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!

How Do I Know If I'm Faking?


NathanThePlatypus

Recommended Posts

While researching the topic of transition, I came across mention of 'transtrenders' and I've been told by my sister that when you read/watch a lot about something you can make yourself feel something that isn't real. This made me scared that I somehow made myself think I was transgender to be like the people I was watching.

How do I know if I'm just making this up? The reasons I'd say I'm not are that I've felt uncomfortable my whole life, and it got much worse around puberty when I began to hate looking in mirrors and leaving the house, and the sound of my voice. I've always hated attention and sympathy, and the idea of standing out, so I wouldn't say I'm inventing it for attention. I also wouldn't really want everyone I met to know I was transgender if I transitioned - I just want to be seen as male (a common thing I saw related to the idea of 'transtrenders' was people who always introduced themselves as transgender to sound 'cool'). Also, now that I have been thinking about being transgender I cringe (sometimes physically) when people call me 'she' or 'miss' or 'young lady' and it made me grin like an idiot when a waitress called me 'sir' the other night at a restaurant - but that's only started since I began thinking about it. I'm also insanely jealous of a lot of cis men, which has always been the case but I used to just think I was jealous of their fame/looks/intelligence until I realised I wasn't jealous of women in the same position. The main thing for me is that I don't really have bottom disphoria per se - I don't hate what I have, I'd just much rather have male parts. As for top disphoria I used to have it worse before I started thinking I was trans but I feel like I almost got used to it and now my only real issue is that it means people immediately see me as female. I still hate the sound of my voice, and I always have, and I've always tried to make it sound lower. And the main thing I get disphoria with is my lips and height - but men can have thick lips and be short, and transition wouldn't change either of those things! 

I'm very confused at the moment and could really use advice. Did anyone else have the same thoughts when just figuring themselves out? How do I know if I'm just delusional/ fooling myself?!?!

Link to comment
  • Root Admin

Unless your sister is a trained gender therapist, I would doubt very much that what she told you is true. A qualified gender therapist could lead you on the path to finding out whether you are transgender or not.

MaryEllen

Link to comment
  • Forum Moderator

My suggestion is not to worry. If you are heading toward transition then it is essential and required to have professional advice anyway.

Mentally it is possible for a suggestion to become an obsession but it is in very few people that it becomes a problem. We naturally question ourselves as it is natural to think and work our way through life.

Personally I am very similar as I am not as concerned as many about my body but am far more mentally aligned as a woman. That said, I do think about it at times. In fact the very things you are worried about. I do wonder where things will end up but I don't worry too much. By and large people accept me for who I am and I am confident enough to live and dress as I feel. I regard myself as androgyne or non binary. I will admit that compared with many here I am not fully transexual. It worries me not, but I do think about how I am viewed by others. My view for myself is to live as a women with what I have got, knowing that there is no such thing as the ideal woman. As with any woman I work with what I have. I just have more issues than other women.

No - Don't get into mind games! Accept yourself for who you are and move on. Whatever the situation, you are who you are. If you are worried then approach your GP for referral to gender therapist. You are not the only person here to worry about this issue, and there will be more than the two of us!

Tracy

Link to comment
Guest Laura Beth

At first I thought I had a split personality but after talking about it with my counselor that I had been seeing for a few years prior she said that I didn't. I had looked up the signs and everything to the point that I even felt like I had two people living within me. After talking about it with my counselor I came to the realization it was the repression of who I real was that was trying so hard to surface and break free. Since that time I have been living the life I was more meant to live to the point that my spouse can't wait for me to start hormones.  I feared that ones would think that I was transitioning to follow a trend because of all the ones coming out trans at the time but my spouse said to not worry about what others thought about my decisions because I needed to live my life and be happy.

