Well, I'm actually working on a novel based on a transgender teen. I have reached the point where he gets his hands on a tank top binder, and tries the binder for the first time ever. Since i haven't come out or started binding yet i don't have much idea about how it must feel, both physically and psychologically. I could have made it up with the little i have read about it, but i want to give the readers authentic details, as it has been in the novel so far.

So brothers, please give me a hand if it doesn't bother you. What was your first binder experience like? Physically and emotionally?

Thanks beforehand (y)

it felt like I had started something I was meant to do. It was uncomfortable at first and it took me 2 or 3 binders to find the best one, but the feeling of my chest being flat and not having to hunch anymore was literally breathtaking. i got used to the fact it was there and sometimes forgot that you need to take it off to go to sleep every night. Other times it was a daunting task because I just wanted to put a shirt on without it and go out in public.


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I felt simply...complete. Years of dysphoria was completely gone (or very close too) and I could finally look in the mirror and see the real me. It felt like I was lighter as I'm no longer weighed down by constant thoughts of being self conscious or uncomfortable. The best way I can describe it was like a person having to wear an itchy jumper on bare skin and then after a long day finally able to take it off. I also felt a huge surge of confidence bcos I can now strut outside without a jacket disguising my chest. Additionally I couldn't stop touching my chest, gives me a sense of comfort as it's the only part of me that feels and looks definitely male Hope I helped.

Physically, it reminded me of a swimsuit, although the inside part (where the binding actually happens) was scratchier and stiffer. It was difficult to pull over my head and I got frustrated because it got stuck up around my shoulder blades. Once I pulled it down though, it seemed to fit well. It didn't really pull too much attention to itself. It just fit. haha! Thank you to GC2B for comfy binders.

Psychologically, it was a contradictory feeling for me. On the one hand, I felt elated which gave me an exciting jolt of energy. It was almost as if I had been wearing it forever... it had this immediate sense of familiarity. On the other hand, it was scary because it forced me to face how much my dysphoria had been affecting my life and my perception of myself.  I knew immediately that it would become something I would have to rely on.

I'll bite, since I think it's valuable to have sort of an "off" perspective.

Disappointing.

That's honestly the word that sums it up best. Depending on your body shape... sometimes even the best binders just won't do enough, or even do much. I've found that there's pretty much no way I can bind to pass at my size, and wearing my binder for any extended period of time becomes *incredibly* painful in my back (because of chest size), to the point that I just can't wear it anymore. I will say that those first few moments - pulling it out of the package, squeezing it on and tugging it down - I felt incredibly hopeful, elated, and like I was getting closer to what I really felt like I should be shaped like.

Reality just didn't match up, unfortunately. That said... a lot of other guys (as evidenced by the responses here ) had great responses, so I think a lot of it depends, in the end, on how you're shaped and how the binder fits.

I was scarily excited when I opened the package for the first time. My first time trying to put the thing on, I got stuck. It wouldn't go on all the way, but then I really couldn't get out of it either and started to panic. Which of course made it worse. It felt like an eternity of squirming and panicking and thinking I was either going to die or have to run out into the street half naked and ask a stranger to save me.

I put it away and was very disappointed. I was sure it was the wrong size, but exchanges were difficult at best. After a lot of reading, I gave it another try. This time with an underarmour underneath to help it slide and a different plan of attack. I got it on and was immediately giddy with excitement. My partner was with me this time, though I wanted privacy for that moment, so I was alone in the bathroom. I very happily put my shirt on and went back and sat next to him. I couldn't stop looking down and smiling, and couldn't focus on what he was talking about. I felt comfortable. And I couldn't remember when that had ever happened before. I had hope. That maybe I could be ok now. The bind wasn't perfect, but it was the closest I'd felt to ok since I was 10.

I only wore it for less than an hour that time, because we were going swimming for the afternoon. But we had a very fancy long dinner that night, and I decided I wanted to dress up, including my new binder. I hated dinner. I didn't understand it at the time, but I felt awful. I was hot and irritable, and a bit queasy. I went to the bathroom several times to adjust my binder, but with little relief. Eventually while we were waiting for desert, I told my partner I wasn't feeling well and really just wanted to change and be done. He suggested I go up to our room and change out of my binder and put on a more comfortable shirt. (we were staying in the hotel with the restaurant) Within about half an hour I was feeling much better physically but devestated emotionally. I thought I would have to decide between the physical awful of binding or the emotional awful of not.

It took a while before binding for a whole day was something reasonable for me. And it took a binder switch before I could do so comfortably. Now, I can't believe I lived any other way.

Thank you buddies!! All these are very valuable inputs. I already picked several lines to include in the novel from your posts. Keep them coming because my character is gonna keep wearing the binder for the rest of the story.

Additionally, do you feel short of breath or tightness or cramped around chest area? Did you when you first tried? Do you when you have a physical exertion like running for few minutes? How does it feel on hot days?

