Put it in Proper Perspective

[bob-ad]

I have been reading items on this board for the last year or more and absolutely agonizing over my condition as many of you are and have been. Ever since I first became aware that something was taking place on my chest I have been reading and researching what this whole thing is all about. As the growth continued and I noticed more and more mass under the surface I became actually fearful of just how far this would go. Looking down at my chest both my breasts appeared humongous and even looking in the mirror as I shaved they just seemed so very large.

This past summer I found a very secluded beach in the area where I live and I removed my shirt and began to enjoy the sun again. At least I felt like I was in the privacy of no one around so it really felt good. Toward the end of summer, maybe a month and a half ago my wife was here for a visit. I work in a foreign country and she comes over several times each year. Each time she would see me with my shirt off she would always try to reassure me that most of this is in my imagination and I tried to put it in that light but was never able to really believe that opinion.

Yesterday in the seclusion of my apartment I decided to do a little experiment. I have a good digital camera and I just purchased a nice tripod for it. I took a whole series of time delayed pictures of myself and was amazed at the outcome. Let me state that the growth in my breasts is sufficient and each is a large handful each and very full and fairly heavy. Anyway the first picture I took showed them to definitely be noticable but I was standing as I have come to stand of late, slumped over thinking that would minimize there appearance. The next few pictures I flung my shoulders back like I know I should always stand and guess what? My enlarged breasts look more like I spend a lot of time at the gym than what I was imagining. I am now convinced that what my wife was saying is true and for a man in his early sixties I now feel great and feel that I merely look very healthy.

My advice to all of you is to experiment a little bit as I did and take a total look at how others really see you not as you perceive yourself. I think most will be truly amazed.

[Paa_Paw]

Your observation is correct.  Point of view plays tricks on us. When  you tip your head forward and look down at your breasts, they are only about 6 inches from your eyes.  At that close range, almost anything looks large.

Standing stoop shouldered hides nothing and as you have observed, allows the breasts to extend further than they would if we were to simply stand erect.

[Hypo-is-here]

Retaining a proper perspective is very important and doing so may enable a lot of men with minor gynecomastia to live a completely normal life without the need for surgery.  

I think also that todays culture lends its hand/is to blame for many men suffering from BDD (Body Dismorphic Disorder), where the pursuit of perfection leads them to believe they have a problem when in fact they do not.

However all this said please remember that there is the other side of this coin, men with medical conditions, some of which are significant may have gynecomastia as a symptom of an underlying condition that requires diagnosis.

For such men it is vitally important that this symptom is not ignored.

Also men who have serious/severe gynecomastia may find life very tough (as I have) and require surgery in order to live a life without constant upset.

Gynecomastia is a problem where size very much can matter.

I for instance cannot hide gynecomastia by wearing a shirt- the only way I can hide it is by wearing a heavy coat.  And the fact is that makes it much harder to live with than something that could be more easily concealed.

Also it is not always the opinion of yourself that is the issue but the opinion of others and how they treat you as a result.

I do not have to be ridiculed forever because I can via surgery have this removed.

People choose to deal with this in differing ways, and also physically it is much worse for some than for others.  I think the important thing here is to support fellow sufferers however they choose to deal with it- to help and never to judge.

[bob-ad]

It is so very important to keep your self respect. If you allow yourself to be ruled by only what others think all you will end up doing is sinking lower and lower in your respect for yourself. I am not by any means taking lightly the problems  most of us have but trying to get each of us to once again stand up tall. In doing so I am referring to both mentally and physically. As I said originally, try to get a series of photos of yourself from many angles and then look objectively to see what you see. Seeing myself this way put a whole new outlook in my life. Maybe or maybe not in your own. Just try it.

[bob-ad]

Yes that is the part I was referring to. Trying to maintain good attitude. If you can see it objectively ask yourself is this really grotesque or by standing up real straight and tall do I I look healthy?

[Paa_Paw]

There have been several instances where a person posted Photos along with a note that "Actually, they are larger than they appear in the photo."

I have serious doubt that there is a camera capable of telling a lie.  Then again, such a camera might be highly valued.

[bob-ad]

Your point is exactly what I have been trying to say. The camera does not lie. My breasts have a very definite heaviness to them and last night after my shower I did exactly what I have said not to do. I looked straight down and once again they looked humongous. It actually got me worried again so I set up my tripod and went back to have a look - objectively. Yes they are4 there but not like I was again trying to imagine them. Perspective, perspective, perspective. I once more stood up tall and once again saw that they were really not that terrible.