Honestly I don’t know why someone would transition if they weren’t feeling dysphoria, even if that’s a thing I’ve vaguely heard of)
Sometimes it just seems like a difference in how people use “dysphoria”. Some people feel their feelings are not severe enough to count (so… impostor syndrome?). Not saying that’s always the case - I’m sure some people are cool enough to just transition because they want to despite social pressures otherwise. Either way, its not a good idea to define identities based partly on minimum levels of suffering or use that to gatekeep access to services, drugs, etc.
Personally, I feel too out-of-touch with my emotions to call anything I experience either dysphoria or euphoria. Even pain from physical injuries (from stubbed toes and severe cramps to broken bones) is an emotion that confuses me. So, I sorta feel like I’m taking HRT on a whim even if I do know I do experience dysphoria on some level.
Sometimes it just seems like a difference in how people use “dysphoria”. Some people feel their feelings are not severe enough to count (so… impostor syndrome?). Not saying that’s always the case - I’m sure some people are cool enough to just transition because they want to despite social pressures otherwise. Either way, its not a good idea to define identities based partly on minimum levels of suffering or use that to gatekeep access to services, drugs, etc.
Personally, I feel too out-of-touch with my emotions to call anything I experience either dysphoria or euphoria. Even pain from physical injuries (from stubbed toes and severe cramps to broken bones) is an emotion that confuses me. So, I sorta feel like I’m taking HRT on a whim even if I do know I do experience dysphoria on some level.