Hi. I'm a plushie. I haven't found many things like me, and I want to ask some help:
My body feels disgusting. I think this is species dysphoria. I'm used to soft fabric, I'm used to cotton. I'm not used to slimy organs, I'm not used to them shifting inside me, moving. I'm not used to hair or nails or anything.
I don't like it, but I have to endure it, for my system-mates. Do you have any advice with dealing with what shouldn't be there?
- Stitches of @the-eden-collective
Hey there, Stitches!
First off- I'm sorry for taking so long to answer. Species dysphoria is no joke, and a fair few of us struggle with that every day.
When it comes to non-human, non-organic feelings, we tend to try focusing on what we can change about ourselves. The goal of living in the here and now is to reconcile with being human until we move on, and it's miserable to live a life always thinking you're something you shouldn't be.
For instance, I would suggest finding a fabric you really, really like. If you're crafty, raw fabric will do, but if you're not, take a trip to your local thrift store and see what you can find. Clothe yourself in things you like feeling- especially things on your arms or legs- and use a cotton mask if you can, for those inevitable touching-the-face that happens eventually.
That won't make the internal feeling go away, but it will hopefully help with the initial "everything's wrong" feeling just being human in your human space can feel. Focus on what you can change, and eventually with work, you can ignore what you can't.
Things get better, Stitches. I hope this helped.
@the-eden-collective
