Scarleteen

I have this happening a lot, from just being constantly bothered a bit by something (or none at all.), to full-blown phantom limbs. (Which is down-right scary when it comes on the first time, not to mention confusing.) Just like sometimes I'm comfortable touching down there, other times I'll get either upset, anxious, or just straight up avoid it out of bit of a feeling of disgust.

Hi Kittypink,

What you're describing, especially having days where touching is fine and days where touching is a big old NOPE, is something plenty of people who experience dysphoria express. That doesn't make it any less unpleasant when it happens, but sometimes it can help to know you're not the only person who's ever dealt with that feeling.

Sam W wrote:Hi Kittypink,

What you're describing, especially having days where touching is fine and days where touching is a big old NOPE, is something plenty of people who experience dysphoria express. That doesn't make it any less unpleasant when it happens, but sometimes it can help to know you're not the only person who's ever dealt with that feeling.

With some of the stuff my mother says gets kind of upsetting when I'm in flux with dysphoria severity. Because I end up thinking just because it's in flux I'm making it up or that it isn't real.

Something you could try is to have written down somewhere that having fluxes in dysphoria does not invalidate who you are. It can act like an affirmation from your past self to your future self.

You might also find this article helpful to have around. It's part of our Trans Summer School series, and addresses some of the feelings and fears you might be having: http://www.scarleteen.com/trans_summer_ ... ans_enough

Sam W wrote:Something you could try is to have written down somewhere that having fluxes in dysphoria does not invalidate who you are. It can act like an affirmation from your past self to your future self.

You might also find this article helpful to have around. It's part of our Trans Summer School series, and addresses some of the feelings and fears you might be having: http://www.scarleteen.com/trans_summer_ ... ans_enough

The written down thing I should really start doing a lot.

Is journalling something you'd be interested in trying? As Sam said, it can be helpful to have reminders to yourself that fluxes in dysphoria don't invalidate your identity, but keeping an ongoing record of how you're feeling can be useful too, and journalling can serve that purpose (and it can just be a place to get your feelings out, which lots of folks find very beneficial).

Long story about journaling, my grandmother took a few pages and I stopped after that.

Got it, and sorry for not checking in with you about something like that before making my suggestion: that was a big mistake on my part.

Karyn wrote:Got it, and sorry for not checking in with you about something like that before making my suggestion: that was a big mistake on my part.

Oh, it's fine. I'm thinking about starting to write things elsewhere, like how I'm writing some naughty stuff in a binder that she won't probably think of looking in.