Being out as a Transgender person is not an easy decision to make we all know that don't we some have a very difficult time others just appear to cope or do they?
As a transgender person we face prejudice, insults and hate crime nearly every time we open the front door and venture out into the world around us. It's not surprising so many Transgender people are seen to suffer depression and mental health issues, if the general public had to live under the daily stress we have to function under they would suffer similar feelings
Also not everyone is able or wants to transition…
This is a perfectly valid choice for people to make. However these individuals must learn to cope with the tension that the gender dysphoria produces. Sometimes this can be helped by having times when one can cross-dress, interact with others who are aware of one’s status, talk about the issue, and take low-levels of hormones (that don’t effect the body outwardly).
Other mental health issues not related to being transgender. Just because someone is transgender doesn’t mean they don’t have other issues in their lives. It can be hard for some people to let themselves seek treatment for other issues when the gender dysphoria is so prominent a concern.
After two plus years of being finally me, I succumbed to the dreaded depression I had read so much about, my mental health was at a all time low. I became basically house bound and actively avoided going out with my partner (wife) to the shops or out socialising, so I knew I needed some medical help.
My normal gender friendly doctor at my surgery has left to practice overseas in Australia so there's no chance in moving surgery or country come to think of it, so I just booked in with the first available doctor at the surgery, by good luck or fate the doctor is Trans aware, and has other patients who are transgender. She immediately checked my past blood tests and just spoke to me on how I was feeling, which was the opening for me to discuss how I was feeling and what state I felt I was in. She listened and researched possible medication suitable for me.
The Doctor explained how long the medication would take to start to make a difference to my mood and feelings and she was spot on. Two months on I'm feeling much better and I have started to live again and regularly go out and about shopping and enjoying my time. I have recently been for interviews for different jobs and facing the world, after my old employer decided to close the place I worked at and concentrate on their main site. Sometimes you need that kick in the pants to refocus and start doing something different, it is that time for me.
Mental health is no secret and should be talked about openly, we all have periods in out lives that come under the mental health banner there is no shame in asking for medical help. In just a short period of time you can go from a depressed state to your old self, enjoying life and all it has to offer.
So if your reading this and feel depressed about your gender then please seek help and advice.
In the UK you can contact any of the links below to talk to someone.
There is also uktransinfo on facebook
www.facebook.com/groups/uktransinfo
Email: info@uktrans.info
General support
Call 116 123
Email jo@samaritans.org
Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) - for men
Call 0800 58 58 58 – 5pm to midnight every day
Visit the webchat page
Papyrus – for people under 35
Call 0800 068 41 41 – Monday to Friday 10am to 10pm, weekends 2pm to 10pm, bank holidays 2pm to 5pm
Text 07786 209697
Email pat@papyrus-uk.org
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