Quote from: heatherrose on August 02, 2006, 07:12:34 AM

Because of the career choice that I have made I feel that I am being hindered in my transition. I feel that I can not set up appointments to see shrinks because I probably wont be able to keep them. I some times am so dispondant about this that tears fill my eyes.

I love the profession that I have chosen, It provides me with the means to accomplish my goal of becoming the the woman that I am but at the same time, it hinders me from obtaining it

I am so tempted to obtain 'mones on my own and forego the seemingly insurmountable obsticles that face me.

Ladies and gents, please if you have any suggestions or experience similar to mine, please feel free to put in your two cents worth, it will probably worth 1000 dollars to me.

Always love,
Heather Rose

Hello Heather.

You said in your post that you "I feel that I can not set up appointments to see shrinks because I probably wont be able to keep them."  Have you tried?  I have a huge workload myself and I'm the only one at my company who can do my job and yet I'm still able to schedule Dr's, electro, therapy appointments.

You should try and make deals with your employer such as work through a lunch break, work a longer shift or hours to make up for the time off that you need.  That way you are not short changing your employer and they get their work entitlement from you.  It worked for me.

And non-prescription mones is fool hardy, is fraught with danger, and strongly advised against by Susan's.  Nuf said on that.

Just my 2 cents to contribute to your thousands.

Steph

Quote from: heatherrose on August 02, 2006, 07:12:34 AM

Because of the career choice that I have made I feel that I am being hindered in my transition. I feel that I can not set up appointments to see shrinks because I probably wont be able to keep them. I some times am so dispondant about this that tears fill my eyes.

I love the profession that I have chosen, It provides me with the means to accomplish my goal of becoming the the woman that I am but at the same time, it hinders me from obtaining it

I am so tempted to obtain 'mones on my own and forego the seemingly insurmountable obsticles that face me.

Ladies and gents, please if you have any suggestions or experience similar to mine, please feel free to put in your two cents worth, it will probably worth 1000 dollars to me.

Always love,
Heather Rose

Heather,

You might be surprised at the hours a psychiatrist or psycologist keeps.  Odds are that you can find one that fits your schedule.  Steph's suggestions about altering your work schedule do work.  You should find that most employers are open to them.

And stay away from the gray-market 'mones you can get on the internet.  The medical complications that can arise from not being monitored by your physician are far too great.  The air would not be as sweet if we were to lose you.

Chaunte

Hi Heather,

Therapists can often be more flexible than psychiatrists/psychologists. My therapist is willing to meet at night (tonight in fact) and on weekends... making it much more convenient for me.

Do you have any vacation or personal time? I know it's ashame to use it up, but you can always burn some of those (partial?) days too. I've been taking the day off after laser sessions, for example, to heal up a bit before going back.

There are also internet therapists you can use who provide therapy via telephone conferences. I don't know if any stick to the SOC, but it's a thought.

Hi Heather,

I fully support everything that has been said so far.

I was able to schedule all my appointments outside of work, when I needed them. Also at weekends if need be.

If you are paying, most people are flexible and will find the time to see you. What about taking a days holiday???

Never be tempted to buy hormones on the blackmarket OR take them unsupervised after buying them from the internet. It may seem like a good thing to do at the time but without proper monitoring can be very dangerous.

Transition is a journey and like all journeys takes as much time as is needed, never take unknown shortcuts.

Buffy

I'm sorry you feel that way.  I remember having that feeling as well and I became suicidal over it.  Be careful, because seeing a therapist may become a matter of life and death.

Melissa

As much as you Love your occupation ( which by all means if you love it haing on to it as long as you can !) then I'ed say ..."MAKE THE TIME" to see the theropsest even if your tired and all that,its a very important and nessarry part of transision... without it
you will stagnate. or regress. you need to keep moveing foward.
As others have said see if you can get your appointments after work or at the spur of the moment , thats what phones are for....use it ... make it work for you !
....
if your Occupation is limiting the rest of your life it realy depends on how much you want that occupation, if you realy love it then by all means haing on to it...Most Real life details can be worked around a occupation ...some instances simply can't be , but MOST CAN
Tyr a bit harder and Juggle the things you must, doing this takes its toll on you too but
in the end you are the one you are doing it for and you are the one that must deside if its worth it or not....
  Occupations come and go.  your life is more important ! thats the bottom line.

Bob.........

Hi Heather:

I'm so sorry to hear you are going through a hectic period in your life right now.  I have to agree with some people here; some therapists are able to see patients at very funny hours and even weekends.  Is there any way you can make these appointments on your days off?  Most of us have busy lives and work crazy hours during the week as well but we have at least one day off to rest and reinforce our minds for the following week of work; so perhaps you may be able to make your appointments on this day off or talk to your employer about ATO's (appointment time off) or a similar arrangement.

