So, I know I'm a long way from passing. I'm pre-everything and just had my first therapist visit on Friday. I just thought I'd ask if anyone had any tips for me in the meantime. If this is the wrong board for this, I'm super sorry! This is what I look like now.

Is there anything I can do to alleviate my dysphoria while I'm waiting for HRT? On another note, my most severe dysphoria comes from my very, very curvy hips, and I don't know what to do about that either, or how to hide them effectively. Does HRT help in that area? If anyone has advice, I'd be super super grateful!

I'm sorry but are you M or F  or andro?

The good is that you will pass.  If you are MTF, estrogen will do wonders.  If you are FTM, testosterone will do wonders.

Four years on here and you are the first person I  can say that to with confidence. 

Hugs

Jen

I'm FTM - sorry, I should have specified! Thank you, though, that really means a lot.

Currently your best bet would be to target the image of a teenage boy. Your face is not yet masculine enough to go for a more adult look however testosterone will change that. On testosterone you should loose lower body fat and if you do upper body workout, it will help balance out your body. Other than that, stay away from tight fitting pants or shirts and that should reduce the amount of shape that shows through.

There is a little truth about your body. My body never respond well to years of HRT but yet my body didn't give me away. Face, hair and voice are the areas that people will pay the most attention to. Your face can be seen either way, hair is easy to deal with and voice even without testosterone can be made to sound less feminine with a little work.

I don't see any reasons especially with T that you shouldn't pass. T can do wonders and with your fairly androgynous face already you should be fine. As far as the hips clothing is probably going to something your going to have to use to cover those. I don't recall that a lot can be done with them. Hugs
Mariah

Just be patient and stay focused, sounds like you are following the right path with first talking to a therapist, that is a good start

Stay on the path and you will eventually find your way

Hugs

I wouldn't be expecting HRT to alleviate the dysphoria completely. Many find surgeries are the final answer. In your case, getting some T and an hysterectomy may shed the body fat from your hips, giving you more of a male shape... just as E and orchiectomy put fat on my hips, and gave me a female shape.

Don't get despondent if you doctor asks you to be patient. Nothing happens overnight. I have seen some amazing FTMs. Every journey starts with the first step. Best of luck on yours.

patience my little grasshopper

99% of passing is attitude. Which basically boils down to if you don't love yourself, how can others? If you can accept yourself with all you great points, and all the lesser points? How can others?

Transition starts from the inside, not outside. I had 2 failed transition experiments in my early 20's thanks, in large part, to not coming to accept me as me. I'm still that 6ft tall big everything person I was with no hop of passing, yet.....

Your haircut is actually a good choice to pass as a boy because it obscures your hairline and is trendy. How is your voice? Can you keep it calm and in the lower part of your register? When I was your age my voice always gave me away.