than men.

I'm a vert... neither introvert nor extrovert. I enjoy social outings but only in the right circumstances and only so much of it. Sometimes it feels like I don't have enough, sometimes it feels like too much. I was like that pre HRT and transition...and while I still am, I do find myself a lot more social than before. Unbelievably for me, I have even instigated some of those outings too, including most recently a dinner with seven women I used to work with. It was an awesome evening. I still have some guys in my social circles but increasingly it is women - both cis and trans - who I hang with.

sounds good. That's what I'd like to get back to, I use to have a group of girls I hung out with. I cant do the all guy thing anymore iit just wouldn't make sense.

Mine still consists of solitude, I did a girls nite with my wifes friends, but so far thats it. Im more open to doing things, but frustrated that I wont do it as Rita.... that Im working on... but we all know how that feels

The amount of socializing hasn't changed, but I'm much more willing to make a fool out of myself in public now. I was too worried about self-image before.

Quote from: Emileeeee on December 18, 2015, 05:08:46 PM
The amount of socializing hasn't changed, but I'm much more willing to make a fool out of myself in public now. I was too worried about self-image before.

***rubs up against Emileeeee***  can some of that rub off on me.... please?

I've always been most comfortable in the company of women and with women as friends.

Now, being with me seems natural with them too. Everything just falls into place. When I go to a social gathering, I hang out with the women and everything is as it should be. I can make social overtures toward women I want to be friends with and not sound like I'm asking to have an affair.

I have to bat my social life away these days. Pre-HRT I never had trouble making friends but I was much more introverted and quiet. Now I've become more extroverted, talkative, etc. But I'm still an introvert at heart, so I enjoy my alone time when I get it, but I feel I have to really make time for that now because I have a lot of friends and a lot of people that want to be my friend (or more). It's a bit frustrating really... and I almost feel obligated, not only to others but to myself to get out of the house sometimes, because I can. And another thing is, now that I know I'm attractive, comfortable in my own skin (for the most part), and that I get attention from a wide variety of people, my confidence has gone way up. And even more than that, I've gotten attention from quite a few people that I would have previously thought were out of my league. Now I realize that all that has just dissolved. People are just people to me now. I can get along with almost anyone, talking to people is easy, and I don't feel that anyone is really above me anymore. It's made me a lot more sure of myself and more likely to speak my mind. If people disagree with me, tough. I don't feel like walking on egg shells for most people anymore, and I'm not afraid to lose 'friends' (not close friends anyway) because I know it won't leave me friendless. It's a good place for me now, because I want to start a business and I'm going to have to be tough and confident in my professional dealings, and I feel like I can actually deal with people when I need to. Still, there are times I get anxiety, or just don't want to talk to people.. times when I stress about my appearance out in public, or when I notice people looking at me. Not because of passability concerns, but just being noticed, almost like I have a spotlight on me sometimes. I'm sure it's just my own paranoia and crazy brain, lol. Something I still have to work on... Again, I don't care much what people think, but I care what I think.. :/

Yep. I used to be a complete introvert. Playing computer games, etc.

When I came out, I wanted to GET OUT and be seen for who I was. I was much more active and made new friends.

Old friend circles went away and new ones appeared. Over the years, those circles have faded and new ones have appeared even still. Kinda funny how life changes in general, even after transition.

Nowadays I find a happy medium between introvert and extrovert. I like both my alone time and my out and about time.

Pre transition social life was a big zero.

Now? I'm thinking of employing a social secretary to handle it.

I'm loving it! Even if I don't have enough time for my commitments.

I know I haven't achieved it yet , but I definitely sense the possibility whereas before the yellow brick road there was just an endless falling into a black abyss . I even had a bad knightmare about it right before I started HRT , I falling and trying to reach out for anyone's hand , but there was no one. Now it's so much different where the circle of people is expanding like the story Buddha tells of the stone thrown into the pond and the ever expanding rings reaching out and touching

I had the ability to have a social life before, but chose not to pursue it. Now I'm to busy for my own good. Social circle has certainly changed a couple times. Hugs
Mariah

I used to be more readily accepted by people.  I used to look a bit odd, but an amount that people didn't react to.  I notice people avoiding looking at me, being less welcoming.  I've noticed people observe my presence and try to play off like they didn't.  I've become a little more introverted than before.  Perhaps all of the above is anxiety.  People are nice when I approach them... I just feel like I have to do more approaching now.

Quote from: RitaChans on December 18, 2015, 05:24:43 PM

Quote from: Emileeeee
... I'm much more willing to make a fool out of myself in public now.

***rubs up against Emileeeee***  can some of that rub off on me.... please?

Well, there's a start...

Quote from: stephaniec on December 19, 2015, 01:20:49 AM
I know I haven't achieved it yet , but I definitely sense the possibility whereas before the yellow brick road there was just an endless falling into a black abyss . I even had a bad knightmare about it right before I started HRT , I falling and trying to reach out for anyone's hand , but there was no one. Now it's so much different where the circle of people is expanding like the story Buddha tells of the stone thrown into the pond and the ever expanding rings reaching out and touching

But now you are talking about relationships and have strong relationships with many of us!

Now that isn't that a big improvement?

yes it is , honestly I had no one. for a very long time other than my beautiful Belgium German Shepard that protected me.

Quote from: stephaniec on December 19, 2015, 01:43:53 AM
yes it is , honestly I had no one. for a very long time other than my beautiful Belgium German Shepard that protected me.

And now you reach out and support and offer love to others. Stephanie you are a pretty remarkable woman. And my life, and those of many others, are enriched by knowing you.

thanks

Total opposite from pre-hrt to the female me...

In the dark days when I was still a guy. I was very quiet and was not very sociable. I did not really worry about my looks and did not have really any friends.

Now... i am an outgoing woman, life of the party. I spend way to much time grooming myself and making sure my outfit is perfect. I have a close circle of "girl friends". I also have a wonderful boyfriend.

A group of us have been going out for drinks two nights a week, we've been doing this for many years. We always end up with the guys on one corner of the bar and the girls on the other corner. I never really talked very much, I guess I was just kind of there.

After coming out to them all a couple of months ago I've mostly moved over to the girls corner.
I don't know if its the hormones or a combination of that and finally getting my "secret" out in the open, but I talk now. Sometimes they can't shut me up! I'm definitely having a lot more fun and really look forward to our nights out. My friends say they have seen a good change in me.

I can't wait to start appearing as Charley.