Jump to content
  • Welcome to the TransPulse Forums!

    We offer a safe, inclusive community for transgender and gender non-conforming folks, as well as their loved ones, to find support and information.  Join today!

I'm stuck


Hanna

Recommended Posts

Hi, I need some really good advice!

 

About two weeks ago I realized that I'm not just nonbinary but transgender or to be more specific - a trans woman, and everything is very new to me. Last week I talked to a therapist about my gender dysphoria and I will see a GP next week on Thursday and I suppose the GP will then send me to a psychiatrist. I'll have to wait and see what happens after that, if I'll start long term therapy and maybe also HRT.

 

I have accepted myself as I am, that I'm a woman in a 50 year old male body with all the limitations that brings. I have even found peace with God, my Creator, my Saviour and my Comforter. That already was a huge step as I have a religious background since I was a child.

 

Well, everything would be fine as far as this, but, I'm in the middle of a divorce and my wife moved out on New Year's Day. I'm totally OK with that and we have agreed upon the terms of dividing our property. I don't miss her and I certainly don't want her back as my partner, so there is no chance of reconciliation. We have two sons, who still tie us as parents.

 

My ex is toxic in many ways and she has very clearly expressed both transphobia and homophobia. When I last year came out to her as nonbinary and bicurious she said either I have to move away or she will, if I ever start dressing like a woman or if I ever find a male partner. She's an immigrant and she might even move back to her home country, which would cause extreme distress to our children. They would lose either one of their parents or even become split if one of them stays with me. 

 

My elder son has just become a teenager and also has the challenge of facing racism as he is interracial. The younger one is still too young to understand all these concepts. My ex suffers from mental distress at the moment due to a job change and of course now due to the divorce.

 

Well, the woman in me now wants to start expressing herself. I've been wearing female underwear the last couple of days and yesterday I bought a night gown, which I wore during the night. It was simply wonderful! I also have bought nail care stuff and started to shave parts of my body. All this confirms my femininity and there is no male resistance within me at all. It's like my male identity suddenly has ceased to exist. Or, maybe it never existed at all!

 

I have to fight my internalized transphobia, because when I look at myself in the mirror wearing my female underwear or my new night gown I see an ugly old man in female garments. If I give myself some time I think I can overcome this. I might even one day be comfortable leaving my house wearing female clothes and a wig.

 

Well, the problem is, my elder son lives with me now and the younger one stays occasionally at my place. I would not like to hide my femininity from them, because I would be denying my very true identity. This morning when I put the night gown away I felt like I also put my inner woman away. She doesn't want that! But, I can't start walking around in my own home dressed like a woman with the kids around. The elder one would have to face the distress of having this new secret, that his dad is a woman. If his school mates knew, that would most  certainly lead to him being harassed. The younger one would not be able to keep quiet and sooner or later I would be outed, whether I'm ready or not. And, I can't tell my ex that I am a trans woman because of her threats.

 

At this moment I have exactly nowhere to go. I can't come out to my children and I feel extremely distressed, because I can't be my true self at home. Next week on Tuesday, before my appointment with the GP, I have an online appointment with a person from the main national LGBT rights organization in our country. So, I'm reaching out for help as much as I can, but I feel stuck, especially at this moment. I can't deny my inner woman anymore and I don't know what to do!

Link to comment
  • Forum Moderator

it sounds like you are already doing many of the things you can do.  Talking to a therapist and an MD are late steps forward towards self acceptance.  You are confronting and recognizing the issues.

My child was older when i went full time after hiding for years.  I would talk to your therapist about them as well.  Between the divorce and you changing they also need professional help.  We never transition alone and caring for those around us is often one of the hardest parts.  We are here ton help as we can.  I had similar issues and made it through.

 You are not alone.

 

Hugs,

 

Charlize

Link to comment

Hi Hanna, do not be so hard on yourself, you are already doing a lot. Charlize is right, having someone to talk to will make deciding your path forwards so much simpler.

I hid my dressing for a long time while my divorce was going through, only dressing at home while my kids wre at school, going to distant forest walks/towns when I finally plucked up the courage to go outside, knowing that if I couldn't even do that, then I could never live as myself. 

