TeriLeigh:
Glad that you found your way here! I hope that it will be helpful as your journey continues.
I would posit that the vast majority of members here have either gone through, or are about to go through, the life changing event(s) that you mentioned. Compared to lesbians and gay men, our path is necessarily different. Typically, when they come out to people in their lives, they will usually not look any different. However, that is not the case for trans women or trans men. We will look different from how we appeared before. Therefore, it can be more of a shock for those surrounding a trans person compared to a cisgender person. But, the important thing is that we need to live in accordance to how we view ourselves, not according to some arbitrary thought process in which we did not have a part.
Are you connected to a local or nearby trans group? Humans are social creatures, so being a part of a trans group is a great way fight against being isolated. Also, the camaraderie and shared information is often very helpful. What is often noted, when we see others dealing with challenges in their lives, it helps us believe that we can also be successful.
If you like, you can search our Member Directory for others in your area. Click on Social in the menu and then Member Directory.
Also, I encourage you to complete your Profile page. It really helps others to understand you and your situation better. Your page will always be readily available and can be updated at any time.