Post #1250210

I'm looking for a way to describe the internal difference between dysphoria, dysmorphia, and vanity to someone cis. I know the definitions of them all, and the diagnostic differences between the first two, and I know how all three feel to me -- I can generally tell which is which, even when it's mixed up. (And yes, I can be vain! I see no problem with a little vanity). But someone I dearly love, who is deeply supportive, can't quite understand at times -- because they look the same on the outside. Don't get me wrong, she trusts my word when I say it's different. But....not having ever experienced dysphoria, her mental framework is her own experience with dysmorphia and vanity -- especially vanity in the 'body image issues as cultivated by media'. And I get it -- dysphoria is heavily rooted in the body, and in concepts of what my body 'should' look like. And "what my body should look like" is exactly what culture and media pushes on people, especially women, that causes body image issues if you're not exactly one specific size, shape, color, build, bone structure, etc. So there's something of a gap in understanding when talking about things, one I'd like to bridge. Any tips?