Little things

[OreSama]

I was wondering about the little things people do to help with dysphoria.  Like for me, switching to men's deodorant and wearing men's underwear has helped me a lot, even though I don't present as male yet.

[Brenda E]

I have a million little things I do these days.  One is wearing a hairband around my wrist, like girls do.  Reminds me that one day, I'll have hair long enough to put up in a ponytail.

[Emmaline]

switching to men's deodorant and wearing men's underwear 

Oh yes, that's step one.  Remarkably effective.

Decorating your room.

Some masculine bedding, pillow cases etc. you spend half your life in bed... make it a manly bed experience!

Putting together a scrap book of male role models, activities you want to do post transition, clothing you think will make you look sharp- haircuts you may want to try.

Writing your coming out letters/conversations.

Switch soaps- sandlewood is very masculine.

Go online and order a top notch shaving set from somewhere like saville row in london - you are gonna need it, so why not get the best?

Check out books by Biddulph on raising boys... he goes a lot into the mythology and symbolusm of the traditional western psyche.

Find a good Cis male friend to come out to.  Set up a 'no bullsh*t, tell me exactly if I make a faux pas'- he will be an invaluable resource.

[Emmaline]

Oh... and good luck!  Waiting is the worst. 

[Dee Marshall]

I shave my body, which is problematic as the dysphoria comes back worse if the hair grows back too fast. I only wear socks if necessary. Carry a tote bag or messenger bag. Pee sitting down and most of all, avoid mirrors.

[Emmaline]

Mirrors are the worst.   

[Skyler]

Wearing a binder even if you are not presenting feels great second on the deodorant too, i wear axe dark temptation :3
also maybe just getting some male button up shirts ex. plad shirts or something casual.

[Emmaline]

If there was a toy you desperately wanted as a child, but it was of the wrong gender... freaking ebay yourself one now.  Even if you put it in a box.  It's yours.  You deserved it.

[OreSama]

Mirrors are the worst.   

I kind of like looking in the mirror when I'm not having an extreme dysphoric episode, but it's like I'm not even looking at myself.  I completely disconnect from what I see and I think that's how I stand it.  I'm working on getting a binder but buying new stuff is on hold until payday.  In the end though, for me transitioning is about feeling more male than feeling more masculine.  I played with dolls when I was little and wear feminine clothing sometimes (although I've stopped with that and don't intend to start back up until I see a man dressed as a woman in the mirror.) I did buy more masculine clothing though and I have this one plaid shirt that's my favorite shirt right now.  My mom even said she once mistook me for my dad from behind when I was wearing it and it felt great ^^

[Emmaline]

 

[solexander]

The deodorant thing is huge, I've got such a big array of Old Spice things it's irrational...
Besides that, one of the biggest things I do is actually something I ripped from sensory deprivation tanks. When I'm feeling REALLY dysphoric, what I like to do is run a body-temperature bath (not too warm, not too cold- almost to the point where you forget where the water ends and your skin begins), shut off all sources of light so I'm in pitch blackness, and either put on some calming music or, if you're in a really calm area, just sit in silence for a while. You don't have to look at yourself, it's very calming, and you can just be you in your body without having to think about it too much in context of everyone else. It's really helpful to me.