Get yourself a therapist, they said. Therapy will be helpful with your passing concerns, they said...
...so i got a therapist.
Young, eager, sympathetic, understanding.
We talked about dysphoria, my absolute dispair looking into a mirror. My need to see a women in those mirrors, someday. Just. Once.
That I'm literally terrified about a future, short as it may be, without passing. That I'm thinking about ripping my face off with my bare hands, every single day.
That i cannot live like this anymore, i tried for more than forty years.
That i will never pass with that face of mine...
...and he said:
"I believe you. You won't ever take a train and be seen as a women by those people, most certainly. That's surely a difficult situation for you."
Ah, well.
(Sorry for crossposting.)
https://www.reddit.com/user/drazisil/
drazisil
•10 hr. ago
Get a better therapist. I recommend a queer one with experience in our space
wintersong76
•9 hr. ago
Find a therapist that specializes in gender affirming care, ideally one that follows WPATH (an international organization) standards of care (they will very likely specify so on their website.)
Not every therapist has the mindset or experience to deal with gender identity care, even if they are sympathetic. They are not likely even aware of all the options available for transition.
Not sure what part of the world you hail from, but hopefully there should be someone available within reasonable driving distance. If not, extend your search for someone that offers telehealth options.
https://www.reddit.com/user/BritneyGurl/
BritneyGurl
•7 hr. ago
Sounds like a POS therapist. Probably anti trans. Find someone who can help you with your issues and be more encouraging.
MyLastAdventure
•9 hr. ago
This is why I steered clear of therapists and the like. I had a suspicion they'd just make things worse. I figured things out for myself and finally realised I'm trans. I'm older and in pretty much the same boat as you.
I've decided that to hell with it, I'll just start transitioning anyway, and I'll see what happens. I fought this for decades and that didn't work, so maybe this will?
I started hormones seven weeks ago and it's the best thing I've ever done. My mind is so much clearer and I just generally feel better.
But also, your therapist is an idiot. It's not about passing or looking beautiful, it's about finding and being yourself. There's nothing more important than that when you're trans. This is what you need to concentrate on - everything else will follow that.
FonaldBrump
•8 hr. ago
There are definitely good therapists this one isn’t though
https://www.reddit.com/user/Mudwrestler2020/
Mudwrestler2020
•6 hr. ago
Me too, HRT really helped me get my thoughts straight about my gender and how I express it. It was like a fog lifting.
https://www.reddit.com/user/perritofeo/
perritofeo
•8 hr. ago
To find the right therapist can be a little frustrating. Yes, you should find another one who is well educated in gender perspective. Also, a woman would be better, in my opinion, because make therapists are way too often out of touch with women's problems. Please don't give up on therapy just yet, keep trying. Good luck.
coraythan
•7 hr. ago
"sympathetic, understanding" don't describe your therapist. I'd more say "ignorant and/or transphobic".
wishingforivy
•6 hr. ago
I think you need to find yourself a different therapist. I felt the same way when I started my transition and still have those thoughts that intrude every so often despite knowing that I look the way I wished I would as a kid. Look at the sheer variety of masculine and feminine presentation and consider what “passing” means in the grand scheme of things? Reframing that understanding really helped me.