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Feelings of hopelessness

Started by Alasdair, June 13, 2011, 11:10:40 AM

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Alasdair


Hey guys,
I've only been part of this forum for a very few weeks now but I can not say where I would be if I hadn't discovered it. However, for me, a forum simply isn't enough. I guess I have quite a bit of internalized transphobia (along with other issues Im dealing with) and simply put- ->-bleeped-<-'s just getting too hard. I am waiting to hear back from my psychiatrist as he is getting in touch with a couple of gender therapists, I have an appointment for 'in the meantime' with a counselor at the local GLBTQ center, and I have my regular therapist I see weekly.
I guess what my point is is how do/did you guys deal with any feelings of hopelessness/helplessness around being trans? Who felt like this in the very beginning?
It's hard having to write this stuff out and asking for help is NOT one of my favorite things to do but I have got to do it (and maybe someone else is feeling like this too and is afraid to ask). I know though this is the ONLY place Ive got right now to say this and not have fear of judgement.
Thanks for any replys
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Alex37

Hey,

I've been there, and I still am there to an extent.  When I first came out I thought I was completely alone, except for this board which is amazing, but it's still difficult when there's no one else who understands.  I also had a ton of internalized transphobia, and even though I'm not into organized religion anymore, I couldn't help but think that god didn't love me, and that I was a freak and I'd never find friends who accept me.  None of that's true though.  A lot of people are transphobic, but there are plenty of people who aren't, and in my experience, more people than you'd think accept it when they see your truly happy.  And you're not a freak or anything; being transgender is natural, albeit rare.  Other than having a body that doesn't make sense to you, there's nothing wrong with you at all in relation to being transgender. 

I don't know what to tell you to help you cope.  All I know is with patience, you'll get where you want to be.  If you want to start T, that will happen, if you want to get surgery, you can make that happen eventually.  Coming out to friends and family is difficult, but the people who love you will still love you, even if they react negatively for a while.  And if they never come around, you can make new friends and build a new family.  It's difficult, but we're here for you. 

The best thing I can think of to do about the feelings of hopelessness and helplessness is take action.  Figure out what the next step for you is, and do it.  It may be getting a haircut, starting to bind, coming out to a friend, going to a support group meeting, etc.  But take small steps to get where you want to be. 

And don't hesitate to ask for help on here; that's what we're here for.   :icon_hug:
If you're going through hell, keep going.   Winston Churchill
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insideontheoutside

There's like 4 people in my life that know what my "deal" is. Everyone else just thinks I'm a very odd chick. Meh. I'm past the tumultuous teens and 20's and into the 30's and life is different. Some things aren't as important to me as they used to be.  There's also some things that I feel I'll never be cool with or will never change and that's a bummer but one I am continually learning to live with.

Bottom line is I found there are many more enjoyable things about life that have nothing to do with gender or the way my physical body is. It's about shift in focus. It's also an on-going, continual process to have new experiences, find new things to focus on, discover new ways of dealing with things I can't change, etc.
"Let's conspire to ignite all the souls that would die just to feel alive."
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Alasdair

Hey guys thank you both very much for your replys. Makes a lot of sense and gives me some things to think about.....
much appreciated
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