Friends

I've been through the work tags, but I couldn't find a concrete answer.

I've been on T for about a month, pass well enough that I was stealth at a previous job, but have not changed my name yet. In applying for jobs, I plan to put my preferred name on my resume and such, and only tell HR my legal name, if I get the job. There seems to be no problem with that, until the issue of possible background checks comes up.

So I guess here's my question. How often do retail-type jobs really do background checks, and do they do them before even getting in touch with you about an interview or whatever? I'm tempted to just put my preferred name, and hope for the best, but I don't want to hurt my chances of getting a job. I need one badly enough that if I have to put my legal name on the application, on my resume, on everything..I'll do it. I'd just obviously prefer not to. What advice can you guys offer me regarding all that? Anecdotes of firsthand experience would be awesome.

Let me do a total re-introduction. Nat 22, gender chopp`d & screwed.

I introduced myself a year or two ago when I joined this community but I've been mostly inactive on LJ since then, so I may as well reintroduce myself before I ask my question.

Age: 21
Current Diagnoses: bipolar disorder type II, social anxiety disorder, dermatillomania, ADHD
Past Diagnoses: depression
Major: undeclared
Current Medications: Effexor, Abilify, Topamax, Ritalin, Ativan
Past Medications: numerous

I was originally diagnosed as clinically depressed at age ten or so, a diagnosis that was changed to Bipolar II following a spate of hypomanic episodes in my mid-teens. I've been a dermatillomaniac (skin picker) for as long as I can recall, though it wasn't after my diagnosis with depression that anyone thought it was significant. I have a patchy educational history; first I dropped out of high school, then I dropped back in and finished, started college, dropped out again, and now I'm getting ready to back to school. Again.

Now, the actual question I wanted to ask is this: how do I phrase a letter asking for a single room? My SAD is fairly severe, and I desperately need somewhere I can go to get away from people. The last time I was in college I was in a double, and after three weeks I was at the point of complete nervous breakdown from the lack of alone time. My psych is willing to write a letter for me, but she basically wants me to tell her what to say about my reasons for needing a single room, and I can't really articulate them in a logical, persuasive way.

Help?

Hey there duuuuuuudes,
I have a whole lot of updates. Most importantly, I have my endo appointment coming up on January 15. My partner and I have been having a lot of long, honest talks about what my starting testosterone will mean and what we will have to do to make sure that we really take care of our relationship. She's nervous, as am I, but I think being excited has really started to overtake whatever nervousness we've both been feeling. I also am planning to come out to my parents right after Christmas, because if it goes well I really want to tell them about my upcoming endo appointment. I'm sitting up right now working on my letter, and I'm posting the rough draft under the cut.

Also! My band just released our very first EP, entitled "The All Eyes EP," through our myspace. My band is called Look, I'm Burning, and we're sort of metalcore/hardcore (lots of screaming and guitar riffing). The guys in my band are the coolest, best dudes I have ever met. Even though I was out prior to starting my band, having them as a social backbone and support system has helped me so much in actually pursuing the steps necessary to make my physical transition happen. They're nothing but supportive and the best friends a guy could ever ask for. Anyway, if you want to support a trans-positive indie metal band, feel free to stop by our myspace and listen to a few tracks, leave a comment, or download the EP.

( photos and letter under the cut )

I need your approval. I need you to be okay with me. I need you to understand that I’m not perfect and be okay with me being less than what we all think I can be.

That phrase that people use, the idea of “living up to your potential” – I don’t want you to think of my potential, okay? I don’t want you to think of what I “could be”. Instead I want you to think of me where I am, and take into account what I’m doing right now. Because right now I’m not where I could be. Right now I don’t have everything together; I’m taking one course; I can’t get out of the house everyday.

When that happens though – when I can’t get out – I still try to do things. I’m adapting my art, for instance, to suit where I am right now. Sometimes I can get to the studio, but occasionally the only place I can be is at home. I’m making it so that on those days where I can’t get outside, I’m able to do something and have some sort of accomplishment that makes that day worth something to me, something that moves me forwards towards my goals in some way.

And yes, I do have goals; I’m just making them more achievable right now. Even though these goals are smaller, I am still sure that they are worthwhile. After all, when put together these goals will get me to the big accomplishments that matter.

When I look too far down the line at these goals I get discouraged. When I tell myself that my goal is “become an artist” instead of “finish your project” or even “finish one part of your project” I feel like what I have done isn’t good enough, and like what I still have to do is impossible.

An alternate path is to recognize the small achievements so that I can feel proud everyday and go forwards without fear. This is what I’m working on. I’m taking into account all of the small things that I have to do.

Now every day I will check something off, and no matter how small or big the accomplishment I will be proud. Because finishing a window will eventually lead to finishing a house, which can finally lead to finishing my project. Without those first few steps the last step would never happen. Why wait until the last step to feel proud?

Alongside these goals are other essential things that must be done everyday. For instance - I have to sleep, wake up, eat, and wash myself. For others these things may come as naturally as breathing and they may not consider doing any of those acts an achievement. One day I might be able to be one of those people, but at this stage in my life sleeping, waking up, eating, and washing are a challenge for me on some days. Whenever I overcome the challenge, therefore, I will feel proud.

Everyone, it seems, has learned to run through life – I’m still getting a handle on walking through it. Therefore I might arrive a little later at those finish lines, but I will be proud of every one I cross, and I will get there in the end. Just be patient and I’ll keep moving on forwards.

Celebrating 5 Months on T ( Photos )

So, my friends and I decided that if we weren't going to the city for a rave, how about a house rave?!


