This Thing Called Dysphoria | Teen Ink

This Thing Called Dysphoria

January 8, 2022
By Tiny SILVER, Hubbardston, Massachusetts
Tiny SILVER, Hubbardston, Massachusetts
7 articles 4 photos 1 comment

Sometimes it’s more than just anxiety.

Sometimes it's my hair,

Or my body.


But sometimes it's wearing two pairs of pants,

And a big sweatshirt to feel comfortable.


Sometimes it’s more than just anxiety.

Sometimes it’s my clothes,

Or it’s the way that I walk.


But sometimes it’s my voice,

And I can’t speak.


Sometimes it’s more than just anxiety.

Sometimes it’s the way I laugh,

Or the way I sneeze.


But sometimes it’s my name,

And I can't even say it. 


Sometimes it is just anxiety,

But it’s also this thing called,

Dysphoria


The author's comments:

Dysphoria has been something I've been struggling with for a while now. Sometimes it's the normal teen dysphoria, but it's also gender dysphoria. I wrote this poem about dysphoria because it helped me put words to what I was feeling. It helped me know what was happening, and it helped me explain my dysphoria to the people around me.


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This article has 9 comments.


on May. 16 2022 at 2:04 pm
Kai_ace_of_Spades, Burtonsville, Maryland
0 articles 0 photos 2 comments
This truly expresses how dysphoria feels for me, it just sometimes presents itself because of little things, things that seem so stupid, but that still make feel wrong and out of place. I love this poem because of how close it feels to me.

AlecZ said...
on Jan. 25 2022 at 11:39 am
AlecZ, Chandler, Arizona
0 articles 0 photos 3 comments
This is a beautiful poem, it’s really hard to be open about stuff like this! I think your amazing and wonderful
(I’m here a bit late but whoever this Friend4253 guy is don’t listen to him, it’s just some troll who has nothing better to do with his time. Your amazing and wonderful! Beautiful poem ❤️

on Jan. 16 2022 at 7:38 pm
SparrowSun ELITE, X, Vermont
200 articles 23 photos 1053 comments

Favorite Quote:
"It Will Be Good." (complicated semi-spiritual emotional story.)<br /> <br /> "Upon his bench the pieces lay<br /> As if an artwork on display<br /> Of gears and hands<br /> And wire-thin bands<br /> That glisten in dim candle play." -Janice T., Clockwork[love that poem, dont know why, im not steampunk]

Friend4253.
how would you feel if someone actually did commit suicide because of something you said? cyberbullying isnt harmless. you never know what someone is going through. your words have consequences, your words can cause pain, and your words could put blood on your hands. it is never funny and it doesnt matter if the victim doesnt care. as an autistic person, i deal with cyberbullying all the time(both because im diffrent and so it makes me a target and because of the stigma around autism). it doesnt bother me. i know that whoevers on the other side has worse issues than me if theyre saying those things. but as thick as my skin is it can still hurt. i still remember, i still feel. and when im weak it becomes a voice in my head and it attacks me. ive quit sites because of cyberbullying and i've shed a few tears. cyberbulling isnt harmless, no matter who the victim is. and some people are already suicidal, some people are already hurting, and if your words were the thing that tipped a person over the edge i dont think anybody, including you, would find you blameless. you would have to live with what you had done and what you had said for the rest of your life.
that being said, are you ok? whats going on to make you lash out like that?

on Jan. 14 2022 at 4:01 pm
VoltaireGemini20 BRONZE, San Diego, California
1 article 1 photo 9 comments

Favorite Quote:
“I am but a merry wanderer of the night.”

This is wonderfully written, truly. Gender dysphoria can be a kicker of a struggle.
@Friend4253 No one cares what you think and honestly, how can you even tell someone to "end it"? What is wrong with you? Obviously besides the fact that you have no miniscule fraction of an idea what it's like to experience gender dysphoria, you can't even respectfully shut up.

Lydiaq ELITE said...
on Jan. 13 2022 at 5:54 pm
Lydiaq ELITE, Somonauk, Illinois
179 articles 54 photos 1026 comments

Favorite Quote:
The universe must be a teenage girl. So much darkness, so many stars.<br /> --me

I thought teen ink was a safe place, it's discouraging to know there are haters here too. Anyhow, the poem was great.

on Jan. 13 2022 at 10:22 am
JustAnotherGirlCalledRed BRONZE, New York City, Ohio
1 article 0 photos 2 comments
I’m so sorry that you are dealing with dysphoria! Please know that you are valid and that there’s a huge community of people who are here for you and are rooting for you. As @Sam-Luo said, you are stronger than you know. Don’t ever stop fighting and speaking your truth :)

Side note: @Friend4253, the only thing I can say to you is that your comments are horrifying and it stuns me that you think that it’s even remotely okay to say something like that.

on Jan. 11 2022 at 7:37 pm
jazzy214 SILVER, Grand Prairie, Texas
7 articles 2 photos 6 comments
@Friend4253 respectfully keep your hateful comments to yourself

on Jan. 11 2022 at 12:28 pm
jazzy214 SILVER, Grand Prairie, Texas
7 articles 2 photos 6 comments
Beautiful poem i love it so much. You are you no matter what. stay true to yourself. we will all get through this together. you should check out my "To My Parents" poem about LGBT and coming out <3

Sam-Luo BRONZE said...
on Jan. 10 2022 at 1:29 pm
Sam-Luo BRONZE, Rosemead, California
2 articles 0 photos 1 comment
I am so sorry you are going through this. Whatever you do, do NOT end it. Gender is a construct and it takes time to embrace ourselves for who we are. I do not know you personally but through this poem, I know you are stronger than you give yourself credit for. Thank you for speaking your truth.