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How to handle the feelings of shame?

Started by tammy753, May 28, 2026, 09:54:52 AM

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tammy753

Thanks, I have a new plan that I worked with my therapist on. I will be moving to a new city in a year and a half or so. I am hoping that Colorado is more excepting than where I live now. I need to wait to be able to access my retirement savings in order to move. So that is my goal, having that in my head is helping me.

Lori Dee

Quote from: tammy753 on June 23, 2026, 10:28:26 AMThanks, I have a new plan that I worked with my therapist on. I will be moving to a new city in a year and a half or so. I am hoping that Colorado is more excepting than where I live now. I need to wait to be able to access my retirement savings in order to move. So that is my goal, having that in my head is helping me.

Many parts of Colorado are very accepting. Do you have an idea of what part of the state interests you? There are also strong conservative areas. Do your research on issues that matter to you. A VERY GENERAL overview is that Central Colorado south of Denver is more liberal. Northern counties, the western slope, and the eastern plains are more conservative, but those are smaller cities than the big metro areas. Even within those conservative areas are pockets of acceptance, especially near colleges and universities.
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tammy753

Quote from: Lori Dee on June 23, 2026, 10:43:35 AMMany parts of Colorado are very accepting. Do you have an idea of what part of the state interests you? There are also strong conservative areas. Do your research on issues that matter to you. A VERY GENERAL overview is that Central Colorado south of Denver is more liberal. Northern counties, the western slope, and the eastern plains are more conservative, but those are smaller cities than the big metro areas. Even within those conservative areas are pockets of acceptance, especially near colleges and universities.


I like to 4x4 and I would like to rekindle my artistic side so I was looking at Pueblo. I am hoping to be able to buy a house out right there and there is a 4x4 club that accepts transwomen so I intend to join that. From what I saw online they have adult art classes and open studio time so it sounds like a place I would like. I will miss trees and stuff but I have a Jeep I can go to the trees.

Lori Dee

Quote from: tammy753 on June 23, 2026, 05:42:53 PMI like to 4x4 and I would like to rekindle my artistic side so I was looking at Pueblo. I am hoping to be able to buy a house out right there and there is a 4x4 club that accepts transwomen so I intend to join that. From what I saw online they have adult art classes and open studio time so it sounds like a place I would like. I will miss trees and stuff but I have a Jeep I can go to the trees.

I've been in Pueblo for a year now. They do have a lot for the arts scene and are quite accepting. The Pueblo Pride event was awesome.

I am looking to move further west to get closer to the mountains. There just isn't much available out that way. But I continue to look.
My Life is Based on a True Story <-- The Story of Lori
The Story of Lori, Chapter 2
Veteran U.S. Army - SSG (Staff Sergeant) - M60A3 Tank Master Gunner
2017 - GD Diagnosis / 2019- 2nd Diagnosis / 2020 - HRT / 2022 - FFS & Legal Name Change
/ 2024 - Voice Training / 2025 - Passport & IDs complete - Started Electrolysis!

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tammy753

I have seen a lot of houses for sale and they are mostly in my budget so in a year and a half I should be able to buy a house. I saw a small yellow one on Zillow that I really want but its too soon to buy anything.

Jimbo01

Great thread

I'm a guy on the opposite side of this

I have brothers who are married with kids and from family I get "when are you going to meet someone"

My last girlfriend was trans but it was short and we broke up because I felt I couldn't get past it all...I was a complete and total moron

I understand that now but unfortunately only time can make you really accept things! It is difficult to get past that barrier and anyone who says it isn't hasn't been there

I'm now a guy who is totally open and I've got myself a beer gut lol I need to hit the gym 😉
Hi - looking to meet someone
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Jimbo01

#26
Quote from: Stottie Girl on May 28, 2026, 12:14:58 PMI can't say I have ever felt shame over who I am. You should never feel ashamed of who you are Tammy. If people are deliberately making you feel like that, then they are the wrong sort of people to be around and you should remove them from your life wherever possible.

Of course I am terrified of not being accepted, I look in the mirror sometimes and think "who am I kidding?", I'm scared of not being able to remotely pass at all, it's what has stopped and still does stop me from living the life I am meant to. I think nearly all of us have these feelings, but you should not feel shame. This is not a peversion, you were born this way and nobody has the right to make you feel small because of it.

