Quote from: Taka on August 27, 2014, 01:31:26 AM
washing properly every day makes it less of a hygiene question, and more one of aesthetics.
if it itches, try shaving in the growth direction. i do that, had to give up on anything else. it helps a lot, though doesn't get as smooth.
not like you need perfectly smooth legs, as long as they look smooth for your mother.
instead of ordinary skin cream, see if you can find pure shea butter, unrefined if possible, maybe mix it with some coconut oil and coca butter. they feel like putting on a thin layer of protective clothing, help the skin recover, and often stop itches. coconut oil is very anti bacterial, and shouldn't be used excessively on other skin areas than those where smelly bacteria thrive, like under the arms. those oils are edible, you might find mixes of them near the butter shelf at a grocery store if you can't find them in a place that sells health foods. you can also use oil or soap instead of all kinds of nasty creams when shaving.

this isn't really the type of advice you need most right now, but if you don't get any choice of whether or not to shave, at least you can choose the less painful way of doing so. don't let your mother touch your legs again, she doesn't seem to have the slightest idea what she's doing.

Taka, I have to disagree with that statement on the hygiene deal. I have hyperhidrosis, as nasty as that sounds, and I break with bacterial infections if my legs are hairy or anywhere else. A dermatologist told me that without the hair the clothing would soak up the sweat instead of the hair trapping some against the skin and letting it brew and bacteria grow there. It sounds nasty and disgusting I know. And it truly is. I take a shower everyday, sometimes two even and even used antibacterial soap. I have been shaving since I started puberty because of this. I guess I am lucky that I am MTF and is a really good excuse for me, but I can see that if you are FTM that the shaving wouldn't be very good for dysphoric reasons. All I got to say is that it is your body and what you do with it should be up to you. Age limits should not apply. Yeah try being a teenage boy or posing as one with smooth legs chest, underarms and gynecomastia. I've heard it all. I was so happy when I didn't have to take PE anymore in school. Maybe use the excuse that shaving or depilation creams make you break out or gives you a rash that is very uncomfortable. Depilation creams will burn the crap out of you if your not careful, I know 'cause I am allergic to them.

Oh goodness, Taka, that sounds terrible, and I'm sorry you have to deal with that sort of thing. But, yes, I suppose it would make more sense for me to look into shaving and how healthy it is, perhaps it would be a better help in convincing Mother in that way.  I would love to not be required to shave, really, that would be a dream come true for me. I can't help but be a little better about it still, even after some time. All teenage cliches aside, I'm not really fond of being treated like a lesser human being like that, even if she is my mother, y'know? Call it naive or whatever you prefer, I'm just... it's more of the act of her doing it that made me feel really shameful.

I am not going to say anything against your mother except I disagree with her actions.
What I might suggest to maybe help a little bit until you can be on your own is to start to develop your male persona. Take the time to really think what you want your name to be. Learn how the boys talk differently then the girls. Start taking steps in your own mind that will make things easier when you are able to start your journey.
Another thing you can try is to try to do weight training, it might be difficult to be able to do so but if you can then you can develop good habits for when/if you start T. If you can do it at school then your mother might not be able to interfere with your training as easily and who else would think that you are trying to become slightly more masculine.

These might not help the dysphoria much but at least you can work a little bit towards your goal and besides exercise  is a good way of fighting depression and anxiety.