Buying hormones online or on the streets is a big NO NO, for they are very dangerous if taken without medical supervision. 

I really hope that everything turns out well, Heather.  Please keep us posted if you will.  Thank you.


tinkerbell

Hi
I was in the same place as well until a dear sweet friend told me very directly, that I can't afford NOT to go at all costs! Well, that not only saved my life, but was a very significant turning point in my transition!
Hugs
Jennifer

Hi, Heather

Just to add to the suggestion that you can find a therapist that accomodates your hours -- I have my therapy sessions at 6 am, an hour before I start work.  My therapist calls me from his office in the Eastern time zone, so it's 9 am there.  I miss the face-to-face contact, but when we're done with the 50 minutes, I'm already sitting at my desk, ready to go to work.  And he STILL manages to help me via a phone call.

I get electro either Friday night (my preference,) or sometime Saturday each week.

I've had to move heaven and earth to make these changes in my schedule, and work can still interfere with transition activities, but it's not as often or as bad as I originally imagined.  My boss looks out for anything that may impact my schedule and makes sure I know about it as soon as possible, so I can make changes.

And like Jennifer just said, you can't afford NOT to transition!

Karen

HI Heather,

Stagnant in your case it sounds is by choice and that is fixable!

When we want something bad enough we figure out a way to make it happen. Sometimes we move forword and become content at different intervels in our moving through life. But I'd say if tears are forming your eyes you're more frustrated and the issues with work will begin to make you not like your job so well and resentment will set in. For the sake of keeping your healthy out look on your chosen profession and your health by not taking the step mentioned to unperscribed mones and getting yourself set up with an appointment is strongly urged. Regardless of what it takes you away from. Let me ask this, Are you really all there when at work, or you are longing to have time for something eles you personally need? Are you really being able to have your mind 100% on the work when you need to or is there day-dreaming about your journey that isn't moving anywhere in the pssoititive direction.

As other's have stated DR.'s are willing to work with your schedual, you just need to find the one that is. You have been given great suggestions try everyone of them before you take that step toward unperscribed meds. If one doesn't work try another so that you will at least feel you are attempting to move forword and who knows in the process of illmination you may just find a way to have your cake and eat it too.

Smiles,
Peggiann

Quote from: heatherrose on August 26, 2006, 08:04:29 PM

I thank y'all for your responses. Maybe I should have included iin my post the fact that I am a long haul trucker. I do not know one day where I will be the next. I do sometimes envy y'all with your 9-5 jobs but I do not last long in that environent, walls and I don't get along. I do understand that it must be difficult for anyone to realize what it's like to live the way I do.

Rest assured, even though I may think about obtaining blackmarket hormones, I am much more intelligent than that.

Eventually, I'll figure out how to obtain my goal without a magic wand.

Please stay tuned to the saga of Heather.

Always Love,
Heather Rose

Hey you!  how are you?  I'm glad you are still posting here; hope everything is going well with you.  Yes you told me once that you were a trucker....believe me it is not fun to have a 9 to 5 job; actually in my case, it seems like a 9 to 9 job lately .  Sometimes I am a bit stressed out ; I soooooooooo need a vacation!

Take care Heather Rose, drive safe and keep posting....


tinkerbell  

Cool !  My Step Dad was a long haul trucker hauling nitrous oxide to hospitals all over the nation !  and like you say you never know where you will be when your log book runs out of hours.   weather you Sleep in the truck or get a Motel  you can alwayse get a local phone book and do some looking for theropest and such...  you can alwayse go the Phone theropery Way, as My Kid has done which works very well sense we live way out in the boonies.
you could have a set time to call the theropest and that way you can get started... they are usually very adaptable in their times so this may well be the way to go for you , should you need to go thet route.
  Haing in there Heather Rose !  life does get better !
...
C ya
Bob.......

Hi Tink, Bob and all,

I wish I could spend more time chatting and posting in the forums but it seems that I spend most of my time loading, unloading, driving, sleeping, or eatin' (low carb). Thanks so much for your responses, if I don't post for I while don't worry, I'll check back in eventually. I've been having a problem lately getting into the chat room from these kiosk internet terminals. I hope I'll be able to get in there again soon.

time running out be back later.

No Problem HeatherRose !
hop in when you can !  I realy think a Phone Theripest is the way to go in your case... chances are you could call the theripest when ever you have the time !
.... especially if you explain that your on the road 24hrs a day and never know where you will be next...
seriously , check it out... if one fella' won't do it maybe the next one will.
but keep presueing it ...
you deserve to be happy in life, so do that for yourself!
...
c ya
Bob........