Once I finally knew who I was, had come to terms with myself, and understood much of the science behind the, "why now?" question - I was able to have a conversation with my children (13 & 14) and they both accept and support me. While I worry about my children being harrassed for who I am, they are better educated and more accepting than we were, and I would rather that they learn to never hide who they are just to fit in with other people. They are loved for who they are! 

I have not told my ex yet, but will when the time comes, I am not scared of what she will say, but she can hurt my current living situation if she outs me before I am ready to fully socially transition, but basically, she lost the right to know before my friends and family when she left. 

The way I looked at it, I had spent almost 40 years hiding my true self, what was a few more months if it gave me a smoother transition for the rest of my life and allowed me to organise the things that I could control and prepare for the things that I can't!

Link to comment

Hi Hanna! In the spousal department we have much in common. Our grown up daughters were more receptive & our grandchildren don't seem to be bothered by me being me. I do tend to dress androgynous when I'm there. I think the lack of acceptance is mostly a generational thing.

 

Hugs!

Delcina

Link to comment

Hi Hanna, all the advice above is great. I wear woman’s under ware every day and most of the cloths that I wear are woman’s as well. In the winter almost all the woman I see when out are wearing pants of some sort, a heavy top, (it’s very cold here now) , a winter jacket and boots. The woman inside you will be patient as time moves along. Try to take one thing at a time if you can.

 

Hugs

 

Sandra

Link to comment

Hi @Hanna!
We share many of the same obstacles and challenges.

On 1/13/2022 at 7:17 PM, Hanna said:

I have accepted myself as I am, that I'm a woman in a 50 year old male body with all the limitations that brings

Your Self-Acceptance is an extremely important foundation that you have established and you should be proud and encouraged by that. 

I don't have much else to add to what the others wrote but engaging in Gender Therapy will be very beneficial as I am sure you will discover.  There's no timeline other than the goals and markers you establish for yourself.

 

Deep breaths ... one step at a time ❤️

Link to comment

@Hanna, remember that there are others who, like you, have similar circumstances and similar questions, and they have each been dealing similar issues, sometimes successfully, sometimes not.  Finding a support group where you can share your story and hear others' stories can be helpful.  The groups can be sponsored by all different kinds of organizations --  trans-supportive groups sponsored by a church; groups run by trans medical care facilities; community trans support people, etc.   Hopefully, there will be such a group near you, or that has online sessions.

 

Hugs and supportive thoughts,

 

Astrid

Link to comment

Hi Hanna, all of the above advice is great, and there is little if nothing that I can add to it. Your story touches me deeply because, I have had very similar experiences. The disturbed and homophobic/transphobic ex wife, coming to grips with my dysphoria, etc.

 

Onn top of all that, my past career--I am retired Army and civil service--demanded that I completely repress my female self for over 30 years or lose my security clearance and career. The point being, you are not alone. Faith is a huge help, and it sounds like you are blessed with that. The Lord made us as we are, loves us for ourselves and will never abandon us. 

 

Therapy will help. The woman in you will come out more and more as time passes and you will discover new joys as you bloom into your new self.

Hugs,

Marcie

Link to comment
  • Forum Moderator
On 1/13/2022 at 2:17 AM, Hanna said:

I have accepted myself as I am, that I'm a woman in a 50 year old male body with all the limitations that brings. I have even found peace with God, my Creator, my Saviour and my Comforter. That already was a huge step as I have a religious background since I was a child.

This, along with what it might do to my marriage, was my biggest hurdle in deciding to transition to my true self.

 

Like you, I was brought up to believe that there was only ONE WAY to live and if you strayed off the beaten path, I would be doomed. It took years to understand that ‘how I was brought up’ and ‘what I was told was truth’ was only one very narrow perspective. My parents only knew what they had learned themselves. It took much research, prayer, self examination and introspection to realize it was ok for me to become my authentic self.

 

Susan R🌷

Link to comment
  • 2 weeks later...

@DeeDee

On 1/13/2022 at 8:48 AM, DeeDee said:

and understood much of the science behind the, "why now?" question -

Wait,what?... Understand?...What is this witchcraft of which you speak!?  Seriously though, do you have sources you can cite? Which studies, what research or website what animal must I sacrifice and to which deity?   Sorry, humor is a coping mechanism.  If you you could point me in the right direction it would mean the world to me. 

