Hi Maya-Ithink, welcome to dailystrength. There's a difference between being transgender and transsexual. Transgender is when someone doesn't feel their internal identity, their gender expression in particular but not only the gender aspect of their identity, is outwardly reflected to the world. And your counsellor's right, there's no right or wrong way to deal with this. It's different for every transgender individual. Being transsexual is when a person feels the need to transition their body to the opposite gender; for example from a physically male body to a physically female body, through hormones and reassignment surgeries. In this case there is a very clear cut answer, counsellor-referral-doctor-referral-surgeon. Just to be clear I'm not trying to tell or advise you personally as to either one, I just hope these two different definitions might help. Safe-journey.

Yes exactly I am trying to connect with others that may be going through similar issues as myself so we can compare and contrast so to say

Hiya. Im also new to this and been seeing a counselor and made some awesome progress. Ive done alot of research thru google and came across this group. Ive learned quite a bit here from reading thru others posts. Have you told anyone yet? Family? Friends? Its not easy telling them but it will make you feel better. At least it did with me. Havent told my mom yet because she will tell everyone and im trying to take it slow in that area. I havent been seeing my counselor for that long and already got a refferral to the endo in cleveland. Its a 3 month wait but im excited. If you have any questions feel free to ask away. Everyone here has been extremely kind and gave great advice. Best of luck

Maya,

There is only one you in the entire world. Pretty big deal for you to be able to be and express all you are. There aren't really have-tos in this script. You can come out, stay closeted, do physical transitions or social transitions, both or none. But yes, looking closely at the full range of options is useful and wise. Counselors can help with that but you can also research a lot on your own if that is your style in addition to getting tips from the counselor.

Everyone will have a different experience. I have waited a long lifetime to transition physically and socially. Coming out is an ongoing mixed bag. For me as a senior adult, it has mostly been a touching experience of being hugely positively embraced by people who loved me for who I was but didn't know I suffered constantly from gender dysphoria.

I have so much more energy to enjoy life and invest in other people now that what I express on the outside is a closer match to what I feel on the inside. Even if there are a number (for me at this point just a handful) of people who either don't accept me as I am and exit my life or give me a hard time, the trade off for me is worth it. I am now recognized as male, the gender I have identified as from age 3, and transitioning from last year at 61 this is a huge miraculous gift. I work and have to navigate personal and professional relationships but again for me, 99% a positive experience.

Maya, however you decide to be yourself, be courageous and don't wait as long as me to take those steps. You have a start here. You can do this!

Liam

I'm new to this as well, and I don't really know any major way to help other than saying that this forum can help a lot. There's a community of people just like you that all want to help each other. This may not help permanently, but to cross this river without a bridge, you need stepping stones. Forums, people, therapists, and even life itself can be those stones. I made the mistake of not finding help. This is my first step into a new me. I hope that this is a step to a new you as well.

Hi Maya , I just joined this group because I too have been struggling with my disphoria since I was about 3 yrs old as one of my very first memories now I'm in mid 40's mtf all by myself with no support from anyone , now at a loss of what to do and where to go because my disphoria is getting stronger and affecting day to day as far as depression and anxiety , I've told friends and family and now no support and no friends