I can totally understand how wonderful it must feel. I just wish i can sort out my life and start presenting as a guy at least with the start of college, and of course wear a binder. Thanks once again for the inputs

I remember trying to awkwardly explain what I'd bought when the package arrived, because my whole family was stood there, and this was before I was out. But they didn't find it odd, and I was able to get up into my room and try it on. The first thing I remember is how tight it was. I'd bought a chep one from eBay, because I had hardly any money, but it got the job done. The first day I wore it, I was constantly having to run to the bathroom to adjust it, because it was affecting my breathing. After about a week or so, it had stretched our more, and I could wear it at the tightest sort of setting with no problem.

Aside from physical feelings, it was wonderful to look at myself in the mirror, and see that I was starting to look like what I wanted. I couldn't get myself to be completely flat chested, and I still can't, because of annoying things with sizes. But, since I'll be getting more money soon, I'm thinking of buying a higher quality binder, though where from I have no idea. Sometimes it's disappointing to look down, and see that I still have some kind of chest, and it usually takes a couple hours of wearing it, and leaning on tables/folding my arms to get as flat as I possibly can, but it's better than what I used to do.

Quote from: YBtheOutlaw on September 26, 2015, 01:54:03 AM
Thank you buddies!! All these are very valuable inputs. I already picked several lines to include in the novel from your posts. Keep them coming because my character is gonna keep wearing the binder for the rest of the story.

Additionally, do you feel short of breath or tightness or cramped around chest area? Did you when you first tried? Do you when you have a physical exertion like running for few minutes? How does it feel on hot days?

I can totally understand how wonderful it must feel. I just wish i can sort out my life and start presenting as a guy at least with the start of college, and of course wear a binder. Thanks once again for the inputs

Physically, wearing a binder is sweaty, especially in places where you get skin-on-skin -- ie: where my two breasts are shoved together. I've always found them perfectly comfortable at first, but after a few hours they start to feel a little constricting, almost like I can't quite take a real, deep breath. I start to get upper and middle back pain and I have to physically move in order to get things out of that achy, compressed state.

The first time I put on a binder was... not earth-shattering, but still good. Small-good, like the feeling of seeing your favorite kind of cookie on sale at the coffee shop or petting a nice dog. World peace was not achieved and my body issues weren't magically solved, but it was nice.

I remember standing in the dressing room of the shop (a sex shop!), looking at myself in the mirror. I kept running my fingers over my chest, up and down over and over again and thinking that, somehow, even my nipples seemed smaller. I remember rolling my shoulders back from the hunch I'd cultivated, then getting scared and slipping back into my usual posture. I remember feeling handsome in my raggedy old sweater. I remember knowing I didn't look like a boy. I remember disappointedly realising that I hadn't had a lightbulb moment -- that I still wasn't sure about my gender identity -- but thinking that it was okay, that it was enough to find the silhouette more attractive, "more right."

Psychologically, I just felt... more right than I had in a long time. Not moved to tears (though a nonbinary friend of mine, the first time they put on a binder, had some happy tears going on), but this almost overwhelming sense of contentment. I tried on almost every shirt I owned, marvelling at how my chest looked not nearly so bad as usual. It was intense.

My first binder (Underworks) was a little big for me, so I didn't get stuck, but I did get stuck when I got my second (also Underworks, which was properly sized), and I definitely got stuck in my gc2b binder. It's a little bit terrifying, worrying if you'll need help to get into/out of it, but with enough wriggling you'll escape either into or out of the binder.

Physiologically, the a little too big binder just felt like a tightish hug, similar to wearing a too-small UnderArmour shirt, and kinda scratchy. The properly-sized ones from Underworks feel very tight--expanding your ribcage to breathe is difficult, shoulders get sore, and you really have to work your way up to wearing it for long amounts of time or you'll get light-headed. The first few times I wore the properly-sized one was only for an hour or two maximum, then I started wearing it longer so I could go to school with it on. The gc2b ones are much more comfortable, similar to the tightish hug I mentioned before, but not nearly so scratchy. So that bit depends on what kind of binder you get.

okay, so i wrote the few paras which include the binder scene. i'm posting an extract here, please see if it sounds right. have i got this?
............

