Mental illness? depends on the specific diagnosis and to what extent it is best overall for the individual to be on HRT or not. If one has been diagnosed as delusional, or has sexually related disorders, or any kind of disorder not amounting to GID, probably not, but if GID is an overriding factor in a life, it must be treated in order to properly address the other problems.
Different forms of mental illness may not be treatable without addressing a GID problem first. In fact, the presance of GID may trigger a lot of different emotional and conflict problems that can't be addressed at all without removing the root cause of them first.
The fact that a therapyst feels they have identified other problems different and aside from GID, does NOT make them a gatekeeper, it means they are doing thier job, even if you yourself do not agree with them, After all, determining GID means they have to eliminate the possibility of other reasons for a desire to become female which HRT and Surgery may only make worse. Personally, I wouldn't see any value in working with a therapyst who would perscribe HRT based on a single visit, there is simply to much involved to be that simplistic and there are to many reasons other then GID that explain why one would want to change thier sex.
Not into fine reading of SOC and DSM and haven't at all since ver 6, but I believe the standard presently is at least 3 sessions, but some individuals may need intensive psychotherapy in order to reach a diagnoses and could take much longer, it depends on the skill of the therapyst to draw out and interpet your true feelings and how they relate to your present mental condition, and keep in mind that if one does have GID, they may have a host of conditions that need to be explored to determine not only the eligibility, but the rediness for HRT. Keep in mind that being eligible for HRT does NOT mean one is READY to take them due to other conditions (medical or psychiatric) or have the responsibility to use them properly as directed.
As to MD's perscribing HRT, in general, nothing stopping them other then ethics, they are not qualified to make the diagnosis of GID, so in general, will not do so unless there has been a psychiatric referal. Consider too, that a doctor working for a health plan or in referral to one must follow the policy provisions of the provider, which may or may not cover such things even with a proper diagnosis.
Consider malpractice insurance, If an MD were to perscribe HRT to an individual without a psychiatric diagnosis, they could be sued if an individual who asked for the perscription changed thier minds after HRT had altered them to a point where they became impotent, steril, or had grown breasts that they no longer want. Requireing a psych referral is simply protection. It provides the necessary evaluations to justify the script.
There are no shortcuts Gina, in your own best interest you must find someone who will work with you long enough to identify your condition. If you can't find one in your insurance, then you are simply going to have to find one you can work with at your own expense. Just the way it is. And you are going to have to let them explore the options with the time it takes to make it. All the internet stuff can be dangerous if not properly handled and if you do have complications, then your insurance may have an option of calling it self inflicted and not pay for addressing them, putting you in real trouble. As to the herbal stuff and other "solutions" you have been exploring, they are for the most part worthless despite the hype associated with them.
Terri
