Where Do I Fit?

[NoWorries25]

    @page { size: 8.5in 11in; margin: 0.79in } p { line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; background: transparent }
Gynecomastia



In my thinking there are at least four different levels of dealing with Gyne-: Denial, Tolerance, Acceptance, and Embrace. You may think of others. Feel free to add them.

So where do we fit?

No doubt our age and social position weigh heavily in our dealing with Gyne-


So, I wonder how we are coping. No doubt others are wondering, too. Here are a few questions that you may answer here, or to yourselves.


I have started a list, feel free to add to it as you see fit.

1. How old were you when you first realized that things were not going as planned?
A. Grade School age
B. High School age
C. College age
D. Adult


2. Did you suffer ridicule from your peers?
A. Yes
B. No
C. Sometimes

3. Do you currently have support from family and/or friends?
A. Yes
B. No

4. If there were a non-surgical method of modifying this condition that had a 50/50 success rate, would you take it?
A. Yes
B. No

5. Have you learned anything positive about yourself during your experience?
A. Yes
B. No

6. Are you self-conscious of your profile?
A. Yes
B. No

7. Of five possible selections, which most accurately describes your reaction to Gyne-:
A. Denial
B. Tolerance
C. Acceptance
D. Embrace
E. Other

8. Do you have other questions that you would like to add to this list?
A. Yes
B. No

9. Any remarks?]


Happy Hunting!

[SwoopNscoop]

I'm very new to this, and being British I don't know if cultural expectations are different, but here goes:
I'm a mature adult who only recently noticed my breast development ( I wonder if your list needs to distinguish between younger and older adults?)

I haven't suffered any ridicule, but it's early days for me and I'm trying to be fairly discrete. I don't expect ridicule.

My wife is fairly supportive, but I sense some reticence about my needing a bra.

I absolutely do not want treatment or surgery. I want to eventually learn to live with this and accept it despite the hard journey ahead.

I've already learned that I need to be kinder to myself.

I am extremely self-conscious of my profile 

I'm hovering between denial and tolerance. I want to move to acceptance and maybe embrace.

How many questions have I got? Far too many!

[bobbly]

The advantage of being old and wiser helps a lot with this. Also we are no longer competing the same way in mating and dating.  One thing to notice is how common it is after 50 as the natural T/E balance softens even among those supplementing their T. Not that it doesn't hurt having one's self image shifted in uncomfortable ways. Have dealt with it as a teen and now as a senior it is less painful now. Wear or don't wear what you like or need, you can handle this.

[Justagirl💃]

1. How old were you when you first realized that things were not going as planned?
A. Grade School age
B. High School age
C. College age
D. Adult

A, Grade school


2. Did you suffer ridicule from your peers?
A. Yes
B. No
C. Sometimes

A, Yes all the time

3. Do you currently have support from family and/or friends?
A. Yes
B. No

A, Yes, many of my friends and family

4. If there were a non-surgical method of modifying this condition that had a 50/50 success rate, would you take it?
A. Yes
B. No

B, No I would not take any surgical method.

5. Have you learned anything positive about yourself during your experience?
A. Yes
B. No

A, Yes I have found myself through acceptance.

6. Are you self-conscious of your profile?
A. Yes
B. No

B, No I think my profile is just fine. 

7. Of five possible selections, which most accurately describes your reaction to Gyne-:
A. Denial
B. Tolerance
C. Acceptance
D. Embrace
E. Other

D, I embrace my condition. 

8. Do you have other questions that you would like to add to this list?
A. Yes
B. No


B, No I think that sums it up. 

[Midagemoobs2]

I'm very new to this, and being British I don't know if cultural expectations are different, but here goes:
I'm a mature adult who only recently noticed my breast development ( I wonder if your list needs to distinguish between younger and older adults?)

I haven't suffered any ridicule, but it's early days for me and I'm trying to be fairly discrete. I don't expect ridicule.

My wife is fairly supportive, but I sense some reticence about my needing a bra.

I absolutely do not want treatment or surgery. I want to eventually learn to live with this and accept it despite the hard journey ahead.

I've already learned that I need to be kinder to myself.

I am extremely self-conscious of my profile

I'm hovering between denial and tolerance. I want to move to acceptance and maybe embrace.

How many questions have I got? Far too many!

SwoopNscoop - welcome! When you're ready, please do an introduction post on a new thread - we are glad to help with all of your questions as we've all been there (including acceptance but still being self conscious). Sounds like you lean toward acceptance rather than surgery so you may want to post it under one of the acceptance topics.

[Dudewithboobs]

1. How old were you when you first realized that things were not going as planned?
A. Grade School age
B. High School age
C. College age
D. Adult

D - 33 or so, 40 now. 


2. Did you suffer ridicule from your peers?
A. Yes
B. No
C. Sometimes

No

3. Do you currently have support from family and/or friends?
A. Yes
B. No

No - Never sought after it. My wife is aware it’s a concern of mine but she doesn’t think it’s bad as I focus on it as. 

4. If there were a non-surgical method of modifying this condition that had a 50/50 success rate, would you take it?
A. Yes
B. No

No. I never wanted breasts but they have brought a lot of joys in various areas of life that I feel would be missed if they were gone. 

5. Have you learned anything positive about yourself during your experience?
A. Yes
B. No 

Not really. I guess I’ve learned positives of wearing a bra as a man but that’s about it. 

6. Are you self-conscious of your profile?
A. Yes
B. No

I was as they grew more and hit a visible level. But overall no. Im a c cup and have no issues in how I see myself. 

7. Of five possible selections, which most accurately describes your reaction to Gyne-:
A. Denial
B. Tolerance 
C. Acceptance
D. Embrace
E. Other

Onset - Tolerance (shit happens adjust and adapt)
Tolerance (aches and pains of growth and just tolerating how my body was working at the times of such)
Acceptance (again shit happens we all have different bodys this is mine it is what it is)
Embrace (I need a bra for comfort I can’t recall last time I referred to my chest as chest, defaulting to breasts or boobs. Became proud of them even and take care of them as women would. Don’t promote them but they’re mine)

8. Do you have other questions that you would like to add to this list?
A. Yes
B. No

No

9. Any remarks?]


We all have different bodys. Sometimes they go sideways from the intent we had for them or shifts the views we had of self because of who we are. 
I’m a very masculine person. Growing breasts handicapped the idea of masculinity at first for me. But overall no one notices or cares or points it out ever. If anyone is struggling with it I’d advocate to just be ok with you it doesn’t hinder who you are, it doesn’t make you something you’re not and it doesn’t permit others to see you as different. Just be you and be confident in that.