Dysphoria in the form of body dysmorphia?

[noah732]

I recently read somewhere that gender dysphoria and body dysmorphia are separate things each not to be confused for the other. However, it seems as though my experience with "dysphoria" has been very similar to body dysmorphia.

I am incredibly flat-chested. I still like my look much better when they are pressed down or not visible, and I want to have them removed, but my point is, it makes it very easy for me to look into a mirror shirtless and percieve a male torso. I am also very skinny (no curves).

Most notably, I always recognize my own face as masculine. Long hair, short hair, (and even when my friends have pinned me down and put makeup on me!) I still see the face of a boy.

Is this body dysmorphia not dysphoria? But doesn't it make sense? Shouldn't gender identity be about what I already AM rather than what I SHOULD be?

Thanks.

[Mariah]

For several months even after hormones when I looked in the mirror I still could see my looking face even with the makeup. I know how easy it is to see the face we started with pre-transition in the mirror. We are certainly condition with an idea of what woman look like and that image in our minds is often not realistic and as a result we judge ourselves based on that mental image. I know that can be hard to over come and can and does cause dysphoria until you get to a point where you like the image you see in the mirror. There are different things you an do to help alleviate this discomfort or at least minimize it. For me that meant using a wig while the spot that was thinned out pretty good grows out, Using breast forms and then pads to finish the job while my breats grow, and then makeup to cover any facial hair until it's all gone. What worked for me and what works for you may differ. Sometimes it's how something is used. Makeup can be used to emphasis and de-emphasis. Have tried talking about your dysphoria with a therapist? I wish I could help more, but without knowing more about where along your journey you are leaves many unknowns at play. Good luck and hugs
Mariah

[katrinaw]

Kinda agree with you Noah, IMHO you can have both or either one...

I would think generally that Gender Identity Dysphoria is about how you behave or how your natural instincts lie, it can lay dormant for many years of course too. A lot of us have also a hatred for certain parts of our body, this also happens with CIS as well, but for us its most definitely to do with our Dysphoria.

How we develop is governed by our genes, chromosomes etc., often it's congenial which also governs the rate of change etc..., the more your body changes the more you hate it, I would think, certainly from my case anyway. The more my body changed to my birth physical gender the more I hated it, the worse my Dysphoric episodes got, one fuelling the other... because when I was born (long time ago), I had to conform or be committed to an institution!

So I started, very late in life to start changing myself to how I always wanted to see myself, I like it! But being as nature is, we always see the faults or hints of the old you! and I still hate that!

So I don't fully subscribe to the "there're Separate"!

L Katy