Transitioning

[Jenny]

Hi Everyone,

As I approach my 22nd birthday (this Saturday for anyone wanting to send me gifts LOL), I find myself wondering more and more what it would be like to live full-time as a woman. The desire sometimes to just dress in my favorite clothes (all feminine), put on a little makeup, paint my nails, do my hair and just walk out of my home, walk into my office, go to the store as a female gets so strong sometimes I can hardly resist it. Many days I feel like a fraud because I look like a guy but feel so much like a girl.

So I was wondering: is anyone here (except for jennigurl who began transitioning at about age 3 as near as I can tell) actually transitioning into a female life? If so, how did you do it? Did you move from your hometown? From your house? Did you change jobs? Do you have to get a new driver's license? Do you get a voter's registration in your femme persona? Do you have to register with any governmental agencies? Do you get a new birth certificate? What do you tell family and friends? How do you go about doing the transition? Is there such a thing as a temporary transition where if you don't like living as a female, you can change back to a male life?

With my birthday coming, I feel I am getting close to deciding if I am going to live the rest of my life as a girl or as a guy. Almost all I can think about (except for golf) is trying to be a girl.:confused:

Anybody got any answers or experiences along these lines?

While I am confused about my own gender identity, I think (I hope) these questions might be of interest to others who come to this forum too.

[CDKathy]

Hi Jenny,

I've said it. Julie has said it. Others have said it. You need to get yourself to a qualified transgender counsellor. You may well be TS but you may just be, as you say, confused. While we here on this board can offer advice and opinions from afar, we cannot provide personal guidance. I don't know if anyone on this board is a professional counsellor.

But it is obvious that you are in need of the services of a professional who can guide you as you seek your answers.

[Julie]

Jenny,

Kathy is dead on right. But if you want to read about others who have done it I'll include this link (http://ai.eecs.umich.edu/people/conway/TSsuccesses/TSgallery1.html). It has pictures and stories and it's done with class. Maybe you can contact some of them to further your education.

Good luck,
Julie

[diane]

I have a couple of friends who are close to their operations. If you would like to talk to them let me know and I'll send them your contact information.

[Rachel_740]

Julie,

I've been to the link you put up and had a brief look round, as I am thinking that long term I may well want to go for SRS (early days yet though I'm not going to rush into it). In particular, the article that caught my eye was this one http://www.tsroadmap.com/start/timetable.html which I found extremely interesting and informative. It has also given me a few things to think about, both from my own point of veiw and that of people around me.

Thanks loads for finding that site and showing it to us.

Hugs & kisses,

Rachel

[Jenny]

Hi Everyone,

I want to thank everyone for their comments on this thread. In particular I want to thank Kathy and Julie. I have thought about going to a counselor about my gender issues. I have had three major obstacles:

First, I live in a small town and I don't think we even have a gender specialist counselor here in town.

Second, I am nervous about talking to anyone about these issues face to face. I know counselors are supposed to keep everything confidential but I worry they won't or that I will run into them on the street and be embarassed. It is a small town.

Third, what if they talk me out of being Jenny? I like being Jenny (at least as much as I can be). She is like my best-friend. I don't want to lose her. What if the counselor tries to cure me of wanting to be Jenny? That would be horrid.

So thanks again for the advice. I will try not to burden the board with my confusion (too much at least). I truly do not want anyone to worry about me. As near as I can tell I am no more messed up when it comes to sexual matters than my friends (hmm!! Maybe they are all secret dressers too!!! :D ). If my level of confusion gets a lot greater then I will seek help. For now, I am going to go with the flow.

Finally, an extra-special thanks to Julie for the link. I have looked at it and it did answer lots of my questions.

Thanks for being here, everyone. :)

[Danielle1960]

Jenny
I admire your courage. As far as transitioning I wish I had done it years ago when I was younger. I do see a psychologist and I selected a woman. She has been very understanding and confidential. Although I can't speak for her offically and wouldn't want to. I remember her saying to me that when your in your twenties, it is an exciting possibility to transition weather it be completely or somewhere in between. Additionally she recomended that I watch older folks of retirement age which I have done and noticed that men in there older age live more independently than women and have more fufilling life. Her reason for this point was to indicate that when changing at a young age one has time to grow into the role verse some one like my self with family obligations and 43 who would step into a new realm. With all that being said she doesn't discourage my dressing at all.

If I was the chearleader on the sideline I would be cheering for you!!
Danielle ;)