[Music] hello how can I help you hi I'm here for my appointment with their gender identity clinic yeah of course that's fine she want to go through the doors behind you go down the stairs have a seat in the waiting area Thanks I'm so glad that my first appointment is finally here I'm terrified but the same time excited looking back this has been quite a long wait I remember the moment I gathered the courage to visit my GP and asked to be referred to the gender identity clinic my new going on the waiting list meant it would take months before I was seen but the moment I received my letter I was over the moon I started to do my own research into the services and treatments the clinic could offer I learned what is and what isn't available on the NHS are more about fertility preservation it is good to think ahead there were times I began to feel quite lonely and really wanted to reach out to someone that had experienced what I was about to sew through local support services I found a transwoman group finally people like me the first meeting was so heartwarming I gained advice from people who had gone through the transitioning process and people who had had their first appointment someone suggested that I write everything down that I wanted to say in the meeting including my life history so that I can have something in her hand in case I got nervous thanks to the group I feel supported and more prepared for my first appointment ok deep breaths here we go [Music] first of all I mean done I've never been so scared in my life I feel like a massive weight has been lifted off my shoulders the moment I went and I didn't know what to fully expect I felt like finally beginning my journey to become who I really am not I need validation powers worried that the staff would judge me or not believe me so I asked my friend to come along leading up to the appointment I was worried a bit worried we're so far into clinic tasks they reassured me that can wear whatever I'm comfortable then when we went and we sat down and I talked about why I felt I was non-binary they listened it was one of the most open conversations I've had I even used drawings to explain some of my feelings which Lee thought was brilliant and encouraged me to bring in any material that helps me express myself when are some more the next steps where they explained everyone's journeys different whether that's knowing exactly what you would like to do or if you need a few more appointments just to talk I feel so much more comfortable more myself and I'm ready for my next meeting I can't believe I'm already a few appointments in our journey it's been I remember my first appointment of the clinic I was so ready but I had no idea what to expect my family researched a lot before my first appointment gaining the knowledge they needed to be able to support me I kept them reassured while I focused on learning everything I could about the clinic my first appointment they were so welcoming I explained that I was assigned female at birth but I identify as a man I talked about my past and I'd like to change about my body they listened to all of the questions I had and explained any of jargon term was the I didn't understand I was nervous walking into my second appointment as I decided I wanted to know more about hormones but as they had all my records on hand together we could properly understand my options he helped me create a plan as I wasn't sure about while the earliest of my body I could focus on first or what changes would happen I fell I made the right decision right now I'm in a good place I feel more comfortable in my body and I attend a support group every month I may decide to take further steps in transition but there's no rush for me the gender identity clinic has been a great support [Music] you [Music]