What does dysphoria feel like?

I knew I'd rather be a girl. I always felt that way since I was little. Once I learned about trans people and how we really feel, at age 19 my dysphoria hit me like a truck because I recognized myself in the article I was reading about how trans women just feel like women. It was a simple thing that made me recognize that since I had always known I'd rather be a girl, if there was a magic button that I could press to turn into one, that must mean I am a girl. Suddenly living as a guy felt terribly wrong and awful, like a living nightmare.

These days I feel amazing for the most part, I love myself and am so happy every day to be able to live as my gender. It feels like a miracle.

/r/asktransgender Thread