It was the perfect idea. =]


Check out the pictures. =]


WARNING: PICTURE HEAVYYY.


( Party people party up! )

That's a typical day in the life of Micah...

-PLUR!

Current Music: PM--Propr

i_hope_that
For many of us, the holidays can be kind of rough. If you're searching for a network of understanding friends, this ultra-nurturing community encourages you to express your heartfelt wishes and offer other members encouragement and acceptance. Not for the terminally snarky or emotionally-challenged, this is a good-spirited place to lend comfort and support.

diygifts
Feeling crafty? If you've got a few last folks on your holiday gift list, this is a great place to seed your creativity and generosity. You'll also discover wonderful DIY tips to decorate your home and entertain guests. Offering a no-frills-no-skills attitude that welcomes the cash-challenged and arts-phobic, you're sure to get ideas and make friends in the process.

cooking_club
A fun and friendly community dedicated to those who love to cook, whether you're a meat-and-potatoes type, an aspiring gourmand, and/or a vegan. In search of a brilliant dish to use up those weekly leftovers? Post your ingredients and you'll be whipping up a feast by dinner. You can also share favorite recipes. For Type A chefs, you can spice up your culinary repertoire with exciting cooking challenges.

It's been twelve weeks since I've been on T and I decided that it was time for me to post up some pictures. Some of me pre-t and some of me now. So, yeah, enjoy! Recap: Alexander. Lives in Manitoba, Canada. Capricorn. Likes the colour blue.
 ( You're Heart's Like An Engine. )

Current Mood: calm
Current Music: Automatic- Tokio Hotel

Would they work for someone getting on disability? or on disability? as i found out due to certain reasons, I will not get as much as i hoped for, for back payments when I get approved, and wondering if I should go through http://jimcollinsfoundation.org/ and if so how would it work? Would it effect me with being on disability? Like will disability ask or wonder how I got the money to pay for it? Or how would it work? I know they pay the surgeon that your going to, would it count as income?

Evening, fellas! Name's Oscar, living in Hartford, CT. We had a decent storm here last night so there's a bit of snow on the ground.  Lately, with the cold weather, I've been rockin' some cool outfits. Check it out - Pre-Op (but in the process of applying for a Jim Collins grant) and been on T for almost 11 months.

( Read more... )

i did encounter one prominent tag regarding migraines, but i didn't feel it quite met my question.

i've had migraines (classic variety, with all the aura goodness and numbness and debilitating pain) since i was 6. they had a fairly regular occurrence of 3 to 4 in a year that would knock me down for two days at a time. the frequency didn't change when i started T, although they gradually shifted hemispheres (from left to right side).

now, however, they're becoming more frequent. much, much more frequent. i've had 10 so far this year, and i might be miscounting on the low side. i feel like my life is falling apart. i spoke to my doctor and she gave me zomig, which, praise whatever divine being there is, works. so far i've had at least one a month, with two within two weeks just this past week (with one happening at work).

i've been on T for 3.5 years, so i would think i'm past the "gets worse before it gets better" phase. a few questions:

how did you keep these things from destroying your life? (i don't know if i can describe the absolute panic that overtakes me when i begin to have one, or even suspect i might get one)

are there some questions you feel i would benefit from asking my doctor? (i'm going to request a set of blood panels with T and E on work-up. i want to see if these are hormone related. maybe there's some other imbalance i should watch out for?)

and i've done all the googling i can about possible other ways to prevent or reduce their occurrence. what worked/works best for you? i figure it's much better to ask fellow migraineurs, even though i know migraines are strange, finicky creatures.


thanks guys.

Current Mood: anxious

I cut m'hairs.

( Read more... )

Current Mood: tired

Hey guys, I checked the tags but couldn't find any information about this, so I figured I'd ask.

I've tried a variety of binding methods and although a binder I had tried out from Underworks definitely helped to give me a more masculine looking chest, I found it almost impossible to get the thing on, and then found myself in extreme discomfort for the duration of wearing it. I had recalled someone mentioning on this community a while back about using compression shirts for binding and after giving it a shot discovered that I can get myself decently flat by using a youth sized compression tee and it's a lot more comfortable than other binding methods I used.

Realistically, I'm probably at least a year away from top surgery, as I'm not currently prepared for either the financial or emotional issues that surgery raises for me at this time. Based on things I've seen and read, I think I'm a borderline candidate for peri-areolar surgery, which is preferable for me. I know that over time binding breaks down tissue in the breasts and I'm somewhat concerned about how this may affect my chances at opting for a surgery I find preferable. I'm wondering if using a compression shirt will damage my chances at peri being an option, or if the fact that it doesn't seem to bind me as tight as a traditional binder makes it less of an issue. As it is, I use a sports bra just for hanging out at home in order to give my chest better support and only use the compression shirt when going out. Also, if a guy is slightly bigger chested than is usual for peri, is it possible to use liposuction to remove some of the tissue/fat and then have the procedure done? Thanks for your help!

Hello. Names Monster. I am two weeks shy of two years on hormones. Just posting some comparison photos.

( one post surgery photo potentially NSFW )

Hey guys, Jay here. Haven't been around in a while (though I've been lurking). Thought I'd re-emerge and say hello. I was uploading off of a digital camera I'd misplaced for a while, and found great older photos. Also one or two of my partner and I. Aaand, I'm pre-everything. Anyway, here we go!

( Six under the cut )

I have a baby!
( Ferret! )

Hiya, here's a quick update with pics :) My names Kestin, I live in Auckland New Zealand and am currently visiting my family in Christchurch where I am now the big elephant in the room! Yay.
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Current Location: Christchurch, New Zealand
Current Mood: cheerful