Link to comment
On 1/13/2022 at 3:17 AM, Hanna said:

I have accepted myself as I am, that I'm a woman in a 50 year old male body with all the limitations that brings.

Hanna, this is a big step forward - and a rewarding one...you've got this, girl!

Link to comment

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • Who's Online   7 Members, 0 Anonymous, 92 Guests (See full list)

    • LC
    • Heather Shay
    • Ashley0616
    • DeeDee
    • MaybeRob
    • April Marie
    • Betty K
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      80.7k
    • Total Posts
      769.3k
  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      12,057
    • Most Online
      8,356

    Aleksandria
    Newest Member
    Aleksandria
    Joined
  • Today's Birthdays

    1. Conner_Sent_By_Cyberlife
      Conner_Sent_By_Cyberlife
      (22 years old)
    2. CtN1p
      CtN1p
    3. heyim_finn
      heyim_finn
      (21 years old)
    4. Jayn
      Jayn
    5. joni_girl_1988
      joni_girl_1988
      (51 years old)
  • Posts

    • Heather Shay
    • Heather Shay
      Do you use make-up? If so, why and what  types?
    • Heather Shay
      Pride is primarily about yourself, even when it is not you who did something that you are proud about. You can also be proud of something someone else did, who you associate with, such as your children or your favorite football team. People can feel proud of their culture, their family name, or their appearance, none of which require them to actively contribute to the praiseworthy thing1. However, the opinions of others are of crucial importance, as best demonstrated when you purposefully do something that other people praise. Pride is a social emotion, and to feel proud, you need other people’s (real or imagined) confirmation that you have a reason to feel that way. Because of this, other people can also ‘be in your head’ and prevent you from feeling pride. Namely, what is praiseworthy is subjective. Things that may be considered good in a certain (cultural) group may not be praiseworthy in another (e.g., if you grew up in a family that greatly values academics, your athletic abilities may not evoke much praise). Moreover, what is praiseworthy is relative (e.g., if you are a good runner in an athletically average school, you may regularly feel proud about your times; but if you move to a school with highly competent athletes, these same times may seem unremarkable to you). Thus, the more exclusive your quality is in your surroundings, the prouder you feel. Pride has recognizable features. Although its static facial expression (typically a smile or laugh) does not clearly distinguish it from other positive emotions, it typically results in a bodily posture, gestures, and behavior that are clearly recognizable: lifting your chin, looking people in the eye, walking confidently, or in extreme cases, raising arms above your head. In a way, you try to make yourself larger and more noticeable, as if to say: ‘look at me!’ You may also exhibit more perseverance in your activities2. People generally find it very pleasant to experience pride, as it elevates our feeling of social self-worth and status3. At the same time, many social groups, religions, and cultures (especially those that are highly collectivistic, such as the East Asian or African culture) believe that pride needs to be checked. Unchecked pride leads to arrogance and misplaced feelings of superiority (‘letting something get to your head’, ‘hubris comes before the fall’), and social groups typically do not tolerate members feeling like they are superior or deserve special treatment.  
    • Heather Shay
    • Heather Shay
    • Heather Shay
    • April Marie
      Thank you @missyjo! You do wonders for my ego.   It turns out that pastel colors were the "thing" at Kentucky Derby Day so my dress was perfect. I went with white 5" heeled sandals and a wide-brimmed fuscia hat. Dinner and Mint Juleps added to the fun of watching the (recorded) festivities and races.   Perhaps, we'll repeat it for the Preakness in 2 weeks.   Right now it's just blue striped sleep shorts with pink flowers, a pink t-shirt and flip flops. I can't tell you how much wearing  sleep-rated breast forms at night has done to quell my dysphoria. 
    • April Marie
      I can still rock 5" heels.
    • April Marie
      Good morning, everyone!!   My wife and I had our yearly Kentucky Derby Day evening. Dresses, heels, hats, Mint Juleps and a light dinner while watching the festivities and races. Relaxing and fun. I think we'll do the same for the Preakness in two weeks.   It's rainy and cool here today so it's pretty much going to keep me indoors. Ahh, well. A day of rest.   Enjoy and be safe!!
    • Ladypcnj
      Thanks Sally Stone
    • KymmieL
      Thanks, Mindy. It has been so far. Tomorrow, work some more on the wife's grand monkey. Got the right side of the hood primed, just need to do a little more work on the left then I can prime it. Then a 600grit wet sand.   I promised the wife we would take out the bike this weekend.   Kymmie
