SUPER IMPORTANT!!!!! I'm feeling really dysphoric and for Easter I have to wear a dress because no one in my family knows I'm trans and when I get home I'll be alone for a really long time and I don't know what to do to help get rid of the dysphoric feeling. Please help
Ren says:
To all my lovely trans sisters and brothers and siblings having to undergo Easter dressup (or Passover dressup, or any holiday dressup):
You’re valid. No matter what clothes they put you in. Maybe you’re undercover, like a spy; maybe you’re crossdressing; maybe you just look really darn good in a dress or suit or whatnot. Your clothes don’t determine your gender. You do, and you’ve already done that, so - congratulations! You’re valid and you and amazing.
But that doesn’t always help dysphoria go away. So what’s a [your gendered noun of choice here] to do?
Here is a link to the Too Cute playlist from Animal Planet. (It starts on a video with dogs and piglets playing.)
And this is my favorite cat video of all time.
And here is an animal videos master document (feel free to add your faves).
Here is a link to RRCherryPie’s channel, who makes videos that are easy on the ears and eyes - really helpful for calming down from anxiety.
Here is a link to all the How It’s Made episodes, and here are links to Bob Ross’s The Joy of Painting.
Here is a link to watch Steven Universe. Here is a link to watch Baman Piderman. Cartoons are the best for when you desperately need to feel good.
Here is a link to a video I find works excellently as a mental reset. (It’s cartoon cats. Dancing and playing instruments.)
Here is a link to learn a new language, structured like a video game.
Here is a link to Galaxy Zoo, where you can help scientists classify galaxies.
Here is a link to regular 2048. Here is a link to 2048 with cats. Here is a link to Gravity Falls 2048. Seriously, just google “2048 [thing you like]” and there you go.
Here is a link to Mapcrunch. Here are two text-based adventures, one with kittens and one with humans. Here is Sushi Cat. Here is William & Sly, Part 1.
Here is a video showing you how to finger knit. You can also busy your hands by playing with clay, doodling, or ripping up tissues.
Make an avatar of yourself!
Write affirming words all over yourself in colorful marker.
Have a one-man / one-woman / one-being dance party, or get on a Skype call with pals and have a combination dance party.
Paint! Even with your fingers. Even if it doesn’t look good.
Go on Pinterest and make an aesthetic board.
Listen to all your favorite music and sing it, well or awfully.
Take all the selfies.
Bake some cookies. Even if they turn out terribly at least you made something!
Take a bubble bath, or a shower. If you’re body-dysphoric, do it in the dark, or in full clothing, or wear a bathing suit or towel.
Also, bubbles help with everything (they can work as a beard, luscious long hair, polka dots…)
Make a playlist for yourself - a self-care cheer-up playlist, or a bear matrimony hardcore dysphoria can kiss my butt playlist.
Or get really weird and specific with your playlists, like a sleepy-time playlist for Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, or a workout playlist for a garden gnome, or an inspirational playlist for your favorite character.
Practice body neutrality.
Add onto this really long list by reblogging it and sharing your favorite self-care / recovering-from-dysphoria thing!
