Anxiety
Anxiety can happen for so many reasons, and for some people, anxiety is present before transitioning, and even before realizing that you’re trans in the first place. It’s a very common disorder that a lot of people have to deal with.
Panic attacks can come from severe anxiety, and they involve symptoms such as: heavy breathing, sweating, shaking, being unable to move or talk, rising panic in the chest, the stomach feeing heavy or knotted, as well as feeling like you need to leave certain situations as quickly as possible.
Panic attacks aren’t always obvious or easy to spot, and when they happen they can be difficult to come out of. Grounding techniques are useful when you’re feeling stuck or panicked in public.
Anxiety can come from dysphoria, from feeling as though you aren’t going to be gendered correctly in public, or more general causes such as having a fear of large crowds, even without the aspect of being trans attached.
How To Manage Anxiety
Talking therapies – Getting a referral from your GP for different kinds of therapy can help you find an outlet to talk about your feelings and figure out why you’re anxious, and what else you can do about it.
Asking for help from friends or family – Talking to someone you know may be easier than talking to a stranger for some people.
Medication - Usually for severe anxiety and panic attacks, especially if they prevent you from living your life and doing things like leaving the house.
Some medications are for short-term treatment, whilst others are more long-term. Your GP will need to have many follow-up appointments with you at first to check that the dose of your medication is right for you. For the first 3 months this means seeing your GP every 2-4 weeks, then every 3 months after that.
You can also tell your GP if the side effects of your medication are too much for you, and they’ll try to find an appropriate alternative.
SSRIs, SNRIs, Pregabalin, and Benzodiazepines are all good medication options, with their own risks and side effects that your GP should explain to you before deciding on the right one to treat you with.
Transitioning – If anxiety is related to being trans, then transitioning in different ways may lower or alleviate that anxiety over time.
Private LGBT+ friendly therapy services like Pride Counselling.
Referrals to specialists, including: psychiatrists, psychiatric nurses, clinical psychologists, occupational therapists and social workers.
All of the above suggestions are good options for treating and helping you deal with anxiety issues, as trying to manage it on your own can sometimes do more harm than good.
