Susan's Place Transgender Resources

How do you deal with those days where the dysphoria can hardly be shelved in the back of your mind? I've been on hormone therapy for over 3 months, but today is suddenly a bad day, and I feel more aware than usual of how I haven't had my surgery. When that day comes I'm going to be bawling, I'll be completely overloaded with happiness, but until then, I still have a terrible weight on me. Hormones are helping a lot, but once in a while, the feeling comes back with force. I'm certainly not depressed... I know things will eventually be better, and I can function just fine, but it really hurts. ^^;

Get out of the house.  Go grocery shopping, go see a (non-trans) movie, read a (non-trans) book.

Remind yourself that there's more to life than being trans-whatever.

Bad Body Days for me...
I play a computer game, read, clean house (doing the dishes is an excellent form of venting frustrations!), do some gardening, lift weights, remind myself that "this too shall pass".

Quote from: The Sarah on June 03, 2009, 10:42:14 AM
How do you deal with those days where the dysphoria can hardly be shelved in the back of your mind? I've been on hormone therapy for over 3 months, but today is suddenly a bad day, and I feel more aware than usual of how I haven't had my surgery. When that day comes I'm going to be bawling, I'll be completely overloaded with happiness, but until then, I still have a terrible weight on me. Hormones are helping a lot, but once in a while, the feeling comes back with force. I'm certainly not depressed... I know things will eventually be better, and I can function just fine, but it really hurts. ^^;

sweetheart I know exactly how you feel. It starts with that, and the next thing you know everything is going wrong. :-\ I try to take stock of what I have that's good in my life, and look at the progress I've made so far and try not to think about how far I have yet to go. But I'll be doing the happy dance on that day as well (well, maybe after healing a little bit lol)

**hugs**

Day by day is how I survive with my Dysphoria.  On the bad days I get out and just go somewhere, anywhere.  I get into life.  Walk the department store and look at clothes,  Book store and look at books, other than GID.  Read a magazine and have a cup of coffee.

But my bad days are getting less and less as I progress.  I just keep thinking that I am a woman and that is all.

Janet

Go get your nipples pierced and get a tattoo. Usually cheers me up. You run out of nipples really fast though.....and GID brings a lot of bad days.

J/K

You have to keep yourself busy. Walk around a park or mall. Go help somebody. Go to an area lake and watch the sunset on the bank. Key word is keep yourself  busy.

Thanks everyone... I decided to go shopping for a while. I find it was pretty effective for me.  ;)

Hey. When the going gets tough, the tough go shopping.   ;D


Janet

I get those too.  I usually have to go shopping and waste some money on something I cant wear in public to feel normal again.

I got these shoes I really wanted. How can I be sad after that? Haha  :D

I believe it was Thoreau who said, "take a walk around the lake."

I only have to step off my back porch. Bad news is I have to still dodge alligators in the throes of mating season.

Bad news is I have to still dodge alligators in the throes of mating season.

Do the alligators lust after you, or are you holding out for a nice coral snake?

Burmese python.

A growing problem down here after that formally "cute" snake hits four feet, is that they are put out. We have a growing population of released snakes, with few natural predators.

We have a growing population of released snakes, with few natural predators.

We have the same problem with Hippies out here.

Quote from: Feever on June 03, 2009, 09:29:13 PM
I get those too.  I usually have to go shopping and waste some money on something I cant wear in public to feel normal again.

I find shopping theraputic and on days when I am down, shopping, brunch with friends always cheers me up.

I have a wardrobe full of stuff I buy and think "wtf was I doing", its a common thing amongst women. At least 10% of my clothes still has the price labels on.

Buffy

It looks like shopping's effective therapy. Who would have thought... I used to hate shopping.  :D

I don't know, I think a more natural way, like exercise, or playing a musical instrument, or having some sort of hobby, or other thing you do is more rewarding in the long run then just spending money.  Materialism is its own sickness, and I don't think it really changes anything, just postpones it.  But something natural, something real, can work to change, and keep changing your life.

I was thinking about the factor of materialism, and I do not want to be someone who gets her happiness from that. I have other things I enjoy doing, too, and I think they help; reading a good book, and even playing video games. I call them reality escapes. ^^;

Quote from: The Sarah on June 03, 2009, 11:08:59 PM
I got these shoes I really wanted. How can I be sad after that? Haha  :D

You go girl.

I'm trying to find these shoes I found on my I-Phone app "I shoes". They are Chinese Laundry and they are sooo cute.  I'm hoping the DSW Shoe Warehouse next to my home has the 8.5's in stock.

http://www.dsw.com/dsw_shoes/search/search.jsp?searchTerm=chinese+laundry&_requestid=9823 (http://www.dsw.com/dsw_shoes/search/search.jsp?searchTerm=chinese+laundry&_requestid=9823)

we all have our bad days... its not because your taking hormones, but its because your a normal being.. we all have our crazy days like this. what you can do is to go out with your friends. most especially those friends who are really funny, chatty and likes to laugh. im sure this can help. start your day by telling yourself that you are a wonderful person inside out. after all, it will all start from yourself. be positive, and the rest will follow.

I know it's dumb but shopping really helps. I don't always buy but looking around and checking out fashion, jewellry, make up, shoes, bags Oh no same comments different thread :laugh:.

I also reckon that excercise helps. I force myself to the gym and have a work out. I'm of course not into body building but I have shaped my legs nicely, look heaps more feminine.

And on the really bad days. Chocolate :laugh:
Love
Cindy

Quote from: Janet Lynn on June 03, 2009, 08:13:30 PM
Hey. When the going gets tough, the tough go shopping.   ;D


Janet

It's true, there is a psychological boost that comes from buying something you want. I think even guys feel this....which might be why they get so many gadgets and junk they don't really need?

Anyways, I usually handle dysphoria by taking a nap.

in the case of shopping (aka "retail therapy") to cure the dysphoria blues, I don't really think it's about materialism so much, but more about simply getting out and taking your mind off your personal problems for a while. Also, getting dressed up and going out shopping for pretty clothes or shoes or jewelry is somehow identity-affirming in itelf. When I feel bad and go shopping it does cheer me up, sometimes significantly, even if I only end up with a new pair of earrings or whatever or nothing at all.

Quote from: FairyGirl on June 15, 2009, 02:27:35 PM
in the case of shopping (aka "retail therapy") to cure the dysphoria blues, I don't really think it's about materialism so much, but more about simply getting out and taking your mind off your personal problems for a while. Also, getting dressed up and going out shopping for pretty clothes or shoes or jewelry is somehow identity-affirming in itelf. When I feel bad and go shopping it does cheer me up, sometimes significantly, even if I only end up with a new pair of earrings or whatever or nothing at all.

Well said girl!  :eusa_clap: I sometimes go out shopping when I am feeling down, and I just walk around the store creating outfits in my head! Even if I don't buy anything, it totally gets my head cleared and more level. Reading a good book also helps me to get my thoughts straight  :icon_paper:.