Sofi wrote: ↑Wed Apr 20, 2022 9:51 am
Hi truly-bluely, welcome to the boards! I'm sorry you're dealing with dysphoria, it can be a very uncomfortable and painful thing but we can talk about ways to work through the feelings, especially the anxiety attached to it.
There's a few questions I have in order to give you the best support, starting with do you have connections to people similar to you that might have a similar experience? Also, do you have access to mental healthcare, or would you be interested in seeing a professional?
I also was wondering if you could give us some more info on what makes you scared when it comes to sex - as in, what do you worry might happen, and is your fear about how you would feel or about your partner (or both)? Lastly, do you notice the dysphoria lessens or worsens with specific things such as what you're wearing right before/during sexual exploration, or what you think about/what sexual media you consume, etc?
Thank you so much for responding.
I don’t think I have connections with people who experience this, unfortunately. I only have a few LGBTQ friends.
I am currently seeing a therapist, and while I don’t trust him with information about dysphoria or think he has the necessary perspective to understand it, he is helping me work through my anxiety in other aspects of my life.
As for fear, I’m worried not only about my own dysphoria’s possible sudden onset during the act (and its consequences for my mental health in the surrounding days— a bout of intense dysphoria can absolutely mess me up), but about disappointing/worrying/scaring/upsetting a potential partner, or about them secretly viewing me as female because of my anatomy.
Dysphoria is worse if I touch things directly instead of through fabric, and less if I’m too wrapped up in the pleasure of it to really focus on myself. It also lessens if I was already previously presenting as myself and having a good euphoria day.