Once I had locked myself in, I pulled off the light blue shirt and wriggled my way into the little garment hands and head first.
I knew I was right as soon as I got it past the head, because it wouldn't go below the shoulders. The fabric was stretchy alright, but there was some stubborn stiffness in it that wouldn't allow me to stretch it in the ways I wanted. After struggling for few minutes I decided to give up and pull it off, but it wouldn't budge either way. I was awkwardly stuck in the evil vest. I panicked that I would have to live the rest of my life like that or run outside to Rebecca topless and ask her to pull it out of me.
Finally I had my nerves calmed, and carefully tugged at the cloth at different places to understand how it liked to stretch. I realized that I could actually pull it down rather than giving up, so I slipped my torso into the tank top methodically. With one final tug it went all the way down to my waist and fit itself.
Immediately afterwards a crushing tightness spread through my chest. I thought I couldn't breathe anymore, but soon my chest muscles adapted to the new obstacle and I was breathing regularly though it was difficult to take deep breaths. It was later that I remembered to look down to see what was up, because over the years I had almost unlearned that specific movement of the neck.
'Whoa!' I exclaimed out loud and jumped back. I thought I would faint because I couldn't draw in enough oxygen to express my amazement with the crushed lungs. I blinked several times in disbelief, but I really could see all the way to my feet without a bump in the middle obscuring my view.
I grabbed the bathroom mirror and angled it towards my chest. I couldn't believe that I was not dreaming. It looked a little awkward and asymmetrical at first, but after few adjustments I was looking at the most satisfying image of my body after ten years. I ran my hands over the place where a huge lump used to exist killing me every time I looked in the mirror. To be honest the lump hadn't exactly vanished, and I could tell all the flesh was squished under the fabric making it considerably flattened out. It was not as flat as a normal male chest but it was satisfying, indeed the most satisfying thing I had ever found on a mirror.
I put my shirt back on and looked back in the mirror. Nobody could tell what was hidden beneath. I pulled back my shoulders and straightened the spine from the decade old slouch. To my great joy, even then the additional flesh of the chest was not showing through. It was contentment beyond anything I had ever felt. I couldn't stop running my hands over the chest again and again, feeling and absorbing the flatness I had yearned for every conscious moment of my life. Things felt so perfect that I forgot all the grievances that existed beyond the bathroom door.
.............

do you have any suggestions on where i should amend this?

Even though it was a DIY binder, it made me feel whole and put showed me what one of the missing puzzle pieces were.

I guess I'm a tad bit different because when I first my binder (But hey, I thought since it was a bit different maybe you find it useful). I was identifying as agender at the time and I was trying to tell myself that I just wanted to try this for curiosity-sake (which was obvs a huge lie).

I remember putting it on being surprised how tight and difficult it was to get on especially over my shoulders. But once I got it on and took a look at myself in the mirror it was like a brief sense of euphoria and the moment that I realized that it wasn't just that I was curious to know what I looked like flat chested, that I really needed this. It was the moment I had stopped lying to myself about not having dysphoria and realizing that THIS was how I was suppose to look like. At that point I was kind of ignoring how tight it was and just feeling like I never wanted to take this off.

Ooooh same binder as I have and it's my first one as well. Well, I really felt like something was finally off my chest, it feels much lighter to walk in. Also since it was my first time, it was a bit uncomfortable and it felt rather tight. My hips were aching for some reason from it and it kept rolling up. But emotionally I loved it and it really helps me daily.

I always liked wearing corsets, so it was kind of fun for the first couple hours.  I was uncomfortable for long periods of time, but enamored of how it made me look.  My first wasn't even that binding- it gave me a flatter look but was pretty easy going.  I kind of hate wearing them a year or two in mostly because I have always been small enough to go braless and it doesn't bother me too much at home to go unbound

I don't much remember the physical feel, but I will always remember the feeling of rightness, of being complete, of this is how I'm supposed to be. Usually when I first put on my binder, there's a comforting kind of swaddling type feeling, which kind of diminishes throughout the day. At that time my binder was very comfortable, so I don't think I took note of much about the physical feel. But I'll never forget how when I pulled it on, I was like wow, this is how I'm supposed to be, a flat chest is amazing, that's how I'm supposed to be.

Well today's my first day wearing one (before that, sports bras mostly) and so it's fresh in my mind...

Gotta say, at first, disappointing. I kind of expected instant man and i kind of just got monoboob and the feeling that i can't return it with all the skin it seemed to scratch off embedded in it

But I've since managed to work out how it works best and it's a bit better. However there's a lot of mass in a DD cup breast and so I'm not ever going to be completely flat unless i suffocate myself. Which means more anxiety about actually wearing it, because it's not really a flat male chest but also definitely not just a small female one.

No big deal.

Because although I eventually got a proper binder, been subconsciously or consciously doing it since I was a younger kid by wearing clothes that were getting too small for me, sports bras or gauze wraps. I'd been doing it so long there was no "moment" for me. I'd always been doing it, one way or another.

I won't do my first experience because I bought the wrong size and it was the worst as it pinched/pulled/twisted to the point of being unwearable.

The binder I wear now is much better and I'll give the experience on that instead. I will admit there is sort of a pull in my chest/breasts when I wear it but not so bad that it bothers me. I can often feel a tightness in my neck and shoulders which worsens once I hit 8+ hours of wearing it. Even though I bind regularly, I still feel a little self-conscious because I still sound feminine/have a feminine face so I'm often mistaken as a butch lesbian. However, there's a sense of peace to binding, maybe not euphoria but contentment in the fact it's one less aspect of femininity I have to worry about.


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