Is Pink Fog a place somewhere on the dysphoria spectrum?

[SophiaRose]

I often find the pink fog exciting, euphoric and a gateway to trying new things. Unfortunately, it typically comes with anxiety, detachment from personal goals, hobbies and commitments. One thing I've noticed is that while in this state I find myself wondering (fantasizing) about what it would be like to take hormones and going through a full on transition. I've never really considered transitioning and don't think I want to. While I love being en femme and CDing, I also like being in male mode doing masculine activities from time to time. I can't say that I've ever had debilitating dysphoria either that pushed me to seek gender affirming care. Do any of you think the pink fog is a component of, or somewhere on the spectrum of dysphoria? Why is it such a strong impulse and turns our brains into something we can't always explain?

Would love to hear your thoughts.

Sophia

[CarlaWestin]

Early on, long ago, the pink fog was a beckoning to a morally disapproved dark side but the scandalous rush of vulnerability and enjoyment of the tactile experience was too intoxicating. There's nothing like having a nice pair of boobies. Anxiety and depression were just matter of fact conditions at times. I'm certainly relieved that there weren't any agenda jerks at the time to explain that I was just a girl trapped in a man's body. Back then and to this day it's a very satisfying creative and erotic activity. Maybe it's like camping, the thrill of living without a house although in my normal life, I'm not really wild.

[April Rose]

I think it tapers off, the farther along the road you get, but generally, Yes.

[docrobbysherry]

I like your description, SR. It applies to the way I feel when dressing.

Many here describe their dressing as relaxing. I rarely ever feel relaxed, usually quite stimulated when dressing!:eek:

I DO find it distracting, tho. My brain usually has a 1000 things running thru it. But, when I dress my brain concentrates on that and nearly nothing else!:battingeyelashes:

[OrdinaryAverageGuy]

To me the pink fog is merely an urge/desire/need to do something that's harmless and legal, even if society as a whole disapproves. Dysphoria, as I understand it, is experiencing distress or confusion as to what gender/sex one is. If I'm wrong feel free to correct me. So no, IMO they're two very different things. I get the pink fog to some degree quite often, but I've never ever questioned whether I am or should be a male or female (or something else).

Carla explained it quite well, I think.

[Nyla F]

Hi Sophia,
To me pink fog and dysphoria are separate things, although I can imagine you could have both at the same time. I think we usually use pink fog to mean a temporary increased obsession with feminine thoughts or things. And so that probably comes with more fantasies as well. But it sounds like you clearly know the difference between your fantasies and your true identity, and that sounds healthy to me.

[CarlaWestin]

To me the pink fog is merely an urge/desire/need to do something that's harmless and legal, even if society as a whole disapproves. Dysphoria, as I understand it, is experiencing distress or confusion as to what gender/sex one is. If I'm wrong feel free to correct me. So no, IMO they're two very different things. I get the pink fog to some degree quite often, but I've never ever questioned whether I am or should be a male or female (or something else).

Carla explained it quite well, I think.

Thank you. I do try but you certainly separated the two conditions splendidly. In my DADT situation I've been labeled dysphoric due to a lack of understanding.
Geez! I just like how my tits move when walking in heels. That is among a 1000 other sensations.

[Stephanie47]

To me the term "pink fog" is almost like a compulsive disorder. I'm in my late 70's now. When I was younger, teenager to young adult, I had constant urges to act upon my need. I was grabbing "crumbs of time" as I have always called it. If I dropped my wife and kids off at Sunday school/church and had two hours of alone time, it was dressing up and even applying makeup. Figure how much time I really had to relax...zero. It was hurried. As I matured I was only dressing if I had a a full work day to be en femme and actually accomplish chores around the house; baking, meal preparation, vacuuming, laundry, changing bed linens, ironing, etc. Makeup became nil or minimal. I am sure my wife assumed when there were short periods of time when she was out of the house that I was dressing. Nope, it has to be a leisurely event.

[@tammileetilliso]

Pink Fog is the moment when I reveal my most authentic, deepest and true self and when I feel like a beautiful and very feminine woman.

I am full of confidence in myself as a woman, that I could simply burst with happiness.

It's time to reach out to my inner girl and tell her that it's okay to go out and play.

