Tip #18: Identifying & Coping with Depression
Posted: April 14, 2012 Filed under: Advice, Body, Mind, & Soul, TfTM Original Tips | Tags: depression, medical, self-care, wellness 3 Comments »| Contributor: Zaac |
I wanted to write about depression because I think it’s something many of us have dealt with at some time or another, and something I’ve been working through myself for awhile now. Transguys may experience depression at some time or another, and it may/may not be related to transitioning. Socially and/or physically transitioning can be difficult, joyous, awkward, tumultuous, as we come out to friends, make wondrous discoveries about ourselves and our bodies, share our journey, or sometimes hide it. Sometimes coming out as trans can be easier than coming out as someone who has / is dealing with depression, but it’s nothing to be ashamed of and you don’t have to go through this alone.
Tip #12: Free / Low Cost Ways to Practice Self-Care
Posted: February 23, 2012 Filed under: Advice, TfTM Original Tips | Tags: anxiety, depression, money, self-care, wellness Leave a comment »| Contributor: Zaac |
We have this term in social work — self care. As a social work student, it means stepping away from the things we encounter in textbooks and field, leaving work at work, and taking the time to just enjoy life for awhile. As a transguy, it’s meant separating myself from messages of transphobia, ending the cyclical process of internalizing that transphobia, and finding ways to forget about my gendered body or positive ways to reinforce it.
I felt self-care was a particularly important topic to cover given how much anxiety and depression some of us feel around our identity, bodies, transition, etc. We have a lot to deal with and we don’t always give ourselves the room or the time to talk about our emotions or through them in self-positive ways.
Before getting into further discussion about these difficult emotions, I wanted to post a list of positive outlets and low-cost / free / easy ways to practice self-care in our daily lives. This is by no means an exhaustive list as everyone has their own way of doing things. And maybe some of this is obvious, but personally, I know I can use a little reminder every now and then to slow down and take care of myself.
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