    • JessicaMW
      During my last visit with my psychologist (who has agreed to provide required letters of recommendation along with a colleague to provide the second) we discussed the shift towards my wife's acceptance. It was a long discussion but one point I mentioned was how much the two of us sitting down and watching this documentary helped:  The Kings | A transgender love story (2017)
    • Betty K
      Oops, I did not mean to post that comment yet! I was going to also say, having read a mountain of commentary on the Review, I think Julia Serano’s response (linked by Vicky above) is the most accurate and thorough. You can also read a non-paywalled version at Substack: https://juliaserano.substack.com/p/the-cass-review-wpath-files-and-the   To me the three key areas in which the review is deficient are:   1. As has already been said here, its views on social transition;   2. Its attempts to give credence to the “ROGD” theory (without ever actually mentioning ROGD because presumably a canny editor knows that would be too transparently transphobic);   3. To me, most crucially, its claims about trans youth and suicide, which are dealt with summarily in about five pages and do not stand up to any deeper scrutiny.    I will be writing about each of these issues in isolation over the next few weeks and appearing on a radio show and podcast to discuss them late in the month. I will post links to these on TP later if anyone is interested.   All that said, I actually think it’s dangerous for us to respond with outright vitriol and condemnation to the review since, like any effective piece of disinformation, it does actually contain some factually based and even helpful recommendations. The Tavistock Gender Identity Service really was underfunded and understaffed and certain staff were not adequately trained. Trans kids really were funnelled away from mental-health support once they started gender-affirming care too. So yes, more investment in youth psychology services would help, as would a less centralised model of care, more training in treatment of trans kids, and more research.   One last thing for now: beware the claim that Cass ignored 98% of studies. That’s not strictly true. She seems to have taken other studies into account but leaned heavily on the 2% that met her standards. Nor does she ever claim that only randomised controlled trials are good enough evidence to justify the use of blockers for kids; just as with ROGD, she strongly suggests this, but is too canny to say it, because she knows such trials would be impossible. For now, I think the best response to this comes from the Trans Safety Network: “[…] we believe there to be systemic biases in the ways that the review prioritises speculative and hearsay evidence to advance its own recommendations while using highly stringent evidence standards to exclude empirical and observational data on actual patients. “ (https://transsafety.network/posts/tsn-statement-on-cass-final-report/)   To me, the scariest aspect of all this is that, if it follows Cass’s recommendations, the NHS will very likely follow Finland’s recent model of trans care, which seems to amount to a prolonged form of conversion therapy. I can’t find the link right now, which is probably lucky for anyone reading this, but I bawled my guts out reading the testimonies of kids who had been mistreated by that system. Truly horrific. To me, at least from my Australian perspective, the Cass Review is the most frightening development in trans rights in recent years. To me, the safe care of trans kids is THE number one issue in politics atm.   Ruth Pierce has a good summary of responses from trans folk and their allies sk far: https://ruthpearce.net/2024/04/16/whats-wrong-with-the-cass-review-a-round-up-of-commentary-and-evidence/    
    • Sally Stone
      Welcome to the wide, wild world of transgender, M.A.  It can definitively be overwhelming, but everyone here is amazing, so no doubt you'll get bunches of wonderful support. I think you'll be happy you found us.   
    • Sally Stone
      @Ladypcnj  This is so true.  I think all of us here have had a post or two that didn't get a response.  Sometimes, it's as simple as adding to your original to post for a clearer explanation, or re-reading what you wrote originally, and rephrasing it.  But don't despair, we aren't ignoring you.   Hugs,   Sally 
  • Upcoming Events

Contact TransPulse

TransPulse can be contacted in the following ways:

Email: Click Here.

To report an error on this page.

Legal

Your use of this site is subject to the following rules and policies, whether you have read them or not.

Terms of Use
Privacy Policy
DMCA Policy
Community Rules

Hosting

Upstream hosting for TransPulse provided by QnEZ.

Sponsorship

Special consideration for TransPulse is kindly provided by The Breast Form Store.
×
×
  • Create New...