When dysphoria hits, most people immediately ask why.
“Why am I feeling this way?”
“Why now?”
“Why can’t I just be normal?”
In Marine training, we’re taught something very different.
When pressure spikes, why is the wrong question.
Why leads to spirals.
Why fuels panic.
Instead, we’re trained to ask:
What’s happening in my body right now?
Because fear and dysphoria don’t start in the mind —
they start in the nervous system.
Your body senses perceived danger long before your thoughts catch up. That doesn’t mean anything is wrong with you. It means your system is trying to protect you using old wiring.
The goal is not to argue with dysphoria.
The goal is to regulate first, interpret later.
That’s how Marines stay functional under stress.
That’s how you stay grounded in femininity without overwhelm.
You don’t need answers right now.
You need steadiness.
💪Your Mission Today:
When dysphoria/anxiety/stress appears, pause and place one hand on your chest and one on your abdomen.
Take 5 slow breaths.
Do nothing else for 60 seconds.
No analysis. No fixing. Just regulation.
This is training — not avoidance.
And remember: if you ever need reassurance or guidance while learning this, Gwen is available.
She’s got your six.
Dysphoria Hacks is now live.
Dr. Gwen Patrone
If you’re ready to stop hiding and start living, you can learn more about the program here: dysphoriahacks.com.
One Response
Gwen,
If you achieve your goal dysphoria will ebb away , that is what I discovered when I became Teresa 24/7 . That’s not to say i don’t get anxious or have stressful moments that’s normal for most of us anyway . I’m not good at setting those moments aside , I accept it’s part of my nature and also more of a problem when you have no one to share or discuss your feelings with . If I have a problem I know the only way is to deal with it is direct and immediate and not let it fester , sometimes you can’t avoid that if the situation is out of your hands .
Many of us fear making the wrong decision , as a photographer for many years I had to make many on the spur decisions , with experience we gradually discover they are usually the right ones but none of us are perfect if we do get it wrong , What’s the worse that can happen ? That was partly drove me into my transition , if I got it wrong what was the worse that could or did happen ? Overall I got it right but I will remember your remedy when I hit the trickier moments , thanks for the tip .