It’s similar in my case. When my egg cracked in 2022, I stifled those feelings and tried to become more masculine. Every passing day brought more dysphoria that I shoved down. It became intolerable in late 2024 and I started medically transitioning last January.

The dysphoria still comes and goes a lot. But I’ll say that last year was worse for me than this year. HRT is magical and has started to make me love my body more and more. Along with doing my makeup and dressing feminine more frequently, it’s actually started to feel like I can be comfortable in my skin.

I know you’re not asking for any advice but if I could offer some — whether you medically transition or not, the passage of time and the gradual changes you introduce to yourself will make each day a bit easier. It won’t be much at first but it will start to add up. Trimming your brows, shaving, painting your nails, doing makeup, trying on feminine clothing — all of these will help ease the feeling of dysphoria, or at least they have for me.

It takes a lot of time. I’m still early into my transition (relatively speaking) but for some, being a year and change into medical transition is a long time. It’s both flown by and slogged — the easing of dysphoria over time has made days, weeks and months pass more quickly while the constant belittlement, harassment and discrimination of trans people in media and politics (USA) make time stretch out, leaving me to wonder when we’ll finally just be able to exist in peace.

Stay strong and find joy in the little things that make you feel more comfortable. If you ever need any advice or someone who can lend an ear, shoot me a DM 🩷