Dysphoria & Dysmorphia – Page 5 – Trigger Warning Database

To Be Taught, If Fortunate by Becky Chambers

To Be Taught, If Fortunate by Becky Chambers

At the turn of the twenty-second century, scientists make a breakthrough in human spaceflight. Through a revolutionary method known as somaforming, astronauts can survive in hostile environments off Earth using synthetic biological supplementations. They can produce antifreeze in sub-zero temperatures, absorb radiation and convert it for food, and conveniently adjust to the pull of different gravitational forces. With the fragility of the body no longer a limiting factor, human beings are at last able to explore neighbouring exoplanets long suspected to harbour life. Ariadne is one such explorer. On a mission to… Read more.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger and Content Warnings

Depressive episode & dissociation
Body dysphoria
Suicidal ideation & attempted suicide (on-page)
Medical procedures discussed
Needles
Hurricanes & storms
Animal death (on-page)

The First Sister by Linden A. Lewis

The First Sister by Linden A. Lewis

First Sister has no name and no voice. As a priestess of the Sisterhood, she travels the stars alongside the soldiers of Earth and Mars—the same ones who own the rights to her body and soul. When her former captain abandons her, First Sister’s hopes for freedom are dashed when she is forced to stay on her ship with no friends, no power, and a new captain—Saito Ren—whom she knows nothing about. She is commanded to spy on Captain Ren by the Sisterhood, but soon discovers that working for the war effort is so much harder to do when you’re falling in love.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings:

Misgendering
Racism
Sexual assault implied
Sex work of a minor
Child abuse
Threats of sexual violence
Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Anxiety
Gender dysphoria & body dysmorphia
Blood depiction
Amputation
Nonconsensual surgery & implants, including body modifications
Medical experimentation
Graphic injury
Murder
Torture
Loss of bodily autonomy
Blackmail

For the Love of April French by Penny Aimes

For the Love of April French by Penny Aimes

April French doesn’t do relationships and she never asks for more. A long-standing regular at kink club Frankie’s, she’s kind of seen it all. As a trans woman, she’s used to being the scenic rest stop for others on their way to a happily-ever-after. She knows how desire works, and she keeps hers carefully boxed up to take out on weekends only. After all, you can’t be let down if you never ask.

Then Dennis Martin walks into Frankie’s, fresh from Seattle and looking a little lost. April just meant to be friendly, but one flirtatious drink turns into one hot night. When Dennis asks for her number, she gives it to him. When he asks for her trust, well…that’s a little harder. And when the desire she thought she had such a firm grip on comes alive with Dennis, April finds herself wanting passion, purpose and commitment.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings:

Racism discussed
Transmisia
Misgendering
Gender dysphoria
Familial estrangement
Alcohol consumption

The One True Me and You by Remi England

The One True Me and You by Remi K. England

Up and coming fanfic author Kaylee Beaumont is internally screaming at the chance to finally meet her fandom friends in real life and spend a weekend at GreatCon. She also has a side quest for the weekend: try out they/them pronouns to see how it feels, wear more masculine-presenting cosplay, and kiss a girl for the first time.

It’s… a lot, and Kay mostly wants to lie face down on the hotel floor. Especially when her hometown bully, Miss North Carolina, shows up in the very same hotel. But there’s this con-sponsored publishing contest, and the chance to meet her fandom idols… and then, there’s Teagan… Read more.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings:

Transmisia
Homomisia
Lesbomisia
Public outing
Sexism
Grief & loss depiction
Death of a mother from suicide recounted
Gender dysphoria
Bullying

The New David Espinoza by Fred Aceves

The New David Espinoza by Fred Aceves

David Espinoza is tired of being messed with. When a video of him getting knocked down by a bully’s slap goes viral at the end of junior year, David vows to use the summer to bulk up— do what it takes to become a man—and wow everyone when school starts again the fall.

Soon David is spending all his time and money at Iron Life, a nearby gym that’s full of bodybuilders. Frustrated with his slow progress, his life eventually becomes all about his muscle gains. As it says on the Iron Life wall, What does not kill me makes me stronger... Read more.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings:

Body & muscle dysmorphia (theme)
Drug use and steroid abuse
Bullying

Stray Fears by Gregory Ashe

Stray Fears by Gregory Ashe

Elien Martel is a survivor, but surviving, he’s beginning to discover, isn’t the same thing as living. In the house he shares with his much older boyfriend, Elien spends his days trying to stay as far away from living as possible. Living, he has learned, means that sooner or later you’ll get hurt.

