My parents have been very supportive ever since I came out to them. My dad wants to ensure that I get the best possible therapy, so we are planning to go for a group therapy session at another psychiatrist.
     This new psychiatrist talked about a 3 week long therapy, where he will initially confirm the diagnosis and then start counselling. He also said that counselling is required even for parents.
 
     I am afraid he may think, I am not trans enough to transition.
    What if he doesn't believe me?

      Is there someway I can convince him about what I feel?


     
   

The best way to convince him you're not lying is to not worry about it.  Be yourself, share what you truly feel and just let it play out. If you spend time trying to say the right things that's what will set off alarm bells in his mind that maybe you're not being truthful.

Unless you're going to a terribly horrible psychiatrist, they don't spend their time trying to find evidence to prove that you're not feeling what you claim to feel.  Instead, their goal is to find out why you do feel what you do and in actuality to lead you to find out why you feel what you do.

So don't sweat it.  Try to trust the person you're meeting and be as open as you can.  Be aware, no matter how sure you are, there's still a process of self discover you'll need to work through.  Alow yourself to feel, allow yourself to be honest, allow yourself to consider ideas that maybe you previously thought were preposterous, and you'll do well.

If they follow WPATH standards the goal of the psychiatrist isn't to diagnose you as trans but to see if you have consistant instances of past GD, if you seem mature enough to medically transition and if you have any serious mental health issues which may be prohibiting you from thinking clearly. They also shouldn't interogate you and try to tick off boxes to see if you have all the same interests that a woman 'should' have. Instead they should let you lead the conversation instead of them telling you how you should feel.

So yeah nothing to worry about. Just answer as truthfully as you can. They'll be understanding if you can't remember the exact ages of when you showed signs of being trans or if you seem muddled as to when you were aware of being trans.

not quite what you're asking, but I think it's best to find a psych that's been reccomend by other trans people.

I have been watching you a while on the site and the only way a doctor would not consider you transgender is if they don't have sufficient training to treat you. If a therapist should reject you, seek out another therapist. I knew you were hurting badly but that picture of your arm was over the top and you needed help now.

Thank you everyone

I feel like I am losing it again.

For the past two days, I am feeling suicidal, I am hurting inside. I need to be strong.

Is there anyone you can call? Just for right now?

I'm sorry to hear that Saira.  You've done all the right things.  Just hint about how far you've already come, talking with your parents, and having therapy lined up now.  That is a fantastic bit of progress!

And Saira, as others have said, just be yourself in therapy.  From your posts here, and even the way you feel right now, I have no doubt that you are indeed a transgender person, and suffering from gender dysphoria.

Remember that this is essentially a self-diagnosed condition.  The therapist just needs to verify this condition and make sure you are able to make decisions about your treatment going forward.  They are not sitting in judgement, just there to help.  The idea of sessions with your parents is great, and should help both you and your parents in processing all of this.

It all seems overwhelming, but you've done the hardest part already.

Remember how you felt right after you told your parents.  Just hold that feeling. Close your eyes, take a deep breath, let it out and recall that feeling. 


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

What Michelle said. You have come all this way... keep going <3

If it helps, sweetie, think about it this way: this short time before you can be yourself... it's a drop in the ocean, okay? A tiny little raindrop. Focus on the rest of your life, where you don't have to hide who you are. Where you don't have to push it all down, okay? Focus on all the years ahead of you where you can explore life true to yourself. Where whatever happens, you can face it knowing that you aren't going to be treated like the person the world thought you were anymore. That person you didn't want to be.

Think about how that will feel, okay? Think about how free you will be. Where the hurt you're feeling now is gone, because you're able to live your life the way you want. Take a few minutes to think about that, okay? Close your eyes and let it wash over you.

That time is coming, sweetie. It's so close now. You just have to hold on a bit longer. And it will last for so long that this time now will seem like the blink of an eye. When you're feeling down, and it's dark in front of you, just remember those feelings okay? When you think of how it's going to be when you get what you've needed for so long. Hold on to the light of the person you are, and are going to become... and let that push away the darkness of the person you can't be anymore.

You can do it, sweetie. That light inside you is stronger than the darkness. She hasn't gone away no matter how dark the night has been. So if you need proof of that, there it is. And her dawn is breaking. Just hold on a bit longer, okay?

*extra big hug*

Best wishes Saira, I cannot speak at all to your social context, you've said therapy is somewhat stigmatized where you live.

Since you're dealing with both being trans and memories of abuse, remember that the answers to the first aren't necessarily the same as for the second.

Also you're dealing with a lot of new things right now and it's been my experience that those can be the worst times. You're getting help and you're also delving into completely new territory. In my experience, those have been the most difficult and frightening times.

Stay with it, if therapy is difficult, don't hesitate to reach out, many of us have been there and we all want to help in so far as that's possible.

