Gender identity stress bringing about health issues

[Balerie]

I'm curious about this. Currently, I'm experiencing a health issues with my legs where they have flared up for no specific reason. By flaring up I mean that the leg has circulation issues which make it painful to walk among other things. Doctors tell me it's a problem in the veins but don't really know why it has sudden flare-ups. I'm also suffering from lots of stress; work, financial, and my dysphoria. Lately I've been talking to my brother and he's concluded that my dysphoria has gotten to a point where my body is rejecting itself, so to speak. My best friend has told me the same thing. My wife is finally seeing the light for now.

My workaround, while I lose the weight necessary to begin HRT, is to spend as much time as possible as a female outside of work since I have yet to openly transition. I haven't even ventured outside the house but those are steps I'll be taking in the future as I perfect my appearance etc.

Has anyone else here gotten to a point where your body started to attack itself because you had not started on the path to transition? In certain ways this is scary to me because I never thought the dysphoria would create health issues. On the other hand, it's pushing me further along the path at a faster rate than I had anticipated.

[November Fox]

Yes but I don´t interpret it in the sense of my body attacking itself. I don´t think it´s capable of doing anything like that without my brain subconsciously being involved.

Not transitioning provides stress. Stress impacts the nervous system. Our nervous system can become in disarray and when that happens, things start to go downhill. Your nervous system can then act out of balance (overreact) to small stimuli, which is what happens when you get crps/rsd (which I developed this year).

I believe the answer is dealing with the stress head on. By living as who you truly are (because this alleviates some of the stress), but also by active practical stress reduction like meditation and sports.

[becky.rw]

Stress from any source can do really horrible things; even though public perception makes it seem like a dodge or excuse for something.

Ask your therapist about appropriate stress management techniques.   You can attack it directly.

One of my, very NOT recommended process, is to practice iaido with a live blade; nothing calms my mind like the prospect of "calm down or you'll slice your hand open."   but this is generally NOT a recommended technique.


Seriously, ask the therapist, lots of fairly simple ways to directly address and reduce stress.

[Balerie]

Thanks for your suggestions. I've started to do a few things to alleviate the stress. One is that every night I listen to a Louise Hay meditation track I found on YouTube to help ease stress. So far I find that relaxing and it has calmed me down a bit.

I've also started to dress female as much time as possible outside of work. I wear women's perfume often and I've stopped using male underwear which has for a few years now increased my dysphoria tremendously.

One thing I've noticed is that my weight has started to come down more easily since I've been cutting down on the stress. For now I think I've helped ease my dysphoria some though I still spend too much time thinking about the future when I am able to transition.

One thing at a time, I guess.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

[Rachel]

Hi,

I am hooked on walking steps in the morning and hills at night. Also, I have a trainer and she is tough. I eat super healthy now.  My thoughts, I had to come out and transition in public. If I did not then I would end the stress another way. I am transitioning and fully out. My stress level is way down now. I have lost a lot but gained a lot. I am very lucky and at work I am accepted and welcomed. There are some awesome people out there.

My brother (deceased), sister, brother in law, nieces and nephews and cousins accept me 100%. My wife and daughter do not accept me.