I know you're not supposed to wear your binder overnight cause you need time to breath &stuff...
But what do you do when a friend invites you to spend the night?
Do you wear it throughout the night?
Or take it off &sportsbra it?
Or freeball it?
Lol
Or just say no, &try to avoid staying the night with anyone?
I have trouble sleeping anywhere but home in my own bed, I always have... but this whole dilemma just makes things worse.
I've done it before, where I wore it over night, but I woke up with chest pains &I felt like I needed to go home &take it off for a few hrs.
What do you guys do?
I wear mine 24/7, it feels weird not having it on.
Hmmm i've never had to deal with this but i would guess if the person knows about your trans status already taking it off shouldn't be a problem. Also if you change right before you go to sleep they might not ever notice.
If its that big a deal maybe you should just voice your concerns with the person, normally they will put you at your ease and just tell you what they are fine with.
I've dealt with this issue in the past.
Pretty much all of my friends know that I'm trans and knew me before I started binding. They don't really care whether I bind or not I suppose. When it comes down to it though, whether I bind or not while sleeping depends on whose house I'm staying at and the level of comfort I'm having with my body on that day. Meaning, if I'm staying with a friend who sees me as male, I'm ok with taking my binder off because I'm not trying to convince them of my maleness. If I'm staying with someone who I'm trying to have see me as male, I'd probably bind.
One night with your binder on won't kill you, but it's not recommended. I'd say that it mostly depends on what you want to do.
Good luck =]
-Lex
I always wear my binder overnight if I'm staying at someone elses place. Mainly because they don't know I'm trans and I don't have an option.
Although, even if it's someone that knows, I still don't like to take it off. They know me as male and it feels really wrong for them to see a part of me (albeit through a shirt) that contradicts that.
I avoid sleeping over for that fact. But I was invited to stay the night recently with some friends (who know I'm trans) and I was going to go. What I planned on doing was staying in my binder for as long as possible. When things start to dwindle down, I would go change in the bathroom and put on a hoodie or something to keep myself covered. Then go to bed.
Now if your friends aren't the type to sleep or like to bug you, that might not work. If you're on the small side, a sports bra could work. I never sleep in my binder (I'm barely in it at home). But I know some people are comfortable with that. So whatever works best for you.
My mates are typical 16-18yr old boys. If you're the first to fall asleep, you'll probably end up with balls in your mouth, or missing eyebrows/body hair.
Either way, I would hate to let the fact that I'm trans stop me doing things I want to do.
I've slept in mine... Really it depends on if your friend(s) know and if you're comfortable binding or not binding. Binding overnight once in a rare rare while won't kill you. Or, depending on if you're small enough, a tight sports bra might be an option. Danskin makes one for 'high impact' that works rather well as a looser binder. And they're a lot more comfortable to sleep in. ;)
I took a nap with my binder on once...never again. For myself if somebody is sleeping over it's usually a lady friend who is aware of my trans status and that I feel comfortable with so I sleep without a binder but usually will wear a massive shirt and boxers.
I always put on a sports bra at night. Don't like the feel of anything moving around. Never slept in a binder.
If people are staying over or I stay over someplace and we are all sleeping in the same room I'll wear my binder to sleep, one night won't kill you, yeah it might be a bit uncomfortable but really who gets the best night sleep at a sleepover?
I wear my binder 24/7 except for when I have to take it off and put in the freezer. It used to be uncomfortable but I've gotten to the point that it doesn't hurt anymore. It cuts into me sometimes but not enough to make me take it off. I don't even take it off when I'm sleeping with my gf. I did once, and it felt so wrong I felt uneasy the whole time.
Personally, whether or not the person I'm staying with sees me as male or not, I'd leave it on for personal comfort.
Why do you put it in the freezer?
Quote from: Ryan on May 11, 2010, 10:58:27 AM
Why do you put it in the freezer?
Helps keep it from stretching out too much. Preserves the life of it.
i wear a binder 24/7 when i'm at my girlfriend's ...so thats like a week in every 3 months or so. and even though i never sleep in a binder at home, it was no problem at all and gave me no discomfort. it depends on how tight your binder is on your ribcage though. if your back can sort of still assume a relaxed position in it, you'll be fine. if you can hardly breathe in that thing......you might want to "wear it in" by not washing it for a week so it stretches out a little
Thanks guys.
My friends know, but they don't fully understand.
Im only comfortable not wearing it with a couple of them.
And if I spend the night with those friends im ok with wearing a sports bra &actually being able to sleep somewhat comfortable.
Im not that small, but me &those friends actually sleep so its ok. They don't really notice.
At home, I take it off every night so my skin &stuff can breath.
Now lately its been a lady friend that I've been staying overnight with. I mean staying the night, not sleeping. Lol For the fact that im not comfortable taking it off in front of her cause I don't want her subjecting my body as female even though she knows. She knows im not supposed to wear it overnight, but I told her it was never coming off with her. So I haven't been getting much sleep.
I can sleep with it, I have before, or wear it throughout the night fine. But sometimes it starts to bug or I get pains, good thing that hasn't happened lately. I've basically been wearing it 24/7 because of the fact that I've been staying over with her.
So last night I decided to come home early so I can actually sleep &take it off.
Idk if I can or want to ever take it off in front of anyone that's met me after I figure out who I was. I guess im ok with ppl who knew me before cause no matter what u can't rly change how they see u.