I love life. There's so much I could do. So many people I could help, goals I have, fun things to do, beautiful places to see, yummy foods to eat, new things to try, ideas to think about. I want to do that.
I wouldn't let the pain I've felt or the struggles I've gotten through take anything away from my joy. I know it could all be okay and I could be happy.
My dysphoria takes it all away. I have a constant unease with everything I experience because I have to experience it through my body. Everything is wrong. It's like, if everything in the world was constantly covered in a thick layer of some gross, sticky sludge. And if the sludge made me incredibly depressed and anxious.
I just need to beat this dysphoria. Just that one thing, and I can have all of that amazing joy. I really hope it isn't impossible.
Do you ever feel gender-euphoria? Or is it only constant dysphoria? I haven't began my medical transition (MtF) yet and I especially know what you mean by dysphoria. Though for me it doesn't feel like everything is covered with thick layer of gross sludge, it only feels like I'm the one covered with gross sludge. I'm the one wrong thing, not everything else. The reason I was asking if you ever feel gender-euphoria (even for a brief moment) is that I think those brief moments of euphoria are glimps of what is to come. An affirming feeling, even for a second that things can get better.
I sometimes get gender-euphoria when trying new cute clothes, shaving, doing my hair, putting on eyeliner and other simple things like that. Although it can sometimes be a double-edged sword since sometimes I feel like I look horrible in the clothing, or in makeup, or just horrible in general. But I still haven't given up, only because there are those brief moments of pure bliss.
I love to hear that you still enjoy life and things it has to offer. I too believe life has lots of things to offer and can be beautiful. And I'm really sorry that dysphoria is getting infront of that life. Getting infront of things you love. But still I believe that you can do this, that it can get better. You give me hope since I haven't started HRT and hearing about similar people to me being able to do something I currently can't is weirdly comforting. Now when I think about it, it might be kinda funny for me to try cheer you up when I'm in a much earlier stage of my transition.
Still I 100% believe that you can beat this dysphoria. By beating it, I don't necessarily mean that you have to always feel good about yourself or your body. But I think you can get to a point where you feel good about yourself, about your changing body, atleast for most of the time. Bodies are always changing their shape, maybe for better or worse; but It's also comforting to know that you won't always look the same.
I still feel like I don't look how I was supposed to or how I want to (It's a long journey). But in the future I can get there. I know you can get to a place where you are comfortable with the world around you, comfortable with yourself. Maybe someday you realize that you haven't felt dysphoric for a moment or that it can go away from time to time. Maybe the gross sludge will start to disappear slowly, shrinking in size. Maybe even going away fully. Or maybe the sludge will turn to something beautiful like shining glitter (glitter everywhere would probably not be too nice tho lol). The only way to find out is to keep on going. You still have time to achieve everything you want to! I believe in you fully from a girl to another.
PS. I have been lurking on the forums for sometime now and every time I see a post with your name on it I start to smile. Knowing that you are still around. I also see your messages and the impact you have on others. It's amazing! You don't even know it, but reading your messages or posts have helped me a lot. Even if they weren't directly meant for me. You just radiate energy that really helps me feel hopeful. However, this doesn't mean that you can never be negative, or express feelings of sadness, depression, anxiety and so on. I think seeing you express both ends of the emotion spectrum really shows how real, raw and empathic you are.
I really hope I don't come of as a somekind of stalker lol I was just really inspired by you! If you ever need someone to chat with or just want to talk about anything at all, feel free to hit me up. <3