It is an eventuality that everyone encounters frustration - and for transgender individuals there is certainly no escaping it. My guess is if you have a transgender identity and were to make a list of frustrations you've encountered, gender-related issues are somewhere on that list.

Although I have counseled all age groups, well over half of my clients consist of persons who are forty years of age or older. Often this age group has typically acquired a variety of personal skills and life accomplishments. Yet, after going through the ordeal of transitioning gender many are left with regrets and questions.

There are very few circumstances in life bearing so much uncertainty as deciding whether transition is the right thing to do. Even more frustrating is the fact that gender dysphoria arises uninvited and seemingly poised to destroy a person's life, family and social relationships.

This article addresses some of the questions and issues presented to me by individuals who have had genital reassignment six, twelve, and even twenty years ago. The material addressed may also be of interest to persons who are considering permanently living "in role" as a member of the opposite gender, or who are considering undergoing genital reassignment.

One of the more highly coveted aspects of transgender living which receives a great deal of focus is being able to "pass" while crossdressed or living in a new gender role. Being able to pass has its benefits.

There are a number of transgender persons who after deciding to permanently transition, live in role for a short period of time, and then reverse back to their original gender. Reversing transition is a subject that people prefer to avoid discussing.

I have written numerous articles over the years, many of which discuss important issues such as coming out, however this particular piece addresses issues which affect the transsexual who generally recognizes his or her gender identity but is uncertain how to proceed with transition.

For anyone having suffered gender dysphoria, or that unrelenting discomfort with one's gender identification and social role, shame can be the hidden disabler. The level of disability varies widely between people and often depends upon how creatively a person can reshape his or her thinking and self-define one's presentation.

To set the stage, you may have never dated before, perhaps for a variety of reasons. The possibility also exists that you may have dated before in one gender, now many years have passed and suddenly you have a new gender identity and possibly sexual orientation. Brrring Ring! Your date is at the door, and you're just not sure what to do or what this man or woman will expect of you.

Can you imagine obtaining a hormone recommendation letter, perhaps even visiting your physician and going to the pharmacy, but then deciding not to follow through taking the prescription?  Not using or actually stopping hormones once they have been started is more common than most transgender people recognize.

People say that breaking up is hard to do, but truth is doing so is often hell on marriages, adult and particularly minor children, and even friends. While there is a significant proportion of couples that remain married where one partner has a transgender identity, just as many break up.