When a member of Elien’s support group dies under strange circumstances, though, Elien finds himself in a web of bizarre coincidences. The responding officer turns out to be another member of Elien’s support group—a man named Mason, who has made no effort to hide his dislike of Elien. Then, just a few days later, Mason tries to kill Elien in front of dozens of witnesses… Read more.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings:

Racism
Transmisia
Homomisia
Attempted sexual assault
Body dysphoria
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Graphic suicide
Suicidal ideation
Murder

Bright Burning Stars by AK Small

Bright Burning Stars by A.K. Small

Best friends Marine Duval and Kate Sanders have trained at the Paris Opera Ballet School since childhood, where they’ve formed an inseparable bond forged by respective family tragedies and a fierce love for dance. When the body of a student is found in the dorms just before the start of their final year, Marine and Kate begin to ask themselves what they would do to win the ultimate prize: to be the one girl selected to join the Opera’s prestigious corps de ballet. Would they die? Cheat? Seduce the most talented boy in the school, dubbed the Demigod, hoping his magic would make them shine, too? Neither girl is sure… Read more.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings:

Eating disorder (anorexia)
Restrictive & disordered eating (theme)
Disordered food & weight thoughts
Suicide & attempted suicide
Self harm
Alcohol consumption
Recreational drug use
Body dysmorphia
Abortion
Death from starvation
Grief & loss depiction
Death of a sibling

May the Best Man Win by ZR Ellor

May the Best Man Win by Z.R. Ellor

Jeremy Harkiss, cheer captain and student body president, won’t let coming out as a transgender boy ruin his senior year. Instead of bowing to the bigots and outdate school administration, Jeremy decides to make some noise—and how better than by challenging his all-star ex-boyfriend, Lukas for the title of Homecoming King? Lukas Rivers, football star and head of the Homecoming Committee, is just trying to find order in his life after his older brother’s funeral and the loss long-term girlfriend—who turned out to be a boy. But when Jeremy threatens to break his heart and steal his crown, Lukas kick starts a plot to sabotage Jeremy’s campaign.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings:

Ableism & ableist language (r slur)
Racism mentioned
Classism
Misogyny
Homomisia
Transmisia including misgendering and deadnaming
Dysphoria
Sexual harassment mentioned
Child abuse
Alcohol consumption
Death of a sibling
Graphic physical assault
Bullying

As Far As You’ll Take Me by Phil Stamper

As Far As You’ll Take Me by Phil Stamper

Marty arrives in London with nothing but his oboe and some savings from his summer job, but he’s excited to start his new life–where he’s no longer the closeted, shy kid who slips under the radar and is free to explore his sexuality without his parents’ disapproval.

From the outside, Marty’s life looks like a perfect fantasy: in the span of a few weeks, he’s made new friends, he’s getting closer with his first ever boyfriend, and he’s even traveling around Europe. But Marty knows he can’t keep up the facade. He hasn’t spoken to his parents since he arrived, he’s tearing through his meager savings, his homesickness and anxiety are getting worse and worse, and he hasn’t even come close to landing the job of his dreams. Will Marty be able to find a place that feels like home?

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings:

Coming out themes
Nonconsensual outing
Homomisia
Religious bigotry
Anxiety & anxiety attacks
Body dysmorphia
Disordered food & weight thoughts (including on-page crash dieting, food-shaming, calorie counting & self-imposed starvation)
Alcohol consumption

Between Perfect and Real by Ray Stoeve

Between Perfect & Real by Ray Stoeve

Dean Foster knows he’s a trans guy. He’s watched enough YouTube videos and done enough questioning to be sure. But everyone at his high school thinks he’s a lesbian—including his girlfriend Zoe, and his theater director, who just cast him as a “nontraditional” Romeo. He wonders if maybe it would be easier to wait until college to come out. But as he plays Romeo every day in rehearsals, Dean realizes he wants everyone to see him as he really is now––not just on the stage, but everywhere in his life. Dean knows what he needs to do. Can playing a role help Dean be his true self?

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings:

Transmisia
Lesbomisia & lesbomisic slurs
Outing
Misgendering & deadnaming
Gender dysphoria
Suicide mentioned
Bullying