[Genifer Teal]

Dysphoria is like having a small scratch on your car and feeling like the paint is ruined, the car is undriveable, and must be repainted. That's how you feel about your gender. Any little thing that you see wrong is screaming the wrong gender (in your mind). Big fixes can help. One must hope they are enough. Or you can get caught fixing increasingly smaller details. Or continuing to obsess over them and never being happy.
The pink fog. It's only pink because it relates to us in this discussion. Its really. Just the excitement of something new, whatever it is. It could be a new car. It could be a new Relationship. It could be a new job or career. It's easy to be all excited and gungho. One needs to gauge your actions for the long term. How many people start a new hobby and jump in all the way? Buying the best gear or equipment or whatever. Only to realize shortly after they're not as fond of it as they thought. Slow down and pace yourself before you make any life altering changes.

[Bea_]

Dysphoria is like having a small scratch on your car and feeling like the paint is ruined, the car is undriveable, and must be repainted. .

I love that analogy.

---
My thoughts on the subject are intuitive and not the least bit comprehensive.

Dysphoria is defined as a profound sense of unhappiness, uneasiness or discontent. It can apply to gender but it's not specific to gender. Euphoria is the opposite of dysphoria.

To me, the pink fog is being caught in the tension between the dysphoria and euphoria of being born male but expressing feminine qualities, and leaning into the euphoric side. It's looking through the world through pink colored glasses, which might not give an accurate depiction of reality. It filters out the parts of reality from which we want to distance ourselves and the anxiety that we want to escape.

[Raychel]

Ahh, the fog.

It is truly like fog. Sometimes it is thicker than others.
There is times when it is so faint I can barely feel it. those are the times I am super busy with other things
Whatever it may be. Very rarely something for myself. The things that I want to get done, (organizing the shed)
that type of thing, always get put aside. If I am helping someone else, that would be super high priority.
At those times the fog would be very transparent, almost non existent. Not high on my mind for sure.

Then there are times when the fog is so thick I can't concentrate on anything else. If I am home alone.
Or have been lonely for a while. Whatever the case may be, Then the fog is so thick, that I just have to give in.
Those times could last for a few hours or days. When I had COVID, it was almost the entire time I was in quarantine.
That was so enjoyable for me, I could not go out anyways, and I just had time to enjoy, without the guilt of
not doing the things I was supposed to be doing.

But back to the question. Is it Dysphoria?

A quick google search said:
Dysphoria is a feeling of dissatisfaction, unease, or unhappiness. It can be a symptom of many mental illnesses, including depression, anxiety, stress, and substance use disorders.

By that definition, ABSOLUTELY it is Dysphoria for me. Depression, Anxiety and Stress are all very huge parts of my life.
Along with chronic headaches and extreme tinnitus.
The times of dressing for me certainly eliminate the Anxiety and most if the stress, at least for the time I am dressed.
It is like a mini vacation from the world for me.

Call it what you will. I like dressing, I guess it helps me cope and give me a bit of down time, and time to relax.

[Genifer Teal]

Bea_
Those are my own words that watching my friend go though it taught me. She's transitioned and made lots of progress. I can still imagine it will never be enough.

[NancySue]

For years, I?ve wondered the same thing and have spent hours and hours in reading, research trying to find out why. So far nothing concrete. My sense is it?s genetic. Hormone, genes, chromosome imbalance, or all of the above, who knows? It?s always amazed me. As we know, it can occur from mild to intense. When it rises, I am fascinated that the instant I slip on hose, panties, bra, etc. it?s gone, only knowing, it will return.

[Sometimes Steffi]

Early on, long ago, the pink fog was a beckoning to a morally disapproved dark side but the scandalous rush of vulnerability and enjoyment of the tactile experience was too intoxicating.

I guess the "dark side" was a dark pink!

[NjJamie]

Sophia, after reading everyone's responses I will still offer my opinion that there is possibly a bit of reincarnation under all that "pink fog". There are too many things that just seem to feel right though I have not done them before and the way some of us are so able to step into the other side of themselves has certainly sparked some introspection along the way!

Whatever the root of this might be, I do so enjoy it and hope everyone gets to enjoy themselves as often as possible.

[DianeT]

I once started a thread to inquire about the mystery of pink fog. It was largely described as an urge, and some mentioned dysphoria indeed. I tried to sum up the more salient traits:
- It can be triggered by a gender dysphoria episode
- It can be an urge to dress, or an obsession about crossdressing
- It can cause a stress that you need to relieve
- It can lead you to lose your boundaries, take unusual risks, go on a buying spree
- Some consider it is an excuse for bad decisions/behaviors (like a rationalization after the fact?)
- You feel better, more relaxed after having satisfied the urges.
Of course all the above do not apply to everyone.

The thread: https://www.crossdressers.com/forums/showthread.php?269868-What-is-Pink-Fog-Really&highlight=Pink+fog