Your Transgender
Journey - An Introduction
Article
from Transgender Care
Many people dream of chucking it all, walking away
and starting a new life. And a number of us wish to
start that new life as the other gender.
Some who dream of starting over envision themselves
becoming an attractive female, comfortably blending
into a new somewhat idealized life — a completely
fresh start. Others imagine a life as female with
little lifestyle change; much would remain the same,
including one's friends, home, and job. There are
many ways to successfully transition and it is
usually different for everyone.
Along the way you will have a lot of questions about
how to be able to do it. Some of the questions are
very practical, some theoretical and some personal.
The purpose of TransGenderCare is to share our
experiences with those who envision doing what we
have done for others. In that regard, it is personal
and intuitive. It is also based on scientific data
from our observations as treatment providers. We do
have an enthusiasm and respect for those who have
the fortitude and drive to make their lives whole.
We have a love for helping others through what we
have learned, as well as a love of learning new
concepts ourselves. We will share with you what we
have learned, and some of the things we have done
and seen during our treatment of transgendered
women.
From many peoples' perspective, including ourselves,
transgendered individuals are often ready to take on
a challenge, to have fun, who refuse to settle for
anything less than a very full, complete life.
The aim of this Site, however, is not to sing the
praises of transgendered individuals. Rather, what
we hope to accomplish is to give you some insight
into what it is like to transition successfully into
a new gender role.
We hope to get you to think about what you are doing
or yearning to do even if that involves saying
things that conflict with your own outlook on life.
In that regard, we have tried to pull no punches
when it comes to the difficulties, as well as the
joys, of starting a new life. You may not agree with
some of the things that we say. That is fine.
Certainly you must ultimately decide matters for
yourself. It is, after all, your own personal
journey. We hope you agree that if you want to
undergo a gender change, a new understanding and a
new way of thinking are very important. You may even
discover that changing your body is less challenging
than changing some of the ways of your thinking.
This Site is written from the perspective of the
transgendered individual and the treatment provider.
We have not glossed over anything that accompanies
the experiences of a transgendered woman towards the
goal of gender transition. We do not afford
ourselves the luxury of simple theorizing or giving
middle-ground viewpoints so as not to impinge on a
currently popular attitude or special interest
group. Here we describe the reality of transition,
that collective of physical, emotional and lifestyle
changes, instead of the uncertain agenda that might
be called "transgender correctness." Consequently,
we have opted for frankness rather than sugar-coated
and comfortable political platitudes.
If you have visited a number of transgender health
sites, you probably have seen a good deal of
conflicting information, treatment information laced
with testimonials, and a procession of bad outcomes
with little in the way of avoiding one yourself. The
Internet provides a great offering for most of us in
the form of diverse information, but it is also a
contributor to bad decision-making. Despite all of
the Internet's content, treatment choices are
fraught with more peril than just a few years ago.
Web rings, formal or not, create singular viewpoints
while creating the illusion of diversity; many
providers, such as electrologists, therapists,
physicians and surgeons, are not properly
represented although their work is exemplary -- and
other providers are over-utilized while their
services are expensive and, at times, somewhat
mediocre. In other cases, the Internet provides a
quick and effective means of creating less than
honest online personas (via email aliases and
countless messages containing misleading
information) along with touts (with their own
websites), all with the intent to lure those willing
to listen toward certain services or products.
This Site is not about how to make things right on
the Internet. It is a site about what is, not
a site about what ought to be. There is no
rule book on what treatment or lifestyle approaches
are good and bad. You will not find a list of
resource links pointing you toward "the answer." We
neither encourage nor disparage the use of
particular providers. No revealing pictures of
appalling (or wonderful) outcomes. Like Buddhists,
we attempt to walk the middle path.
While we offer what we believe is a comprehensive
transgender health care service in the form of Tampa
Gender Identity Program, it is quite possible to use
our site outside of using our services. Whether you
are a TGIP patient or not, the information here is
representative and can be applied to your individual
circumstance.
TransGenderCare is here to allow one to gain
insight, and specifically, to take responsibility
for your actions and the consequences.
You might think that transitioning is living your
dream. It probably may turn out to be not so much a
dream as an adventure.
Adventures have perils and risks, there are personal
problems along the way, many things that are not
fun, and treatment outcomes that don't always live
up to expectations — sometimes for no better reason
than "that's just the unpredictability of life."
But it is important to realize that the final
outcome of your transition and finding happiness
along the way is "up to you." |
