documenting the journey to myself

at first this blog was made to document my transition. but now i find it more important to have an outlet for all stuff relating queer issues and many other topics so i can post it here. enjoy. my name's noah elias and i'm 21 years old. i'm from germany. and i am glad there's queer people out there!

[transcrap]

Healing your back pain from binding

When I messed up my back or ribs from binding this is what I would do to fix it. (I’m not going to mention safe binding practices, I hope you all know those by now):

1. Stop wearing your binder. Try to take a break for at least 24 hours if possible. For me, not binding meant not leaving my room. Sometimes you just can’t take a break for a full day, but have your binder off for every second you possibly can. 2. Stretch! Do some yoga, or some other back stretches. Google it, you’ll find a million results. 3. Lay down. Seriously, do it. And stay there. Stop sitting in your computer chair with that horrible posture, it’s going to make things worse. Combine this with the next step and you’ll feel great… 4. HEAT. Heating pads are your best friend. Go buy one right now, they’re between $15-$30. I used to sleep on one overnight when the pain got really bad or if I had a day of excessively long binding. Also, take a hot bath or shower before bed. 5. Sleep flat on your back. Most of the healing and repair to your back will happen at night. A good night of properly positioned sleep and a heating pad may be all you need to be pain free the next day. If the pain is so bad you can’t relax your back muscles enough to lay flat, or it hurts when you lay on your back (I had this problem a lot), put a small pillow or towel under your lower back. You can also prop your feet up, it might make you more comfortable, but it’s not necessary. If you really can’t sleep on your back, sleep on your side with a pillow between your knees and your back extended (not rounded) so your spine will be aligned properly. Don’t sleep on your stomach or in the fetal position, it will make things worse. Make sure your neck is properly supported and try to avoid having your head turned to one side all night. If your neck hurts, your back will hurt too.

If possible, get a massage. Also take some OTC anti-inflammatory medication. This list assumes that your pain is due to muscle strain or minor tearing. If your pain is being caused by improper binding (ace bandages, tsk tsk), this might not help. If it’s being caused by broken ribs, or severe muscle damage, go to the damn hospital. I hope you’ve found this helpful, and I hope your back feels better. :-)

[theartoftransliness]

We’ve had some questions about binding and back pain. This might help those experiencing back pain due to binding. 

[scum2000]

chased the sun set today. dashed across a high way to the edge of a cliff. pulled my shirt off and bared my body to the sky. I love who I am. I love the body I’m in. I love the skin that has so willingly taken new shape for me this last year. I love even the parts that have been hard to love.

in a month I will be more authentic than ever before. it’s kind of like renovating. I had to take everything out for a while so I could repair a few things. so I could make some additions. in a few years I’ll know every new nook, every new corner. in a few years there will be memories hung all over.

transitioning has been hard. there have been days when getting up was too much. I’m sure there still will be days like that in the future, too. but learning to love who I am and the form I am in has made every challenge worthwhile.

i know this is a tough road, guys. but the journey is worth it.

[neekolexo]

Sweet Stuff Trans Identity Giveaway!

What if you woke up every day with the anxiety of living in a body that isn’t yours? You exist in this husk of flesh and bone but it does not belong to you in the slightest. This is what transgender individuals experience and it can be devastating for some. In the wake of Leelah’s death I wanted to give to the trans community.

Sweet Stuff Trans Giveaway

Unfortunately, many trans individuals are young adults living day by day trying to make ends meet. Trans health care is COSTLY and the bare minimum can strap any person of funds. This often makes additional items unattainable. Items such as push-up bras, STP (stand to pee) devices and simple clothing hard to purchase.

That’s where I hope my giveaway will help! Essentially there will be TWO giveaways. One to an individual who identifies as male/masculine dominate and one who identifies as female/feminine dominate.

Masculine Package Includes: Items value at $135!

$50 Donation towards any GoFundMe account for trans related surgery.

3 Months of Packer-Locker Gear Box ($60 Value) 

Flavnt Pretty Boy Tee ($25 Value)

Feminine Package Includes: Items value at $150!

$50 Donation towards any GoFundMe account for trans related surgery.

$50 Giftcard to Sephora or Lush (Your choice)

$50 Giftcard to Victoria Secret

Info:

Giveaway ends March 1, 2015 (My birthday month!)

If you do not have a GoFundMe fundraiser available, the $50 will be presented in the form of a Visa giftcard

Once the winners are drawn I will message you my email address where you’ll give me your address/contact information for your prize.