Laura Beth

Link to comment

Woah! I could almost have written this! I'm new to all this too and feel the same as you in so many aspects!  :/

I've been reading stuff on transgender topics and get concerned I'm just convincing myself into it. So you're definitely not alone in that. The thing with pronouns is the same for me too, it sometimes bothers me when I get called "she" "daughter" "girl" etc. but I never noticed it before looking into this stuff (or at least don't remember noticing it). Ugh, and that not liking attention but also feeling you could still just be convincing yourself. D:

As everyone always suggests, gender therapy may help find some clarity but that's all the advice I really have. Also, really try to listen to what you want, don't try to force yourself to align to a certain label which you think is "you" (I sometimes find myself wearing stuff I dont feel like wearing that day just coz it's more masculine and I feel like I "should" be wearing it if I'm not just making this up in my head- don't do this). 

So, as far as I know, there is no obvious way to tell if it's real or if you're just convincing yourself but I can empathise with your feelings. :) ... and if you find any clarity on this I'd be interested to know ;) 

Link to comment

Thanks for the replies :) I can't go into school today because of disphoria so I kind of feel like it's a real problem but I don't know what to do. The worst thing is my attendance is already -crap- and I'm afraid that they'll contact my parents and I'll have to tell them why I've been skipping so much. I could still go in but I'd be half an hour late... I also feel like I can't wear any of my clothes because I only own one men's jumper... the rest of my clothes are all jumpers and jeans but they're tight fitting and it makes me feel so self conscious I just ugh...

 

(also - is your profile picture Gray from Fair Tail? I love that show :) )

Link to comment

My gender dysphoria got worse as I started my journey, that isn't uncommon either. We repress who we are to fit in because we don't have answers and we feel the pressure to be like everyone else. So we learn to ignore things and just move on with our lives.

When I first went out fully presenting as female and was properly addressed as  female is when it started for me. All of a sudden, when I was back in my "man-suite", my dysphoria started getting really bad. It's been difficult to continue going through my life ever since, that was one reason for my deciding to transition. With therapy I've been able to mitigate things so that I can get through the day, and slowly, things are getting better for me!

Don't discount your feelings! Explore who you are and become that person! It can happen! Have faith!

Link to comment
2 hours ago, NathanThePlatypus said:

(also - is your profile picture Gray from Fair Tail? I love that show :) )

I'm a fan. I totallly ship Juliet and Gray. I am sure there is fanfic for it....I so want to see Lucy and Natsu to kiss-though her shielding herself with Happy was funny in the last episode I saw. I am in the middle of season 2 right now. :)

Back on topic, I would also ignore others peoples feelings in this in understanding yourself. How family friends and others react is based on their fear of  loosing the person they know for someone they don't.  I think their opinions are based on this. There is also the stigma some people fear and that factors in as well-especially true for family members. 

Link to comment
  • Forum Moderator

Hi Nathan,

As far as "faking it" is concerned, early on I wondered the same thing. My questions were pretty well answered by looking at my past. Which came first, feeling like I should be a girl, or studying up on transgender. I felt like I should be a girl since I was a kid, years before I even knew what trans was. That's how I found I wasn't just trying to fit into a group or click.

You mentioned feeling that you're supposed to be a boy long before reading up on transgender. Just because we don't perfectly fit a stereotypical mold doesn't mean we're faking it or deluding ourselves. We are all individual. Each one of us has our own life story. This is something that a GT could help you sort out. 

 

It doesn't sound to me like you have too much to worry about as far as being genuine or not. You sound genuine to me. Just be patient, the answers will come.

 

Lots of love,

Timber Wolf?

Link to comment

Thank you Timber Wolf, hopefully the GT will happen sooner rather than later because I'm driving myself insane here.

Link to comment
19 hours ago, NathanThePlatypus said:

(also - is your profile picture Gray from Fair Tail? I love that show :) )

Lol yes ;) ..though I have to admit I havent actually watched/read Fairy Tail (but Gray looks like a cool guy ;) ). Would you recommend it?

Go shopping (if possible)! :D Getting clothes you like and feel comfortable in is pretty great. 

Did you end up getting to school? Attendance can be a pain. :(  but you can always make up a reason for skipping (potentially even a reason which leads to therapy if you want some.) ;) 

Link to comment
5 hours ago, DrumbeatAlex said:

Lol yes ;) ..though I have to admit I havent actually watched/read Fairy Tail (but Gray looks like a cool guy ;) ). Would you recommend it? 

