suggested dos and donts of transitioning

[Deleted]

Based on your experience and observations what are the suggested dos and donts of transitioning?

Do get a therapist

Don't give up hope

Your turn...go for it...

[EchelonHunt]

Do... have a support network of friends or family to turn to when things get hard, it will get hard.

Do... be patient with the changes on HRT, they will not happen overnight.

Do... put your prorities in order. E.g. don't spend recklessly on "I want this" purchases when you have "I need this" things like necessities, food, HRT, surgery.

Do... be patient with family and friends who are adjusting to the changes. If they slip up on pronouns, your first reaction may be to get angry and feel betrayed but be the better person, show compassion and understand that they have been referring you with specific pronouns for over 20 years, if not that. It will take time to change old habits. If it becomes evident that they are purposely screwing up pronouns on purpose with a sly smile on their face and have no intention of respecting your identity or decisions in life, cut them out of your life. You don't need that shit when you are going on possibly the most difficult journey of your life.

Do... stand up for yourself when you are being treated badly. You are a human being with rights like everyone else...

Don't... let anybody else treat you like you are lesser than them. Find the confidence within yourself to be proud of who you are. Accept yourself and embrace who you are, stop giving a crap what people think and do what makes YOU happy. The words of haters will then become meaningless dribble to your ears and eyes once you realize their words have no impact on who you are or how you live your life - yes, even family.

Don't... fall into the trap that nobody will love you because you are transgender or transitioning. You are worthy of being loved, there are people out there who see past the physical body and see the beautiful soul within your eyes.

Don't... let people tell you that there is only one "true" narrative to follow. Create your own narrative, after all, your journey is not a cookie-cutter of every other transgender's transition. Don't let psychiatrists or doctors veer you onto the more commonly followed narrative because in all likelihood, it is built on rigid gender stereotypes and will only exist to destroy your entire being.

Don't... let people fool you into believing transition is all rainbows and sunshine, that you will be magically cured of dysphoria after transition. Sometimes, this is not always the case for everybody.