greenbean-nightmare:

genderists:

binding is unhealthy. there is no such thing as safe binding; there are just ways to minimize the damage done. i’ve been binding for three years and i will continue to do so until i get surgery because the danger to my mental health if i don’t bind is greater than the one to my physical health if i don’t, but my body has been damaged over time. binding used to not hurt at all and now my shoulders and chest start to hurt if i’ve been wearing my binder for a few hours. my lung capacity is very low for a person my age because my lungs have weakened from regularly being forced to take smaller breaths.

this is not meant to discourage anyone from binding, i just don’t want another trans kid like me who binds to feel upset and misled because they learn this after they’ve been binding “safely” for a year. this is also a reason that top surgery NEEDS to be more accessible– it’s not just about mental health.

Binding is also more unhealthy for some than others, and not an option at all for some. Its not a thing where if you just get a good binder and follow all the precautions you’ll be ok. Ive literally never seen it acknowledged that some people can’t bind at all and it made me feel really awful about myself for a long time. Please be extra careful if you have EDS/hypermobility, POTS, low blood pressure, or if your lungs are already weak/you have asthma.