I would so recommend it :) it's on Netflix I think and probably cunchy roll 

Link to comment

I would too, it is also on hulu. Yes he is a "cool" guy, He's an ice wizard! :D

I am watching it on crunchy roll.

Link to comment
On 3/7/2017 at 5:29 AM, NathanThePlatypus said:

While researching the topic of transition, I came across mention of 'transtrenders' and I've been told by my sister that when you read/watch a lot about something you can make yourself feel something that isn't real. This made me scared that I somehow made myself think I was transgender to be like the people I was watching.

How do I know if I'm just making this up? The reasons I'd say I'm not are that I've felt uncomfortable my whole life, and it got much worse around puberty when I began to hate looking in mirrors and leaving the house, and the sound of my voice. I've always hated attention and sympathy, and the idea of standing out, so I wouldn't say I'm inventing it for attention. I also wouldn't really want everyone I met to know I was transgender if I transitioned - I just want to be seen as male (a common thing I saw related to the idea of 'transtrenders' was people who always introduced themselves as transgender to sound 'cool'). Also, now that I have been thinking about being transgender I cringe (sometimes physically) when people call me 'she' or 'miss' or 'young lady' and it made me grin like an idiot when a waitress called me 'sir' the other night at a restaurant - but that's only started since I began thinking about it. I'm also insanely jealous of a lot of cis men, which has always been the case but I used to just think I was jealous of their fame/looks/intelligence until I realised I wasn't jealous of women in the same position. The main thing for me is that I don't really have bottom disphoria per se - I don't hate what I have, I'd just much rather have male parts. As for top disphoria I used to have it worse before I started thinking I was trans but I feel like I almost got used to it and now my only real issue is that it means people immediately see me as female. I still hate the sound of my voice, and I always have, and I've always tried to make it sound lower. And the main thing I get disphoria with is my lips and height - but men can have thick lips and be short, and transition wouldn't change either of those things! 

I'm very confused at the moment and could really use advice. Did anyone else have the same thoughts when just figuring themselves out? How do I know if I'm just delusional/ fooling myself?!?!

I was a bit concerned about this myself for various reasons. But the fact remains that I have felt like a woman since I told my father when I was 5. And then periodic issues throughout my life. Nope, I don't think I'm kidding myself. Look within.......

Link to comment
  • 3 weeks later...

Hi Nathan.  I used to feel like you do when I was in school.  I used to wear boys' clothes and tape down my breasts with duct tape.  (This was before I had any idea that purpose-made binders existed.)  As for whether you're "faking," I doubt you are.  I suppose it's just possible that there really are "transtrenders" out there, but in general I can't imagine that people would invent gender dysphoria, which is a very miserable way to feel.  I agree with others that a good therapist who specializes in gender issues would be very helpful for you.  They could help support you during a time when you're feeling very confused and vulnerable.  

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, 130 Guests (See full list)

    • Ashley0616
    • MaryEllen
    • Jet McCartney
    • missyjo
    • awkward-yet-sweet
    • SamC
    • Abigail Genevieve
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      80.7k
    • Total Posts
      768.3k
  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      12,024
    • Most Online
      8,356

    JamesyGreen
    Newest Member
    JamesyGreen
    Joined
  • Today's Birthdays

    1. Dillon
      Dillon
    2. Kaylee888
      Kaylee888
    3. lily100
      lily100
      (39 years old)
    4. Luce
      Luce
      (44 years old)
    5. Luke.S
      Luke.S
  • Posts

