I introduced gender dysphoria in a previous article, “Body Positivity Whilst Trans”, as a fundamental feeling of discomfort with your body that can’t simply be willed away through positive thinking. I also mentioned in that article not understanding at first that I did experience this sort of discomfort, because I had a mistaken idea of what it was like.
I can’t remember when I figured out that gender dysphoria was applicable to my own life— and so much of my own life! I guess it was more of a slow, dawning realisation than anything else. But it didn’t begin to really click until I began talking to other trans people about their experiences. One of the things I did during the immediate lead-up to my transition was to join Reddit and subscribe to trans subreddits. One of the ones most helpful to me was the trans meme subreddit r/traaaaaaannnnnnnnnns — r/traa for short.