Trigger warning: dysphoria, transphobia
Gender dysphoria is a different experience for all; while the American Psychiatric Association defines it as the ‘psychological distress that results from an incongruence between one’s sex assigned at birth and one’s gender identity,' my dearest friend Jana (genderqueer) simply responds with a ‘h8 boobs’.
Whatever one’s experience with gender dysphoria is, generally, we can pin it down as the distress and anxiety one feels when there is a disparity between their psychological experience with their gender and their assigned gender. Dysphoria is perceived in more ways than one- there is body dysphoria, which arises from your perception of your body, like your brain telling you your body is wrong. It is associated with the chest and genitals and can also stem from other characteristics such as facial shape, features, and hair. It is described as a feeling of loneliness- not being at home in your own body is isolating and suffocating. Looking in the mirror and wondering who the person staring back at you is becomes a torturous ordeal.
Dysphoria can also be triggered by others’ perception of yourself- termed social dysphoria. For many, dysphoria stems from the world gendering their body. Being misgendered, deadnamed, and forced to present as the gender assigned to oneself are all causes of social dysphoria. If someone you know is changing pronouns or names- trying different things out, please be sure to use them correctly. These are not just sounds; they are a form of empowerment for most of us.
Another perception of dysphoria is mind dysphoria, which is the discomfort caused when one’s thoughts are at odds with one's gender identity. For example, misgendering or deadnaming yourself, being disconnected from your past self, and having intrusive thoughts such as never feeling like a ‘real’ woman, man, or nonbinary individual marks the condition.
In particular, menstruation as a topic of discussion as well as a biological process is an issue that can induce dysphoria in transgender individuals. Menstruation is too much of a feminized issue for something not experienced by all cisgender women, besides being an experience shared by other individuals. The gendered connotations around this process and the menstrual products that cater to feminine bodies form a contested self for transgender people. Many trans men, nonbinary and intersex folk menstruate as well, and their narrative is constantly left out, not to mention menstrual products are all but catered to women. People have to switch to more ‘feminine’ underwear during their periods. There are no provisions for sanitary bins or period products in men’s restrooms (in many cases, there are no cubicles, either). This is only the tip of the iceberg; all in all, for transmasc and some intersex people, periods are an uncomfortable and dysphoric topic. Trans women, nonbinary and intersex people also find themselves alienated when menstruation is discussed and advertised in mainstream media as a women’s issue. Personally, as an agender person, my menstrual cycle is a constant reminder of everything labelled feminine by society- it does not matter how I view myself, society will always consider me a woman. This is a feeling that links trans people worldwide, and it is a thought that has to change.
There are many ways one could ease their dysphoria. Affirming your gender is a great tool- whether medically (by hormone therapy and surgical transition), coming out to your trusted peers, or even the smallest of actions like doing your nails and changing your hair. Binders, packing, and breast forms are popular articles for trans people to make themselves feel more at home in their bodies. (However, these have to be used cautiously- please click on the respective words to read more on their safe use!)
For years, being a trans person has been irrevocably linked with dysphoria. However, it is not any rite of passage into transhood, and one doesn't need to experience this. We mustn't define the trans experience as shame and anguish- something to be resented, which we are framed as more often than not in mainstream media. When I first started looking to read about more trans experiences to commence this article, on most (if not all) websites, gender dysphoria was headlined under a psychiatric disorder, listed along with its symptoms and ‘treatment.’ But is that how we begin to explicate transhood? Is that really what links all trans people? Trans-ness is not something that needs to be fixed, and while trans people can feel dysphoria, they don't have to.
Whatever your own trans experience is, the most crucial thing you have to clutch close to yourself is: you are not alone. There is an entire community of people with you who share your experiences and validate them entirely. It is okay to feel defeated, feel at a loss, and be overwhelmed, but do not forget everybody you have by your side.
Until next time,
~ Lynx
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