What is social dysphoria exactly and is it valid? What about euphoria?

[hmillerrr]

Hi so I identify as FTM but for awhile I thought I may have been confused because I didn't have dysphoria but I realize now that I definitely have gender euphoria and am almost certain I have social dysphoria and at this point I'm just looking to find out more information to put words to the strange feelings I've had my entire life. Have any of you guys experienced social dysphoria? What was it like for you guys? For me it was things growing up.  Okay take me in a dress. I hated picking it out, I never liked the process, I never enjoyed it, and always felt strange. But I put it on and I could almost enjoy it. I looked beautiful, I looked the way I knew I "should." I felt good but it was like I was playing a part . I felt like I was drifting through the night.. Almost detached like I was watching myself be something I couldn't recognize or something? It was like, yeah I had fun...acting. It was a good time tho! Kind of thing. I'm referring to an 8th grade dance, when I felt like this. I don't know... I just whenever someone calls me he or my preferred name a Trevor I feel awoken. I know no one is qualified to tell me for sure but would this be social dysphoria in a way? What is your guys ' definition? I just need some feedback n explanation to this feeling because it's been there (the "acting" thing) since puberty... Thank you for your time and for reading this. Anything will help!

-Trevor

[Terry]

Let me quote the relevant DSM5 criteria:

 

"5. A strong desire to be treated as the other gender (or some alternative gender different from one's assigned gender)"

 

"6. A strong conviction that one has the typical feelings and reactions of the other gender (or some alternative gender different from one's assigned gender)"

 

It sounds like what you describe fits these.

[hmillerrr]

8 hours ago, Terry said:

Let me quote the relevant DSM5 criteria:

 

"5. A strong desire to be treated as the other gender (or some alternative gender different from one's assigned gender)"

 

"6. A strong conviction that one has the typical feelings and reactions of the other gender (or some alternative gender different from one's assigned gender)"

 

It sounds like what you describe fits these.

Thank you Terry. This is definitely along the lines of what I needed and I appreciate it greatly?

[VickySGV]

Dysphoria is a combination of two Greek words meaning terrible burden.  I cannot find Social Dysphoria in any of my references. Terry's citation of the DSM5 does describe Gender Dysphoria.  The phenomena that you experienced wearing the dresses is a little newer concept called "depersonalization" where we do in fact "put on an act" for others which we find happiness in to some degree.  55 years ago before we even knew what GD was, my actual High School Drama teacher took me aside and told me that she and others could see I was  putting on an act, that made me seem odd to others and thus some of my social  problems at the time. 40 years later I learned the concept of Gender Dysphoria and it was an eye popper!!

[hmillerrr]

4 hours ago, VickySGV said:

Dysphoria is a combination of two Greek words meaning terrible burden.  I cannot find Social Dysphoria in any of my references. Terry's citation of the DSM5 does describe Gender Dysphoria.  The phenomena that you experienced wearing the dresses is a little newer concept called "depersonalization" where we do in fact "put on an act" for others which we find happiness in to some degree.  55 years ago before we even knew what GD was, my actual High School Drama teacher took me aside and told me that she and others could see I was  putting on an act, that made me seem odd to others and thus some of my social  problems at the time. 40 years later I learned the concept of Gender Dysphoria and it was an eye popper!!

Hey @VickySGV thank you for taking the time to respond. Maybe I have gender dysphoria then? I don't know but I appreciate this

[VickySGV]

57 minutes ago, hmillerrr said:

Maybe I have gender dysphoria then?

 

My observation is that if a person even wonders about having it. they have it.  Cis gender people will never give it a thought but I will not make my thinking jokes here against them.  There is no telling at the minute where your GD needs to go to be controlled and it need not be the whole boatload of pills and surgery you will hear about.  It will be treated on the basis of how much stress you experience to make those changes when GD becomes Consistent, Persistent and Insistent in you life to where those options are the only way to control it.  If small steps including clothing styles, hair styles, body building through sports, and just nanging around with men as one of them do the job, great.  If they do not do the whole job (such as Cross Dressing for me)  then you go the next step which may be HRT and even Legal Name / Gender Change and very last step, the surgeries.  Even then there could be continued counseling by a therapist, but at some point you will find the "real you".

 

6 hours ago, VickySGV said:

"depersonalization" where we do in fact "put on an act" for others which we find happiness in to some degree. 

 Maybe I should re word that to say "survival  or happiness in some degree."

[hmillerrr]

4 hours ago, VickySGV said:

 

My observation is that if a person even wonders about having it. they have it.  Cis gender people will never give it a thought but I will not make my thinking jokes here against them.  There is no telling at the minute where your GD needs to go to be controlled and it need not be the whole boatload of pills and surgery you will hear about.  It will be treated on the basis of how much stress you experience to make those changes when GD becomes Consistent, Persistent and Insistent in you life to where those options are the only way to control it.  If small steps including clothing styles, hair styles, body building through sports, and just nanging around with men as one of them do the job, great.  If they do not do the whole job (such as Cross Dressing for me)  then you go the next step which may be HRT and even Legal Name / Gender Change and very last step, the surgeries.  Even then there could be continued counseling by a therapist, but at some point you will find the "real you".

 

 Maybe I should re word that to say "survival  or happiness in some degree."

Yeah I think your right @VickySGV I think I should take it slow. I don't know I guess it's just tiring ya know? I actually have my hair cut and I've dressed masculine my whole life bc as I explained I always felt so strange but I still feel like someone... in between and I was so disappointed when my hair cut didn't ease that feeling. ANd tbh that's when I really started acknowledging my feelings instead of suppressing them... I just want this feeling to go away and I think ppl calling me he/him is relieving for me but it's just... Not enough but I know that u are absolutely right about slowing down and it's just hard. Oooo I'm sorry for dumping this all on you Vicky. I really appreciate your feedback and I apologize

 

[VickySGV]

Just now, hmillerrr said:

Oooo I'm sorry for dumping this all on you Vicky. I really appreciate your feedback and I apologize

 

No need too be sorry, that is what I and this site are here for.  I did not begin any part of my changes until I was 60+ years old.  I am coming up on my 7th anniversary of being asked to be a moderator here.  All of us on the Admin and Moderator staff are volunteers and we are all Trans or Non Binary who like to look out for our younger siblings.  Think of me as a Trans Granny and it is a good picture.  Being Trans is a strange gift, but here we really try to keep it from hurting the one who has it.

[hmillerrr]

Just now, VickySGV said:

 

No need too be sorry, that is what I and this site are here for.  I did not begin any part of my changes until I was 60+ years old.  I am coming up on my 7th anniversary of being asked to be a moderator here.  All of us on the Admin and Moderator staff are volunteers and we are all Trans or Non Binary who like to look out for our younger siblings.  Think of me as a Trans Granny and it is a good picture.  Being Trans is a strange gift, but here we really try to keep it from hurting the one who has it.

Damn I've got a really cool Granny LOL hahaha I love it. Fr tho ur so kind and were all lucky to have you