Quote from: AnxietyDisord3r on January 24, 2017, 09:52:20 AM
Is there anyone you can call? Just for right now?

No, I don't have anyone. But, I'm feeling ok now.

Thank you

Quote from: Michelle_P on January 24, 2017, 11:12:23 AM
I'm sorry to hear that Saira.  You've done all the right things.  Just hint about how far you've already come, talking with your parents, and having therapy lined up now.  That is a fantastic bit of progress!

And Saira, as others have said, just be yourself in therapy.  From your posts here, and even the way you feel right now, I have no doubt that you are indeed a transgender person, and suffering from gender dysphoria.

Remember that this is essentially a self-diagnosed condition.  The therapist just needs to verify this condition and make sure you are able to make decisions about your treatment going forward.  They are not sitting in judgement, just there to help.  The idea of sessions with your parents is great, and should help both you and your parents in processing all of this.

It all seems overwhelming, but you've done the hardest part already.

Remember how you felt right after you told your parents.  Just hold that feeling. Close your eyes, take a deep breath, let it out and recall that feeling. 


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Thank you so much Michelle.

Quote from: SailorMars1994 on January 24, 2017, 11:54:46 AM
What Michelle said. You have come all this way... keep going <3

Thank you Sailormars

Quote from: Sephirah on January 24, 2017, 12:48:55 PM
If it helps, sweetie, think about it this way: this short time before you can be yourself... it's a drop in the ocean, okay? A tiny little raindrop. Focus on the rest of your life, where you don't have to hide who you are. Where you don't have to push it all down, okay? Focus on all the years ahead of you where you can explore life true to yourself. Where whatever happens, you can face it knowing that you aren't going to be treated like the person the world thought you were anymore. That person you didn't want to be.

Think about how that will feel, okay? Think about how free you will be. Where the hurt you're feeling now is gone, because you're able to live your life the way you want. Take a few minutes to think about that, okay? Close your eyes and let it wash over you.

That time is coming, sweetie. It's so close now. You just have to hold on a bit longer. And it will last for so long that this time now will seem like the blink of an eye. When you're feeling down, and it's dark in front of you, just remember those feelings okay? When you think of how it's going to be when you get what you've needed for so long. Hold on to the light of the person you are, and are going to become... and let that push away the darkness of the person you can't be anymore.

You can do it, sweetie. That light inside you is stronger than the darkness. She hasn't gone away no matter how dark the night has been. So if you need proof of that, there it is. And her dawn is breaking. Just hold on a bit longer, okay?

*extra big hug*

I know its so close.
     I have a therapy session on Saturday. Following that, I have a session with my family for 3 weeks.

Quote from: Sephirah on January 24, 2017, 12:48:55 PM
If it helps, sweetie, think about it this way: this short time before you can be yourself... it's a drop in the ocean, okay? A tiny little raindrop. Focus on the rest of your life, where you don't have to hide who you are. Where you don't have to push it all down, okay? Focus on all the years ahead of you where you can explore life true to yourself. Where whatever happens, you can face it knowing that you aren't going to be treated like the person the world thought you were anymore. That person you didn't want to be.

Think about how that will feel, okay? Think about how free you will be. Where the hurt you're feeling now is gone, because you're able to live your life the way you want. Take a few minutes to think about that, okay? Close your eyes and let it wash over you.

That time is coming, sweetie. It's so close now. You just have to hold on a bit longer. And it will last for so long that this time now will seem like the blink of an eye. When you're feeling down, and it's dark in front of you, just remember those feelings okay? When you think of how it's going to be when you get what you've needed for so long. Hold on to the light of the person you are, and are going to become... and let that push away the darkness of the person you can't be anymore.

You can do it, sweetie. That light inside you is stronger than the darkness. She hasn't gone away no matter how dark the night has been. So if you need proof of that, there it is. And her dawn is breaking. Just hold on a bit longer, okay?

*extra big hug*

Hugs.

Quote from: SadieBlake on January 24, 2017, 01:42:14 PM
Best wishes Saira, I cannot speak at all to your social context, you've said therapy is somewhat stigmatized where you live.

Since you're dealing with both being trans and memories of abuse, remember that the answers to the first aren't necessarily the same as for the second.

Also you're dealing with a lot of new things right now and it's been my experience that those can be the worst times. You're getting help and you're also delving into completely new territory. In my experience, those have been the most difficult and frightening times.

Stay with it, if therapy is difficult, don't hesitate to reach out, many of us have been there and we all want to help in so far as that's possible.

Thank you so much.

Love,
Saira

I recently had an appointment with my psychiatrist, and I had to give the MCMI test.
   It had 175 yes/no questions. The psych says it is part of my assessment.

Did any of you give this test?
   What should I expect from the results?