to all girls in the UK...

So I have been to the doctor and discussed my gender issues with him. He then referred me straight to a psychologist as opposed to a Gender Clinic, under the reasoning that as soon as i went to the gender clinic they would send me off to a psychologist anyway and that this would save me some time. I can therefore turn up at the clinic with recommendations from both him and the psychologist and get things moving. Sounds good to me.

My appointment with said Psychologist is on the 12th of October, and I am worrying about what I am going to be asked and how I will come across. I have no doubts about my gender, or about what I want to do, but I do worry about not being taken as seriously as I need to be.

Shall I disguise myself in 'boy' mode, or go as myself? I am worried the former will make me seem less serious, but the latter will make me appear to be trying too hard. Does that make sense?

I guess I am just asking for a heads up from people in the UK who have already been through this to give me some idea of what to expect. If I am mentally prepared for anything, It will ease the next three weeks of panic and anxiety.

Thanks peeps

Tamz xxx

Hi Tammy, I'd say definitely go as the self you're most comfortable being, don't dress for anyone but you.

And don't be too worried - the psychologist/psychiatrist's job at this stage of the game is to reassure themselves that you are probably gender dysphoric, but they aren't trained in this area, so it's a fairly low-level assessment, just enough to be sure it's not something else entirely (there are forms of psychosis, for example, that can present a bit like gender dysphoria).

The main purpose of being filtered through a shrink on your way to the gender clinic is for them to assess whether you have any mental health issues - if you did, that wouldn't necessarily be an obstacle to getting treated at the gender clinic for your dysphoria, it's more that they want to make sure you get the full support you need for anything you might be dealing with alongside of dysphoria.

I was expecting a grilling when I went through this, but it wasn't that bad, it was fairly quick and perfunctory, so don't worry too much.

thank you, i feel much better.

I do suffer from other disorders, I have diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder, Bipolar Disorder and PTSD in the past, although the gender dyspohoria itself has been around longer than the symptoms of any of these other issues. One of my worries is just being told, 'oh that's just a symptom of BPD, take lots of happy pills and you'll be happy as a boy'.

I guess I over-analyse and think too hard about everything.

Tamz xxx

Overanalysis Rules (and is hard to type, and has over-anal in it)!!

I've heard that from people with BPD, but I think these days, the docs are more clued up on GD as a clearly separate entity. Have you got someone you could go with, if you're anxious about not being able to put your case? If you contact your local LGBT support folks, they often have advocates who are well-informed and happy to support people seeing doctors, shrinks and so on.

ah yes, anything with 'Anal' in it does make me chuckle a little.

I do know a few local trans people and speak to them regularly, but I have some issues with the local support group itself. I am hoping the friend who came to my first appointment will come to this one but it's on a uni day for her, and I have a hard time asking for help from friends. I am such an awkward case aren't I, heh.

I have started a transition blog on tumblr to get a lot of anxieties out of my system ( http://www.tumblr.com/blog/tamlynmac if interested ) and I am starting to come up with a plan of action for telling those in my life who don't already know, and making sure I'm far enough away from my brother to avoid a kicking when I do. I've also dropped 4 stone in weight to make transition more workable, so my biggest fear is mainly being told to go OD on antidepressants. I am feeling a bit more confidant now though, thank you

Tamz xx

Yeah, I know trans people aren't always the most supportive for trans people - the number of times all I get from people is variations on "you must be like me, so you should do what I'm doing" . (Which is of course nothing like what I did above ).

It's good to get into the habit of asking for help, because it's good to get into the habit of feeling like you deserve it. Let us know how it goes next month .

But plugging happy pills is profitable!

This is a very common and sad misconception, that if you are bipolar, borderline or sth like that, then being TS is a syndrome of this. Not at all. You are bipolar and borderline most likely BECAUSE you were born in the wrong gender, not the other way round so do not take these comments to heart sweettie

yes, I always felt that a lot of these other issues were caused be, or exacerbated at least, by my Gender issues.

Quote from: Devlyn Marie on September 16, 2012, 09:59:11 AM
But plugging happy pills is profitable!

There's an alternate way to have read this and it amused me greatly. 

hah, Asfsd... now there's a happy thought, lol

Tamz xxx

Quote from: Tammy Raine on September 16, 2012, 10:09:30 AM
yes, I always felt that a lot of these other issues were caused be, or exacerbated at least, by my Gender issues.

Just wondering, is it possible you only have BPD and that being BP was a misdiagnosis? BP is usually genetic whereas BPD is often environmental, BPD often looks like a speed up more complex version of BP.

BPD often stems from trauma, as does PTSD obviously, which is why I'm wondering if your bipolar diagnosis might be a mistake.

I think it may be. It was made by a psychologist whose grasp of english was pretty poor, and upon discovering I was bisexual, seemed to want to just rush things and get rid of me.

Sigh. Well, maybe going through this assessment process with the psychologist and the gender clinic will be an opportunity to put all the facts together and get your diagnoses reassessed.

Quote from: Asfsd4214 on September 16, 2012, 10:09:42 AM
There's an alternate way to have read this and it amused me greatly. 

I was just trying to go with the thread! It's behind me now.

I hope so... and here's me spending the past fifteen years just thinking I was crazy.

Tamz xxx

Spending your life trying to pass as a man is enough to make anyone a bit crazy. Bon voyage!

Quote from: Devlyn Marie on September 16, 2012, 10:21:04 AM
I was just trying to go with the thread! It's behind me now.

An interesting supposition...

Quote from: Tammy Raine on September 16, 2012, 10:22:24 AM
I hope so... and here's me spending the past fifteen years just thinking I was crazy.

Tamz xxx

Eh, it's not so bad being crazy, you get to meet lots of interesting people in nut houses and the emotional roller coaster keeps life interesting.

Normal people on the other hand, normal people I can't relate too.

Gotta try and see the glass half full... as tough as life can be, at least I can say my lifes been interesting. Of course I'm on the up side of the roller coaster at the moment, in another 20 minutes I might just as easily be saying how much life sucks and how much I hate everything and everybody and back to my bitter jaded persona again. 

Quote from: Padma on September 16, 2012, 10:27:25 AM
An interesting supposition...

Should we put it in the passt?