Q&A: Any Advice for Coming Out?

I'm gonna be starting hrt in December finally, but I still haven't came out to my parents that I'm trans and I somewhat regularly still see them.  Any advice for coming out? Or the anxiety, rather.  What did y'all do leading up to when y'all came out to help? There's uncertainty on whether they'll accept me or not, I just don't know.  

Funny enough the comic right now has really been resonating with me with that same kinda anxiety and uncertainty, like always y'all doing a great job but god does it hurt and I can't wait for them to talk it out and Pop to get a job and things to look up again.

 ~ Chelsea

Hi Chelsea,

I can relate to you entirely on the anxiety of coming out. I went through a similar bout with it before I came out and well, let's say I didn't handle it well. However, if I could go back and do it again, I can say I would have taken more time to build up my own confidence about who I am and then try my best to let the people I care about know in the most gentle way possible from a loving perspective. Of course I don't know you or your situation so you have to take my advice as only that and decide for yourself what's best for you. I think the hard truth is people are either going to support us, even if it's difficult for them, or they're not. But if they don't, we can't put that on ourselves because it's each of our responsibility to support people we love.

I hope you have at least one or two supportive friends as well. If not, maybe try to find some people who've gone through what you're going through and ask their advice as well. When it comes to stuff like this, there's strength in numbers and the more you talk with people who get it, the more confident you'll be in the decisions you make.

Take your time and assure yourself that you do not need to validate yourself to anyone, their only concern should be listening to you and accepting that you're sharing something very intimate that needs support. Do this at your own pace and when you feel yourself getting anxious, try to remind yourself that you're on the right track with your life and you deserve happiness. Too often we let the world tell us what we should be against our own instinct and it can leave us feeling frustrated or depressed. Don't worry about what the world wants, just worry about doing what's true to your heart and showing people you love who you are. They'll see it and understand. If not, well they'll either come around or they don't need to take up so much space in your life. Big hug <3