    • Sally Stone
      Post 7 “The Pittsburgh Years” When I retired from the Army, we moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania because I had been hired by US Airways to work in their flight training department.  The transition to civilian life was a bit of an adjustment, but I never really looked back.  At the same time, I was excited at the prospect of having more Sally time. But with work and two teenage boys in the house, getting to be Sally was a challenge.    The biggest issue in this regard were my sons, as they didn’t know about my feminine side.  My wife and I discussed, in great detail, whether or not to tell them.  If they had known about Sally, it would have been much easier to actually be Sally when I wanted to.  But I still didn’t know exactly where my transgender journey was going to take me, and this uncertainty was the primary reason my wife and I decided it wasn’t the right time to tell them about Sally.  Except for the convenience it would afford me, we didn’t think it was fair to burdened them with such a sensitive family secret if it wasn’t absolutely necessary.  If at some point things changed and it looked like I might be heading towards transition, my wife and I agreed we would revisit our decision.   Despite having to tiptoe around the boys I was able, with my wife often running interference for me, to significantly increase my girl time.  The nature of my variable work schedule meant that often days off occurred during the week when the boys were in school, and on those days, I took full advantage of the time.  Additionally, I had discovered a new trans friend through a local support group, and my wife, ever and always accommodating, ensured I had time for outings with my new friend.    Willa, my new friend, quickly became my best friend, and after only a short time, she and my wife became quite close as well.  With Willa’s help, I would soon discover that Pittsburgh was a very trans friendly city.  Together, she and I made the town our own.  We attended the theater, the symphony, we went out to dinner regularly, and I think we visited every museum in the city.  With Willa’s support and friendship, I was actually becoming quite the girl about town.    Willa and I had a lot in common.  We loved to shop, we had similar feminine styles, and we had similar views and feelings about being trans.  In fact, our frequent and deep discussions about transgender issues helped me begin to understand my transgender nature.  Having Willa as a springboard for all topics transgender, was probably as effective as regularly visiting a therapist.  I would never discount anyone’s desire to seek professional help, but having an unbiased confidant, can also be an effective method for self-discovery.    Exploring the city as Sally and spending time with Willa was instrumental in helping me understand my transgender nature, and would begin shaping my transgender objective.  My feelings about the kind of girl I was and where I wanted to go began to solidify.  Being out and socializing as Sally in a big city like Pittsburgh, taught me I could express my femininity without issue.  I honestly felt confident I could live my life as a woman; however, remaining completely objective, I just couldn’t see giving up the life I’d built as a man.   At that time, I was being heavily influenced by the concept of the gender binary, which had me thinking I had to choose between being a man or being a woman.  It was Willa who reminded me there were no rules requiring gender identity to be binary.  During one of our deep discussions, she posited the idea of enjoying both genders, something she was doing, and a concept that made a lot of sense to me.  I was already living the life of a part-time woman, so I simply started paying more attention to how that was making me feel.    One characteristic that was dominating my feminine self-expression (and it continues to this day) was that when I was Sally, I was “all in.”  When I became Sally, it was such a complete transformation that I truly felt like a woman.  The feeling was powerful, and if I had to describe it another way, I’d say it was akin to an actor, so into the part, they actually become the character they are portraying.  That was me, and I discovered that this level of depth was extremely fulfilling, and that feeling tended to last long after transitioning back to my male persona.  Part-time womanhood it seemed, was actually working for me.    Eventually, a job change forced me to move away from Pittsburgh, but the enlightenment I experienced while living there has shaped the nature of my bi-gender personality to this day.  Even after leaving, Willa and I remained the best of friends.  We had many more adventures, some of which I will detail in later posts.  Sadly, Willa passed away two-years ago after contracting a prolonged illness.  Her loss was hard to take and I miss her dearly.  However, I have so many fond memories of our times together, and because her support helped shape me, she lives on in my heart.   Hugs,   Sally
    • missyjo
      thank you dear. I'm constantly working at adjusting n writing off other people's judgment or input.   thank you n good luck
    • Abigail Genevieve