This is a good mantra to live by if you ask me. If only I could pluck up the courage to act on it!

Guess what? Teenage girls go through that phase too. We all go through a gawky phase where we look embarrassingly bad but it takes time to find your style, your make up look, to achieve a feminine body. I believe I have got to a point where I might, visually at least, have a stab at passing but it has taken me years.

You will work through these feelings, You will find your inner woman and your style. It might seem like an impossible mountain to climb but you will get there, so many others before us have proven that.

Great post

I've suffered with low self esteem all my life - I just carry on and ignore it

This is going to sound so stupid but I have a supermarket opposite my place (Sainsbury's for anyone in the UK!) and I used to worry about going over in my usual daily, grotty t-shirts and shorts...I just started going over there anyway in my grotty t-shirts and shorts

Noone cared

The UK is so class obsessed but anyone that looked at me and would have criticised I didn't see and I didn't care anyway

The point is...just go for it. A couple of bad looks =  if you do small trips out then it will build up your confidence to the point where you don't care anyway
Hi - looking to meet someone

Stottie Girl

#27
Quote from: Jimbo01 on Yesterday at 05:42:26 AMGreat post

I've suffered with low self esteem all my life - I just carry on and ignore it

This is going to sound so stupid but I have a supermarket opposite my place (Sainsbury's for anyone in the UK!) and I used to worry about going over in my usual daily, grotty t-shirts and shorts...I just started going over there anyway in my grotty t-shirts and shorts

Noone cared

The UK is so class obsessed but anyone that looked at me and would have criticised I didn't see and I didn't care anyway

The point is...just go for it. A couple of bad looks =  if you do small trips out then it will build up your confidence to the point where you don't care anyway
It's having the courage to just not care what people think.

Something I do not have unfortunately.

I'm terrified of someone outing me in public, I'm paranoid of getting comments and abuse or worse. The climate in the UK feels like it has shifted. It feels like it has empowered those haters and the world seems a far less safe place. At least that is what is in my mind. In reality it is probably nothing of the sort. THere will be be those who do not like trans people but most British people aren't very likely to say anything to your face or be confrontational.

For me, I want to be able to pass so that I avoid these sorts of issues altogether. It may be possible it may not be but until I feel I am as convincingly female as I can be I think I will stay in the closet probably another year of voice training, electrolysis and hairline transplant and I will be unleashed onto an unsuspecting public!
A wise man once said don't judge a man until you've walked a mile in his shoes, that way when you judge him you're a mile away and you have his shoes!

Never trust a man who, when left alone in a room with a tea cozy, doesn't try it on - Billy Connolley

ChrissyRyan

I do not experience any shame after I got clarity that I am honest about my thoughts, and that I was born with the wrong body.  My transitioning has had its uplifts and downs, its highs and lows, and its frustrating and super enjoyable times.

I do still question if maybe someday I might detransition but I sure do not wish to at this time.  I am finally happy that I can be myself almost all the time, and the other times when I must put on a facade it is because I choose to for what are good reasons in my mind.

Have a nice weekend!


Chrissy


Always stay cheerful, be polite, kind, and understanding. Accepting yourself as the woman you are is very liberating.  Never underestimate the appreciation and respect of authenticity.  Help connect a person to someone that may be able to help that person.  Be brave, be strong.  A TRUE friend is a treasure.  Relationships are very important, people are important, and the sooner we all realize that the better off the world will be.  Try a little kindness.  Be generous with your time, energy, wisdom, and resources.   Inconvenience yourself to help someone.   I am a brown eyed, brown haired woman. 
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Jimbo01

Quote from: Stottie Girl on Yesterday at 08:14:15 AMIt's having the courage to just not care what people think.

Something I do not have unfortunately.

I'm terrified of someone outing me in public, I'm paranoid of getting comments and abuse or worse. The climate in the UK feels like it has shifted. It feels like it has empowered those haters and the world seems a far less safe place. At least that is what is in my mind. In reality it is probably nothing of the sort. THere will be be those who do not like trans people but most British people aren't very likely to say anything to your face or be confrontational.

For me, I want to be able to pass so that I avoid these sorts of issues altogether. It may be possible it may not be but until I feel I am as convincingly female as I can be I think I will stay in the closet probably another year of voice training, electrolysis and hairline transplant and I will be unleashed onto an unsuspecting public!

