Body Image

[rfhaas]

Since I have come to accept my female self I am finding that my body image is deteriorating to the point that o can't look in a mirror without feeling disgusting unless I am dressed appropriately. Is this normal or am I taking things too seriously?

[Edge]

I'd say it's normal. It happened to me too anyway. Once I accepted who I am, it opened the floodgates so to speak. I feel better about myself, but also have more dysphoria.

[Gina Taylor]

I'd say it's normal. It happened to me too anyway. Once I accepted who I am, it opened the floodgates so to speak. I feel better about myself, but also have more dysphoria.

I feel exactly the same way. Unless I am dressed a certain way, which is as a woman I cannot accept the way that I look.  (

[rfhaas]

Thank you for the feedback Jaimenicole. It means alot.

[solexander]

Oh yes, that's definitely normal. I've been transitioning for the past year or so, and the only way I'm not presenting as male is if I'm at home, nobody's over, nobody can take any pictures of me, and I'm in my pajamas (who wants to bind their chest 100% of the time anyways?) and even then I have a hard time looking at myself. I remember the first time I presented as my true gender in public- when I got home, I really didn't wanna take anything off and have it all go back to how it was. It got to be really difficult to wear my old clothes and carry on as normal. I think it's just kinda part of being trans and having dysphoria.

[Boo Stew]

Since I have come to accept my female self I am finding that my body image is deteriorating to the point that o can't look in a mirror without feeling disgusting unless I am dressed appropriately. Is this normal or am I taking things too seriously?

I've recently started to ease back on this. I remember freaking out because a shoot (I make documentary films and dress while working) kept me out past the witching hour and there was no time to shave away the beard shadow and reapply before committing to another 7 hours in the public eye. The idea that I would be poorly representing my female side, made me feel physically ill. So after my carriage turned into a pumpkin and my dress into rags, I took stock of my behavior and I decided I was taking things too seriously. My remedy was to start mixing things up; a skirt with no forms or bra, a dress with my dude sneakers, minimum foundation with no concern as to fully concealing my beard, lazy day sort of things like any girl who doesn't shave her legs on her day(s) off (and/or ALL OF WINTER) Lol. I mean, even if it's just around the house to do chores or something. It kind of brought a bit of easy playfulness and fun back into it. I think that was an important step for me --to disassociate being a woman from being impeccably made up -- not that getting dolled up isn't awesome, because it is.

[AnnahM]

I agree with Edge. Pretty much a typical pattern, it seems. Part of that wonky in-between stage when you first start transitioning.