      Them's fighting words, but I intend to discuss this respectfully, calmly and so forth, in accordance with the forum rules.   Considering the one issue below in isolation:   There is a political calculus that trans folk may be better off under Trump than under Biden.  The argument goes that Biden has created such a backlash by moving so far to the left that red states, in particular, are reacting with a swarm of laws that negatively impact trans folk.  Some of his actions strike many people as clumsily forcing unwanted regulation on people, and some of his appointments, such as the luggage stealing bigender individual, have not helped advance trans folk but rather the reverse.  In a second term Biden would make things worse for trans folk because of the backlash and resentment his policies would create.    Trump likely would have negative impacts to trans folk, as he did in his first term with respect to the military, so it is a set of tradeoffs as to which is worse.   Thoughts?
    • Abigail Genevieve
      Can you dress androgynously? 
    • Ashley0616
    • Abigail Genevieve
      There are trans folk who pass better than some cis people.  People usually aren't on the lookout for those who are cross dressed.  As long as there are no multiple screaming signals and you don't draw attention to yourself you can probably pass better than you think. For example, if you walk into a bank in heels, however, and you DON'T know how to walk in heels, you will attract the attention of a security guard, especially if you are acting nervous. If you wear flats and just go to the bank and do your business like anyone else, it is likely no one will notice, except that there was a customer who was taller than most women are, but then there are tall women, and tall, broad shouldered woman.  I made the mistake years ago of thinking I had outed such, and knew she was a he.  Later I learned she had five kids, and her husband was bigger than she was.  Ooops.
    • Abigail Genevieve
      I don't know much about CNAs.  They report to an RN, right?  Can you somehow bring this up to the RN in a way that does not get your CNA mad at you? I'm not saying you should, but maybe that is a good course of action.
    • Abigail Genevieve
      This is the thing.  A month ago tomorrow is when I stopped wearing m clothing.  Today I feel great.  I do not have dysphoria when I am dressed as and I move as a woman.  I was just thinking about that because I was wondering if I would or will get hit with a wave of "you don't have dysphoria so you might as well dress like a guy. Less hassle with your wife."  Not that she is aware, to my knowledge, that these androgynous clothes are women's.  No desire to "flip", no feeling of need to, just happy identifying as female.  Speaking, in my deep guy voice, with female voice patterns, doing the feminine gestures that come naturally and without exaggeration and at peace.
    • Birdie
      Yes, my brother was born lactating due to absorbing hormones from my mum.    Of course she isn't a nurse, she is a CNA. She should however still have general medical knowledge.
    • Abigail Genevieve
      I agree.  But sometimes unethical conduct must still be legal, because the cure would be worse than the disease.  One problem we have today with the internet is the trolls can gang up on someone and destroy them - we see the with school bullying as well.   He was in the Southern Baptist Convention, and maybe he should have moved his church over to say the American Baptists, who might have been able to help him. A Southern Baptist pastor is king in his church, peerless, which means he could not have gone for help in his church.  And he could not have gone for help from any other pastor in the SBC because they likely affirm the SBC statements on these matters.  I think he was stuck.    I read this when it came out in the news.  Very sad situation.  
    • Carolyn Marie
      One organization that I know of that is dedicated to assisting LGBT seniors is SAGE.  They advocate for, and have services for, all LGBT folks, not just trans folk.  You can find their website Here.  I am not sure what, if anything, they have in terms of financial assistance.  I'll let you know if I find anything else.   Carolyn Marie
    • Davie
    • VickySGV
      This was an angle that I was very suspicious of as well, and may be the hook on which the settlement was hung.      Not at all strange especially if they had former patients who moved there that still owed money on their bills or they were buying hospital supplies from a Texas corporation. They may have business licenses in other states as well.  Small loss, but saxeT shot itself in the foot there since the license was a source of income to the state. 
    • RaineOnYourParade
      Nah it's fine, I'm past the point of really blaming them most of the time. I've gotten used to it, and they could be a whole lot worse.   I'm glad you have a good place, though <3
    • Abigail Genevieve
      I wonder about the professional knowledge level here.  Men have milk ducts.  She, as a nurse, should know this.  This is interesting  https://www.livescience.com/45732-can-men-lactate.html  Yes, men can lactate and have lactated, trans or cis.  The idea that Birdie does not have milk ducts or tissue is just plain wrong.  Her statement indicates that she has not looked at the medical record, which she should be familiar with to treat the patient. 
  • 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...