It is hard tbh

But it's something that you can get used to - it happens bit by bit over time and then one day you realise you don't care anymore

I understand the worry about abuse but you'd probably only get a "funny" comment from an idiot

Although you probably look great anyway and maybe you'd get lucky and come across someone like me who would give you a compliment!

Why can't I get lucky and meet someone like that in the supermarket lol
Hi - looking to meet someone

Maid Marion

Once you figure out accepting areas the next step is to do stuff there presenting as your preferred gender.  I find it easier to socialize if my gender is obvious.  People at work just want to do their job and it helps if they don't have to awkwardly guess.
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tammy753

I am still struggling with self hatred for being trans. I know that you will all say there is nothing to be ashamed of but I can't get past it. I thought i did the right thing by refusing to get close to anyone, and pushing away family but last week was my birthday and i have been feeling extremely lonely. I keep reminding my self I did the right thing but it doesn't push away my loneliness like it used to. I tried joining here to meet people like me but honestly you are all dealing with this 1000000 times better than I am. I don't feel like I fit in anywhere these days. As I think about transitioning I realize that I will probably be left completely alone by my family. I know its a prison of my own making but I can't keep denying what I am but I am so ashamed that I couldn't resist they way my mother wanted.

Sorry disregard my wallowing in my own misery but my therapist said I should post this when I said I felt like an outsider on the forums. I told her I would do I did.
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KathyLauren

I don't understand the shame, but I do understand that you are feeling lonely.  We on the forum may be better than nothing, but you need friends, colleagues, or acquaintances in real life. 

Years ago, in the "before" time when I didn't know who I was, I realized that I was lonely because I didn't know how to meet compatible people.  I decided I needed to make an effort to meet people who shared some of my values.  So I joined a couple of groups that did activities reflecting those values.  Best case, I would meet a compatible partner (that was my goal).  Worst case, I would have fun doing things I loved to do.  The winner was a hiking group: I met my now-wife at the top of a mountain on one of the group's hikes.  It took a couple of years, during which time I went on some awesome hikes and met some very interesting people.

The point is that meeting compatible people shouldn't depend only on chance.  You can make it happen.  And basing who you meet on your own values selects more of the right people to meet.

Perhaps make a list of what your values are.  That is something we tend to take for granted, but making a list can help you focus on what you need in real life.  Then try to think of places or especially groups where you would meet people sharing those values.  For me, the value was a love of nature.  The activity was hiking, and the group was the city's biggest hiking club.

Good luck!
2015-07-04 Awakening; 2015-11-15 Out to self; 2016-06-22 Out to wife; 2016-10-27 First time presenting in public; 2017-01-20 Started HRT!!; 2017-04-20 Out publicly; 2017-07-10 Legal name change; 2019-02-15 Approval for GRS; 2019-08-02 Official gender change; 2020-03-11 GRS; 2020-09-17 New birth certificate
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Lori Dee

Oh, Tammy, you are never alone.

I know it can feel that way, but just by coming here, you are among friends. Many people feel a need for a real-world relationship of some kind, and Kathy's advice is very good.

There are too many people in the world to try to meet them all. By focusing on people who have similar tastes and interests, you will have much better luck. I think that will also help you overcome feelings of shame.

We can all tell you there is nothing to be ashamed of. We can tell you that being transgender is something you were born with, and it is nobody's fault. But until you accept yourself as you, it will be difficult. Your therapist can help you with that. Shame is something we feel about ourselves, whether we are trans or gay or something unrelated.

The key is to accept yourself for who you are. Learn to love yourself for who you are. Embrace it. Then go forth being the best you that you can be.

It may seem like everyone is dealing with this so much better than you. I can assure you that is not the case. We all have our moments of doubt, worry, and even depression. Don't give in to it. You only win if you never give up.

Hang in there, Sister. We are here for you.

Big Hugs!
My Life is Based on a True Story <-- The Story of Lori
The Story of Lori, Chapter 2
Veteran U.S. Army - SSG (Staff Sergeant) - M60A3 Tank Master Gunner
2017 - GD Diagnosis / 2019- 2nd Diagnosis / 2020 - HRT / 2022 - FFS & Legal Name Change
/ 2024 - Voice Training / 2025 - Passport & IDs complete - Started Electrolysis!

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