I just found a transgender/crossdresser support group here in Columbus, at the Stonewall center.  Anybody in this area who's possibly been to one of their meetings?  Or anyone who has experience going to a support group at all before?  I think I'm going to go...

Joining this site has certainly already made me feel a WHOLE lot less alone in feeling the way I do, but at the same time it's still kind of difficult for me to even be honest with myself yet, so I don't know what I want.  But talking to someone face to face about it might go even further helping me kind of... think of myself as less weird.  It's strange how I can read entries on here and think everyone *else* is perfectly normal, but to think I feel the same way, though it feels true and right, still flares up some feelings of awkwardness or maybe even shame   I really, really need to work out my feelings and maybe the people at this meeting can help me figure out how/where to find counselling and that stuff.

Wish me luck

Luck!

P.s. Finding a qualified gender therapist may indeed help you sort though some of your thoughts and feelings

  Gald to hear you have found a group to check out. HOpe it works out for you and proves to be helpful to you.

Yes do take that next step you're pondering and find a Therapist to help you sort through your feelings. It will be very enlightening too.

Smiles,
Peggiann

If you have a place to go then that is great. I think it would help face to face. I never had that, infact the first time I met a FtM face to face was just one week ago when I got my stitches out in the doctors office, and there was like 4 other guys there. It was strange, but cool. One guy was all excited to met others too. His surgery was the day I left to come home. I gave his this website, so I hope he drops by here when he is up to it. If it were not for this place to come to leading up to my surgery and now, I don't know how I would be. You just have to thinl things through. But this is a good place to do it.

                                             Marco

I'm kind of excited and nervous...  They only meet once a month so I have like 3 weeks before it comes around again.  But I wanted to kind of announce I was doing it to make it feel official

Just remember you always have us.

                      Marco

Best wishes and good luck to you!

I'm glad you have found a therapist in you area, and I'm sure that the day you see hir will be the beginning of a new life full of wonderful surprises for you!


tinkerbell

Any support you can find is welcome.

Support groups are great, being able to meet like minded people in the flesh and talk first hand about their experiences. When I first faced my fears I joined a local group who had meetings every 2 weeks and this was a beneficial experience in many ways.

As the others have said a gender specialist can also help explore your feelings and again talking to a specialist is key if you want to move forward or even get clarification or where you are.

We are all perfectly "normal " people, never forget that, we just have different issues than everyone else.

No one is ever alone here.....

Buffy

Hi Nonie:

I would strongly encourage you to go to a support group meeting.  This past Saturday I went to group I found online and it was great.  I was able to meet in a social setting with other trans folks and friends.  The group was a nice mix of MtF and FtM, and preop and post op, and everything in between.

Like you said, talking with someone face to face, making a human connection is so satisfying.  There were no "freaks" there, just normal everyday people, living basically normal everyday lives, who happen to be living a trans life.

I was treated and accepted for the woman I am.  I tried on lots of outfits to pick just the right one.  I had a taste of the life I am seeking and it was more than I could hoped for.

If you go to the support group you will meet like minded people and make some good friends.  And it's a good way to out go out dressed and be safe.

Maya

Yeah!  I'm really excited to go...  I think I made a big step when I realized that if this problem was psychological, so would its treatment be, but sine the treatment is physical, then the problem is biological and thus on par with like a birth deformity and thus obviously no one's fault.  I hadn't thought it was before but I feel kinda more secure now that I have a way to explain that I'm not just a mental case to those I come out to.

thats great support can only be a good thing uh i think enjoy man !!!
take care
              jaded