Differentiating Body Dysmorphia from Dysphoria

[pulson]

Hey all! First off, if this needs to get moved to another thread, please do that. I wasn't too sure where else to put it.

 

I'm curious: if any of you guys also struggle with body dysmorphia, how do you differentiate it from your gender dysphoria? I've found this is a web that gets extremely tangled and hard to navigate at points; it makes me question my validity constantly. So...I guess I'm here for advice, as most of my dysphoria is rooted socially as opposed to my body (although I do experience body dysphoria, albeit to a smaller degree).

 

I've more or less accepted that my body dysmorphia is rooted in my dysphoria: I don't like my curves, I obsess over the roundness of my face, and I'm uncomfortable with my chest and try to hide it. I've read over and over again that people say body dysmorphia is when the sufferer thinks certain aspects of their body are exaggerated when they aren't really that bad, while gender dysphoria is an innate knowing that your body just doesn't line up. But...how do you know that? How do you know what you're seeing is wrong as opposed to a funhouse mirror reflection your brain is distorting? I guess it's hard for me to wrap my mind around sometimes. Like, I don't recognize myself in the mirror, I don't think this body is mine, but how do you know for sure that's dysphoria and not dysmorphia? 

 

I just get scared sometimes that I'm making it up, or conflating the two. So...other opinions would be cool to see. Tell me about your Dysmorphia vs Dysphoria experiences.  

[VickySGV]

This is one of those subjects that can easily be overthought by people who will not accept that they are Transgender and need to call a spade a pick-ax for any number of reasons.  This is why a therapist who knows GD is vital to your health.

 

One of the reasons I will not encourage another person to go through GCS these days (although I have no regrets) is that it will  not really help the rest of your body if you do not like it.  Always start out with the least invasive steps you can under medical direction.  Cutting your head off is not a good option so rule that out quickly.  I am pleasantly an overweight female who has some masculine features, but gets called by my True Name all the time.