Depression; A Tricky Question.

[Guest louise22]

hi everyone. Over the past couple of months i've been feeling depressed, i quit my job and i isolated myself from my friends. My doctor put me on Prozac and i've been talking to a therapist. But the thing is it was right slap bang in the middle of this depression that i realised (or perhaps more likely stopped denying) that im not happy with my current gender. In the therapy i realised that i had in all probability been feeling this way for a great many years (i started dressing aged 6ish and started thinking about female names several years ago), but the question im trying to ask albeit rather longwindedly is this: Do you think my depression is caused or at least linked to my gender issues (i have been depressed before without gender being an issue), or do you think it is possible that my gender issues are some depressive illusion? I realise that it is ultimately me that will have to decide but i would be grateful for any help as my therapist knows little about transsexuality. Thanks

[Sally]

Louise,

That is one of the harder questions that we all face. I am not going to try to tell you which came first. That is something that you will need to work out with a therapist, I would strongly suggest that you see a therapist that is well versed in gender issues!

Your depression is quite probably a result of multiple issues, most people are not depressed about one isolated problem, like I broke my shoe lace and now I am depressed - more often I broke my shoe lace and that being on top of my alarm clock not going off, no hot water for my shower, the milk was sour when I pored it over my last bowl of Corn Flakes, my zipper is broken, I'm late for my job interview and now my shoelace breaks! You see the problem, you have to find the root of the depression.

Just being transsexual doesn't cause depression by itself - the denial and why the denial can!

Feelings of transsexuality are seldom the result of anxiety - a more popular notion among those who are trying to convince you and themselves that you aren't - but seldom doesn't mean never!

Find a gender therapist and find out, you will feel so much better even if it has nothing to do with your depression - eliminating even one possible source can head you in the right direction and if it is the main cause of your depression, you know how to go about fixing it.

We are here to help you by supporting and comforting you, and in the advice derpartment, you know - seek a specialist!

Love ya,

Sally

[Guest Evan_J]

Yep what she said

[Guest louise22]

Thanks for your help. I'll see what I can find in the way of trans-therapists. thx

[Guest Donna Jean]

Hello, Louise! How nice to meet you....

Will you have a hot cup of coco with us? Cookies over there, too...

Now....

I had anger and depression and frustration while living with the hidden and repressed gender issues. It was horrid and I didn't understand the waves of depression that would come over me. I finally reached the end of my rope and came out to my wife and got a gender therapist....BANG!!!!

Everything changed overnight! Depression..gone! Anger...Gone...It was like a bright light came on and everything made sense. I'm so incredibly happy now..everything is wonderful and new....

In Wal-Mart this morning I started smiling and laughing and my wife asked me what was the matter. I said that I had just seen a HUGE bearded, Hell's Angels type with a little boy in a cart. He was patiently standing there putting the young one's arm in his little coat with his big 'ole bear paw hands...and the look of love..It was awesome!!!

Hon, you'll be supprised how clear the water gets when you get the gender issue out of the way!

It muddies up SO much....

Louise said:

Thanks for your help. I'll see what I can find in the way of trans-therapists. thx

Now you do that then get back here and tell us all about it, ok?

OK..

XXOO

DonnaJean

[Guest mia 1]

Well Louise I am so glad you found our forum, and even happier that you listened to Sallly and her advice about the gender therapist. That depression dark mood "thing" gets to everyone. The differnce is the length of time in that darkness. From your responce it seems that you won't be there long. In fact I think you are on your way right out of it.

So like Donna Jean "say" go out and enjoy the neighborhood and the little fun things that can go unnoticed.

Let us know how things are going on the other side of the pond.