SUPPORTERS WANTING TO REBLOG AND NOT ENTER SIMPLY REBLOG WITH ‘SIGNAL BOOST’ ♥

Rules:

 Every reblog equals 1 (one) entry. Maximum of 20 entries per person.

Only reblogs count, not likes 

Following me helps but is not required.

You must have a secure form of delivery ie. PO box or address (this can be incredibly hard for trans youth so we’ll discuss options if there’s a problem)

You have three days to claim your prize once I announce the winners. — If you do not respond in three days I will roll again for another winner.

I hope to help a lucky two people out on their journey. I can’t wait until we live in a world where it’s easier for trans individuals. 

Good luck darlings, I love you.

[neekolexo]

♥

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[loadingoliver]

today I discovered I can do different headstand variations! this one is so calming and comfy. #yoga 

[noahsjourney]

you're insane oliwer, stop that nonsense

[grahamsroad]

First time putting on a T-shirt :) It’s gone!

[noahsjourney]

congrats to graham to getting his top surgery done!! whoooo!!!!! you're awesome!!

[fuckyeahftms]

3 years on T and 1 and 1/2 years post-op. 

Always up for meeting and befriending more/new people!

http://whisperssilently.tumblr.com

[gabrielthefool-deactivated20200]

[rampyourvoice]

Great point made.

[noahsjourney]

person: well according to your birth certificate you're female

me: according to my birth certificate i'm also like 7 pounds

[banjobards-deactivated20181231]

As long as we have to prove our womanhood or manhood, we are not free

Laverne Cox (via fuckyeahlavernecox)

[furuderikas]

the correct pronouns are not a reward for ‘nice’ trans people

the correct pronouns are not a reward for ‘nice’ trans people

the correct pronouns are not a reward for ‘nice’ trans people

[darccmarcc-deactivated20190411]

hmmm i somewhat disagree?? like if someone is gonna be rude and disrespectful to me, what makes them think that im gonna use their pronouns???

[furuderikas]

heres a cool and neat tip:

you are absolute fucking trash

[theabyssmeowsback]

hey trans friends

if you need binders/breast forms/makeup/etc but don’t want your parents to know, now is the best time to get it. 

you can order whatever it is online and when the package comes in if the ask what it is you can say something like “it’s a secret!” or even just sssh them. they’ll assume it’s a present for whatever holiday you celebrate and probably won’t press the issue.

[lunarecord]

oh my god this is amazing

[ethereal-business-cabaret]

Breast cancer awareness ads in India feature trans women/hijra as spokespeople.

[lunalab-deactivated20151030]

Transgender woman dies suddenly, presented at funeral in open casket as a man

A transgender woman in Idaho died suddenly at work at age 32. Her friends say when they went to her funeral, she was in an open casket — hair cut short, dressed in a suit, presented as a man.

“No mention of the woman she knew she was and had lived as for several years. Just erosion of her identity and an old photograph of how the father perceived her to be,” said Meghan Stabler, a board member of Human Rights Campaign and member of HRC’s National Business Council.

“She had done what she needed to do legally to be seen as her authentic self. Her father erased her identity either though ignorance or arrogance,” Stabler said.

violence is done to us even in death

[scrubsandkilos-deactivated20190]

"Society often blurs the lines between drag queens and trans women. This is highly problematic, because many people believe that, like drag queens, trans women go home, take off their wigs and chest plates, and walk around as men. Trans womanhood is not a performance or costume."

-Janet Mock, Redefining Realness (via inextinguishabledesires)

[noahsjourney]

i've been working so much this october but had no time to participate in any kind of physical activity really. i mean, working in a haunted house is exhausting as shit all the time. but you don't get a good biceps or a sixpack from running around smooching people in dark hallways and jumping out from around the corners. 

so, naturally and not surprisingly, my body went super slim again. barely any muscle left. no gainz. but i've come to a point (in my transition//in my life) where i feel that, no matter how slim or fit i look, this is nothing but a body and i am totally fine with it. it's just a temporary shell anyway. constantly changing. like everything else. 

i think me feeling this way is a good thing. definitely some kind of a milestone. and i wanted to take a picture proving this.

[borderlinetragedy]

[noahsjourney]

hahahahaha remember the dayz ????

[eliasericson]

✿ Walking talking queer encyclopedia with a healthy rose-cheeked smile! ✿