long time stalker, first time poster..
A little over a week ago, I (22) met my long-distance partner (21) face-to-face for the first time ever. The trip was amazing - he is as kind, gentle and understanding as I could possibly hope for, I find him so unspeakably attractive, and he says he thinks the same of me. And, importantly, he really sees me as a woman. It was such a rush and relief to see how our connection wasn't just a product of the internet, but translated into real life better than I could ever have dreamt.
Though I won't go into specifics, but throughout the trip we were intimate on several occasions. I am pre-op (though I have a consultation booked in for December) and am severely dysphoric about my 'anatomy'. Initially I felt too dysphoric to let him touch me down there, even whilst fully clothed - so it was a little one-sided. But I gradually became more comfortable with him, and he wanted to reciprocate, so we tried a few different things together.
In the moment, I felt secure enough with him to try things that would ordinarily have been out of my comfort zone (and I just want to state, this was all self-led, he did not pressure me in any way at all to do anything I felt uncomfortable with - he regularly checked in with me, asked me what I wanted, assured me that he would understand if I didn't want to do anything, he was truly perfect). But now, when I think back on some things we tried, I literally cringe with horror and disgust at myself, like shaking and tearing up with the shame and dysphoria. I've spoken to him since about it, and he's been so gentle and understanding.
So much of what we did was so thoroughly enjoyable for me, and I can't wait to see him again and pick up where we left off. But, I don't know what I can do about the dysphoria. Should I just avoid what didn't work for me? Has anyone else experienced this? And, if so, how do you cope with it, and what do you do differently because of it?
(Edit: apologies - posted several times, as it didn't show as having been posted on my browser! Have since deleted the duplicate posts)